Purpose
The Voluntary Electronic Ballot Delivery (EBD) Pilot Program was established to better understand and assess the feasibility of evaluating these systems at the federal level. The pilot was conducted on a voluntary basis and examined these systems in a limited environment to assess functionality and interoperability, security, and accessibility.
As part of the pilot, the Election Supporting Technology Evaluation Program (ESTEP) developed and drafted the Voluntary Electronic Ballot Delivery Requirements v0.9 to support testing and evaluation activities by the voting system testing laboratories (VSTLs), on behalf of the EAC. The findings from this pilot will be documented in a public report and used to inform future EAC research, guidance, and stakeholder engagement.
Note: Participation in the pilot does not constitute approval, certification, or endorsement of any electronic ballot delivery system or their associated manufacturers.
Pilot Progress
The EBD Pilot Program has completed its initial phases and is transitioning into evaluation and reporting. During the pilot, the EAC worked with system manufacturers and other pilot participants to apply draft voluntary requirements and observe system performance in a controlled testing environment.
Key activities completed as part of the pilot include:
- Development of a draft version of the Voluntary Electronic Ballot Delivery Requirements (VEBDR) to support pilot activities.
- Evaluation of EBD systems against baseline functionality and interoperability, security, and accessibility considerations.
- Review of technical and operational observations to inform future guidance and research.
The EAC is currently preparing a public pilot report that will summarize the scope of the pilot, key observations, and lessons learned.
Pilot Timeline
The Voluntary Electronic Ballot Delivery Pilot Program is proceeding through the following high-level milestones:
Pilot Testing Completed
Initial pilot activities, including the testing of EBD systems against the VEBDR v0.9 draft requirements, have largely concluded.
Pilot Report
The EAC will release a public report summarizing the pilot’s scope, observations, and key takeaways in early spring.
Public Pilot Hearing
Following the release of the pilot report, the EAC will hold a public hearing to discuss the pilot findings and receive stakeholder input.
Next Steps
The EAC will consider the pilot findings, along with stakeholder feedback, to inform future research, guidance, or updates to voluntary requirements.
All timelines presented on this page reflect estimated goals based on the most recent update. These estimates are provided for general awareness and do not represent firm commitments. Timelines may change based on pilot findings, stakeholder input, and other operational considerations as the program progresses.
Pilot Artifacts
Voluntary Electronic Ballot Delivery Requirements v0.9 (June 3, 2025)
Other Resources:
Federal Voting Assistance Program
Military and Overseas Voters (UOCAVA) EAC Overview and Resources
The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act
Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment “MOVE” Act
Questions? Please Contact:
Electronic Ballot Delivery Inbox
[email protected]
Election Supporting Technology Evaluation Program
[email protected]