Purpose
The Voluntary Voter Registration Systems (VRS) Pilot Program was established to better understand and assess the feasibility of evaluating these systems at the federal level. ESTEP’s programming provides a structured framework for piloting and evaluating Voter Registration Systems (VRS). The pilot was conducted on a voluntary basis and examined these systems in a limited environment to assess functionality and interoperability, security, and accessibility.
Through ESTEP, the EAC works with state and local election officials to test system requirements that enhance the overall performance and trustworthiness of voter registration technologies. The central purpose of these pilot efforts is to strengthen security, ensuring that voter registration systems incorporate protections that safeguard sensitive voter data and maintain the integrity of registration records. At the same time, ESTEP explores interoperability by encouraging consistent standards that allow systems to operate effectively across jurisdictions and integrate with other election infrastructure. These efforts support the development of reliable, scalable, and secure voter registration systems, helping election officials make informed decisions and increasing public confidence in election administration.
As part of the pilot, the Election Supporting Technology Evaluation Program (ESTEP) developed and drafted the Voluntary Voter Registration Systems Guidelines (VVRSG) 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 Artifacts:
Link to VVRSG V0.9.
Questions? Please Contact:
Voter Registration Systems Inbox
[email protected]
Election Supporting Technology Evaluation Program (ESTEP):
[email protected]