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U.S. EAC Certifies Modifications to Election Systems & Software Voting System

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Modification brings EVS 5.4.0.0 into compliance with VVSG 1.0

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

February 27, 2017

 

Silver Spring, Md. – The Election Assistance Commission has certified Election Systems & Software’s (ES&S) EVS 5.4.0.0 voting system, verifying its compliance with current federal voting system standards. The EVS 5.4.0.0 is a modification to the Omaha-based company’s previously certified EVS 5.2.0.0 voting system.  The determination came after a thorough test campaign conducted by EAC and NTS Huntsville.

“As our nation’s election systems age, equipment must be modified or upgraded to keep pace with the pressures that state and local election officials face. The EAC is proud to test and certify voting systems and system modifications so that these election officials can confidently purchase and upgrade equipment that meets federal requirements,” said Brian Hancock, Director of the Election Assistance Commission’s Voting System Testing and Certification program.

Among the EVS 5.4.0.0 modifications certified by the EAC were function upgrades, software fixes, the addition of software to enhance usability and replacement of election system hardware parts that are nearing end-of-life. The EVS 5.4.0.0 voting system combines paper-based voting with touch screen technology. It produces an independent voter-verifiable paper record that is digitally scanned for tabulation. The system is designed to provide accessibility to voters with disabilities, include those who are blind or hearing impaired. It also has the capability of serving voters who speak six languages, including English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Japanese and Hindi.

The EVS 5.4.0.0 is the 17th ES&S voting system certified as meeting federal standards, including modifications. This system meets the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines 1.0 (VVSG 1.0) established in 2005. Today’s modification marks the 38th certification completed by the EAC. 

Last year marked the 10th anniversary of the EAC’s Testing and Certification program, which is the most successful and most implemented voting machine testing and certification program in the nation. The Testing and Certification program was a requirement of the Help America Vote Act of 2002, legislation that created the EAC and mandated that the commission provide certification, decertification, and recertification of voting systems, as well as the accreditation of voting system testing laboratories.  This legislation marked the first time the federal government funded these activities, a step that allowed states to procure new certified voting systems without the added expense of independent testing and certification.

At least 47 states now use the EAC’s Testing and Certification program in some way when deciding which voting system to procure. The EAC successfully completed 38 certification campaigns in coordination with 5 voting system vendors.  Of the 60 voting systems submitted for EAC certification test campaigns, to date the EAC has certified 38 voting systems or modifications to a voting system.

The EAC is currently partnering with a diverse working group comprised of representatives from the election community, public sector, private sector and interest groups to develop the next iteration of the election system testing and certification guidelines, VVSG 2.0. Last week, a set of 17 core voting system functions that will guide the VVSG 2.0 were adopted by the Technical Guidelines Development Committee. The new system testing guidelines are expected to be released in 2018 and will become the highest standard against which voting systems can be commercially tested in the United States.

For more information about today’s announcement, please contact Brenda Bowser Soder at [email protected] or 301-563-3951. You can learn more about the EAC’s Testing and Certification program at www.eac.gov.

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The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) was established by the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA). It is an independent, bipartisan commission charged with ensuring secure, accurate and accessible elections by developing guidance to meet HAVA requirements, adopting voluntary voting system guidelines, and serving as a national clearinghouse of information on election administration. EAC also accredits testing laboratories and certifies voting systems, as well as administers the use of HAVA funds. For more information, visit www.eac.gov.

Keywords
communications, media/public relations, test report, voting systems