United States Election Assistance Commission Certification and Testing

United States Election Assistance Commission Certification and Testing: Where Do We Go From Here? Panel Presentation - EVN Washington, DC– March 11, 2016 www. eac. gov

Why VVSG Working Group Model? From EAC perspective, it’s all about “more…” – More inclusive – More transparent – More timely – More innovative minds – More relevant for election administrators – More helping hands www. eac. gov

Where do we go from here? Challenges…. • Coping with the new reality of trying to define what a voting system is…. – Our older conceptual models of a “voting system” are being replaced with the realities of the much broader “election system” with less clear boundaries. (e-pollbooks, Ballot on demand, UOCAVA/Absentee ballot delivery, auditing systems…. ) – Is the current “certification envelope” a sustainable strategy for the future? www. eac. gov

Where do we go from here? Challenges…. • COTS…. – From testing perspective, COTS product testing market driven, not statutory or rule based as in voting. – More research needs to be done on appropriate levels of COTS testing. – Significant dependencies on availability of testing and QA information from COTS manufacturers. – New VVSG requirements should focus more on product/system interface level and on functional characteristics. (What system should do instead of how it should do it…. ) www. eac. gov

Where do we go from here? Challenges…. • Additional new ways to assist State and local jurisdictions: – RFP/RFI review and comment. – Pursuing ways to educate and assist election officials into becoming more comfortable in their role as IT manage. – Manufacturer Quality audits. – Manufacturing facility audits. www. eac. gov

Contact • Bhancock@eac. gov • www. eac. gov • #Be. Ready 16 www. eac. gov