The Election Technology Council is a 501(c)6 trade association consisting of voting system providers in the United States. The current membership of the Council represents the voting system platforms for 90% of the registered voters in the U.S.

In 2007, the Election Technology Council assessed the environment for the industry and felt it was time to hire an Executive Director to handle the management of the association and to serve as a central voice. The primary mission of the ETC is to serve as a resource for the public, election officials, and legislators to dispel mythologies regarding voting technology and to help maintain a healthy marketplace for the industry.

ELECTION INDUSTRY TRADE GROUP SEEKS REFORM OF

REGULATORY PROCESS:

Issues report entitled “Broken: The Regulatory Process for the Voting Industry” which calls for substantive policy changes

June 18, 2008 – The Election Technology Council, an industry trade association representing providers of over 90% of the voting systems used in the United States, today issued a bleak assessment of the current state of the federal regulatory process administered by the United States Election Assistance Commission (EAC) and called for significant reforms to better serve election officials and voters.  Since February 2007, no voting system has achieved federal certification through the EAC.  Since 2002, the standards have not changed, only the certifying agency.  “The industry is participating in and financing a process that remains indefinite in both time and money,” said David Beirne, Executive Director of the ETC.

The industry’s assessment describes a new federal agency that finds itself a victim of its own decisions which have effectively shut the regulated industry out and left it without a voice in the process.  Among the key problems identified:

•  The EAC has yet to recognize the voting industry as a regulated industry.  As a regulated industry, certain due process requirements should be afforded to industry providers during the EAC’s policy setting and certification efforts.  Since the voting industry currently finances federal certification of its products, decisions made by the EAC that are not subjected to full due process could deprive voting system providers of property and potentially lead to violations of the U.S. Constitution’s Fifth Amendment.

• EAC policies prohibiting informal communications, combined with the lack of industry representation throughout the voting system standards development process, are contrary to standard agency practices and the requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA).  In tandem, these practices remove the industry’s voice from the process and position the EAC in an adversarial role with the industry it intends to regulate.

• Continued delays in federal certification and spiraling certification costs may lead to market failures for current industry providers. In addition, these circumstances will likely lead to a market consolidation and stifle future product innovation.

Under the Help America Vote Act of 2002, the EAC is charged with adopting federal voting system standards.  Both the federal standards and the federal certification process remain voluntary for each of the states.  An estimated 40 states require some level of testing or certification against federal voting system standards. “In such a voluntary framework, the EAC would be better served by working with industry in its efforts to develop robust voting solutions.  We respect the hard work and commitment of the EAC in grappling with these difficult issues, and we look forward to working cooperatively with the Commission in every way we can.  However, the system cannot sustain itself in its current form without substantial reform,” Beirne added.

View the entire report, "Broken:  The Regulatory Process For the Voting Industry"

ETC Issues Public Comments for the Next Draft of Voluntary Voting System Guidelines (VVSG)

May 5, 2008-The Election Technology Council has released its public comments to the draft Voluntary Voting System Guidelines (VVSG) currently before the United States Election Assistance Commission (EAC).  The first round of public comments have come to a close and the EAC will now be working to address the concerns expressed within the draft document with another round of public comments to follow prior to the VVSG official adoption.  Adherence to federal voting system standards is strictly voluntary by the states, however approximately 40 states currently require their voting systems to achieve federal certification.

“The current draft of the VVSG represents a document that is entirely driven in policy rather than in recognition of the need for clear performance and security requirements,” stated David Beirne, Executive Director of the Election Technology Council.   “Rather than focusing on improving deficiencies within the previous two versions of voting system standards, the EAC is now forced to consider a policy document which will either revolutionize the voting experience for the average American voter or result in producing vast market failure,” Beirne added.

View the ETC press release...here.

View the published comments....here.

ETC Executive Director Participates in Panel Sessions at 2008 NACO/NACRC Legislative Conference

March 3, 2008-  The 2008 Legislative Conference for the National Association of Counties (NACO) and its affiliate the National Association of County Recorders, Election Officials, and Clerks (NACRC) convened in Washington, DC.  Among the educational sessions were three sessions highlighting topics concerning election technology.  Below are links to the prepared remarks and presentations provided by the Executive Director of the Election Technology Council:

             NACo Technology Summit:  This session was featured on C-SPAN and highlighted the future of voting technology and was hosted by the National Association of County Information Officers.  To download a copy of the ETC Executive Director's remarks click here

             NACRC:  The election officials' affiliate of NACo convened to hear about the latest developments when it comes to securing voting equipment in response to perceived threats and the overall changing regulatory environment for the voting industry.  For a copy of the ETC's presentation click here.

            NACo:  This educational session was hosted as part of the general conference for the National Association of Counties. County officials are curious over the issue of voting systems and the importance of understanding how to protect their investments.  For a copy of the presentation, click here.

National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) and the National Association of State Election Directors (NASED) host a full Election Technology Council session in Washington, DC

February 10, 2008- The unique challenges surrounding the changing environment for the voting industry were highlighted during a election session jointly hosted by NASED and NASS.  The participants for this session included representatives from all of the ETC member companies and the Executive Director.  Key topics discussed included:

           • the increasingly fragmented regulatory environment for voting systems;

           • challenges with the "voluntary" certification model administered by the United       

              States Election Assistance Commission;

           • rising certification costs with the EAC Administered certification process and its

             potential implications for the future of voting technology.

Another highlight of the discussion was a greater understanding of the expectation for new technologies in an environment that is only becoming more costly for both current and potentially new industry participants.  High market barriers in the form of regulatory costs today will determine the potential for innovative technologies tomorrow.

Election Technology Council Releases Industry Guidelines for

Safeguarding the Vote in 2008

January 9, 2008-The Election Technology Council today announced the release of industry guidelines outlining best practices for election officials to adopt in response to potential and perceived threats to electronic voting systems.

Download the full press release.

Download the full publication Safeguarding the Vote:  Applying Best Practices to Mitigate Perceived Threats for Voting Systems.