Commission Accredits Fifth Voting System Test Lab

Election Assistance Commission
October 7, 2008

Commission Accredits Fifth Voting System Test Lab

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) has accredited CIBER, Inc. to be the fifth voting system test laboratory under the commission’s Voting System Certification and Testing Program. Click here for more information about CIBER and other EAC accredited labs. Commissioners also approved EAC staff recommendations regarding CIBER, including on-site testing observation and technical assessments as provided under Section 4.5.2 of the EAC Lab Manual.

Commissioners accredited CIBER, Inc. following a recommendation by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and after an independent EAC review of non-technical issues such as conflict-of-interest policies, organizational structure, and recordkeeping protocols. In addition to CIBER, Inc., Wyle Laboratories, InfoGuard Labs, iBeta Quality Assurance and SysTest Labs have also been accredited by EAC. All five labs will test against the 2005 Voluntary Voting System Guidelines.

The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002 mandates that EAC establish a voluntary program to accredit voting system test laboratories and certify voting equipment. NIST, through its National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) conducts the initial review of the labs, and then provides recommendations to the EAC regarding laboratory accreditation. For more information about the NIST/NVLAP accreditation process and to view related documents, visit www.vote.nist.gov.

EAC’s Voting System Certification and Laboratory Accreditation Program represents the first time the federal government has accredited test laboratories and certified voting equipment. In the past, these functions were performed on a volunteer basis by the National Association of State Election Directors (NASED). Participation by the states in EAC’s testing and certification program is voluntary. For a list of registered manufacturers, accredited labs, voting systems applying for certification and other information, please visit http://www.eac.gov/News/portal_factory/program-areas/voting-systems/.

The EAC is an independent commission created by the Help America Vote Act (HAVA). The EAC serves as a national clearinghouse and resource of information regarding election administration. It is charged with administering payments to states and developing guidance to meet HAVA requirements, adopting voluntary voting system guidelines, and accrediting voting system test laboratories and certifying voting equipment. It is also charged with developing and maintaining a national mail voter registration form. The four EAC commissioners are Rosemary Rodriguez, chair; Donetta Davidson, vice chair; Gracia Hillman and Gineen Beach.

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