Notice2021-12619
Promoting Access to Voting
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
June 16, 2021
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Institute of Standards and Technology
Abstract
Based on the requirements of E.O. 14019, Promoting Access to Voting, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is seeking information about barriers to private and independent voting for people with disabilities. NIST, in consultation with the Department of Justice, the Election Assistance Commission, and other agencies, as appropriate, will analyze barriers, including access to voter registration, voting technology, voting by mail, polling locations, and poll worker training. Responses to this Request for Information (RFI) will inform NIST's development of recommendations.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 114 (Wednesday, June 16, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 114 (Wednesday, June 16, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32026-32027]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-12619]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Institute of Standards and Technology
[Docket Number: 210608-0123]
Promoting Access to Voting
AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Department of
Commerce.
ACTION: Request for information.
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SUMMARY: Based on the requirements of E.O. 14019, Promoting Access to
Voting, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is
seeking information about barriers to private and independent voting
for people with disabilities. NIST, in consultation with the Department
of Justice, the Election Assistance Commission, and other agencies, as
appropriate, will analyze barriers, including access to voter
registration, voting technology, voting by mail, polling locations, and
poll worker training. Responses to this Request for Information (RFI)
will inform NIST's development of recommendations.
DATES: Comments must be received by 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on July 16,
2021. Written comments in response to the RFI should be submitted
according to the instructions in the ADDRESSES and SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION sections below. Submissions received after that date may
not be considered.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:
<bullet> Electronic submission: Submit electronic public comments
via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal.
1. Go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> and enter NIST-2021-0003 in the search
field,
2. Click the ``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields,
and
3. Enter or attach your comments.
<bullet> Email: Comments in electronic form may also be sent to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9dedebfcb0f8f2ddf1f4eee9b3f3f4eee9b3faf2eb"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="58282e39753d371834312b2c7636312b2c763f372e">[email protected]</span></a> in any of the following formats: HTML; ASCII;
Word; RTF; or PDF.
Please submit comments only and include your name, organization's
name (if any), and cite ``Promoting Access to Voting'' in all
correspondence.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions about this RFI contact:
Kevin Mangold, NIST, at (301) 975-5628, or email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7a311f0c131454371b141d15161e3a1413090e541d150c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0b406e7d626525466a656c64676f4b6562787f256c647d">[email protected]</span></a>. Please direct media inquiries to NIST's Office
of Public Affairs at (301) 975-2762. Users of telecommunication devices
for the deaf, or a text telephone, may call the Federal Relay Service,
toll free at 1-800-877-8339.
[[Page 32027]]
Accessible Format: On request to the program contact person listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, NIST will make the RFI available
in alternate formats, such as Braille or large print, upon request by
persons with disabilities.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As stated in Executive Order 14019,
Promoting Access to Voting,\1\ the right to vote is the foundation of
American democracy. Under section 7 of Executive Order 14019, (Ensuring
Equal Access for Voters with Disabilities), NIST is directed to
evaluate the steps needed to ensure that the online Federal Voter
Registration Form is accessible to people with disabilities.
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\1\ Exec. Order No. 14019, Promoting Access to Voting, 86 FR
13623 (Mar. 7, 2021).
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This RFI outlines the information NIST is seeking from the public
to inform the development of recommendations regarding both the Federal
Voter Registration Form and other barriers it has identified that
prevent people with disabilities from exercising their fundamental
rights and the ability to vote privately and independently.
Request for Information
The following statements are not intended to limit the topics that
may be addressed. Responses may include any topic believed to have
implications for the development of recommendations to promoting access
to voting for people with disabilities, regardless of whether the topic
is included in this document. All relevant responses that comply with
the requirements listed in the DATES and ADDRESSES sections of this RFI
and set forth below will be considered.
Comments containing references, studies, research, and other
empirical data that are not widely published should include copies of
the referenced materials. All submissions, including attachments and
other supporting materials, will become part of the public record and
subject to public disclosure. NIST reserves the right to publish
relevant comments publicly, unedited and in their entirety. All
relevant comments received in response to the RFI will be made publicly
available at <a href="https://www.nist.gov/itl/pva">https://www.nist.gov/itl/pva</a> and at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>.
Personally identifiable information (PII), such as street
addresses, phone numbers, account numbers or Social Security numbers,
or names of other individuals, should not be included. NIST asks
commenters to avoid including PII as NIST has no plans to redact PII
from comments. Do not submit confidential business information, or
otherwise sensitive or protected information. Comments that contain
profanity, vulgarity, threats, or other inappropriate language or
content will not be considered. NIST requests that commenters, to the
best of their ability, only submit attachments that are accessible to
people who rely upon assistive technology. A good resource for document
accessibility can be found at: <a href="http://section508.gov/create/documents">section508.gov/create/documents</a>.
NIST is seeking the following information from voting technology
vendors, election officials, persons with disabilities, disability
advocacy groups, assistive technology vendors and professionals, non-
partisan voting promotion groups, and other key stakeholders for the
purpose of gathering information to foster greater voter access for
people with disabilities:
1. Describe concerns regarding accessing the right to vote
privately and independently for people with disabilities.
2. Describe effective strategies, techniques, and technologies for
addressing the barriers faced by voters with disabilities throughout
the voting process.
3. Describe barriers that people with disabilities encounter in
getting useful information about the voting process.
4. Describe barriers that people with disabilities encounter with
ballots, and in getting useful information about the items on the
ballot.
5. Provide recommendations for improving voter access for people
with disabilities.
6. Identify what has had the most impact enabling people with
disabilities to vote privately and independently.
7. Identify gaps that remain in making voting accessible to people
with disabilities.
8. Describe barriers that people with disabilities encounter with
completing online forms for the voting process.
9. Describe barriers that people with disabilities encounter in
getting useful information about their eligibility to vote.
10. Describe barriers that people with disabilities encounter with
registering to vote.
11. Describe barriers that people with disabilities encounter using
technology for the registration or voting process, whether online, in
person, or via mail.
12. Describe the availability of accessible voting equipment.
13. Describe barriers that people with disabilities encounter with
voting by mail.
14. Describe security considerations relevant to existing and
potential technologies used by people with disabilities in the voting
process.
15. Describe barriers that people with disabilities face at polling
locations.
16. Describe the accessibility of polling places.
17. Identify areas where poll worker training can address barriers
experienced by people with disabilities.
18. Identify areas where clearer or better policies can address
barriers experienced by people with disabilities.
19. Describe any barriers that people with disabilities face to
voting that disproportionately impact communities of color, persons who
live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by
persistent poverty or inequality.
20. Of the concerns and barriers noted, identify the most serious
and impactful barriers faced by voters with disabilities throughout the
voting process.
Authority: Exec. Order No. 14019, Promoting Access to Voting, 86
FR 13623 (Mar. 7, 2021).
Alicia Chambers,
NIST Executive Secretariat.
[FR Doc. 2021-12619 Filed 6-15-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P
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