SYSTEMATIC ISSUES
In 2018, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine published a report called Securing the Vote: Protecting American Democracy. The report "examined the challenges arising out of the 2016 federal election, assessed current technology and standards for voting, and recommended steps that the federal government, state and local governments, election administrators, and vendors of voting technology should take to improve the security of election infrastructure. In doing so, the report provides a vision of voting that is more secure, accessible, reliable, and verifiable." Read the entire report here.
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine are private, nonprofit institutions that provide independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions related to science, technology, and medicine. The National Academies operate under an 1863 congressional charter to the National Academy of Sciences, signed by President Lincoln.
* The text below is taken directly from the report.
Evidence:
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. "Securing the Vote: Protecting American Democracy." Washington, DC: The National
Academies Press. 2018
Election Administrator and Poll Worker Training
Congress should provide adequate funding for the U.S. Election Assistance Commission to continue to serve as a national clearinghouse of information on election administration.
The U.S. Election Assistance Commission, with assistance from the national associations of state and local election administrators, should encourage, develop, and enhance information technology training programs to educate state and local technical staff on effective election administration.
Universities and community colleges should increase efforts to design curricula that address the growing organizational management and information technology needs of the election community.
The Voting Technology Marketplace
Congress should: a) Create incentive programs for public-private partnerships to develop modern election technology; b) Appropriate funds for distribution by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission for the ongoing modernization of election systems; and c) Authorize and appropriate funds to the National Institute of Standards and Technology to establish Common Data Formats for auditing, voter registration, and other election systems.
Along with Congress, states should allocate funds for the modernization of election systems.
The U.S. Election Assistance Commission and the National Institute of Standards and Technology should continue to collaborate on changes to the certification process that encourage the modernization of voting systems.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology should complete the Common Data Format standard for election systems.
New election systems should conform to the Common Data Format standard developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology.