VVSG

Voluntary Voting System Guidelines (VVSG) are a set of standards published by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) for voting systems. The guidelines specify functional and security requirements for voting equipment and software to promote voter accessibility, data integrity, privacy, and reliable operation. The VVSG is voluntary; jurisdictions may adopt it as the basis for certifying equipment, and manufacturers and testing laboratories use it to demonstrate compliance.

History and scope: The VVSG was developed in response to the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) framework to provide a uniform basis for certification of voting systems. The initial release, VVSG 1.0, appeared in the mid-2000s, followed by updates such as VVSG 1.1. In recent years, VVSG 2.0 has been issued to reflect modernization in security, interoperability, accessibility, and auditability, including provisions related to paper records and more robust software and hardware requirements. Certification under the VVSG typically involves evaluation by Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTLs) and ongoing compliance processes.

Impact and governance: States may reference the VVSG when certifying voting systems for use in elections; adoption varies by jurisdiction. The guidelines are periodically updated to address evolving technology and threat landscapes, aiming to balance security, usability, and reliability. Critics sometimes point to concerns about cost, implementation burden, and the cadence of updates relative to rapid technological change.

See also: Help America Vote Act, Election Assistance Commission, voting system certification, NRTL (Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory).