Technical Guidelines Development Committee

The Technical Guidelines Development Committee (TGDC) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology supports the Election Assistance Commission in the United States by providing recommendations on voluntary standards and guidelines related to voting equipment and technologies. It is composed of 14 members selected from various standards boards and for their technical and scientific expertise related to voting systems and equipment.

NIST chairs and manages the TGDC, provides technical guidance in areas such as encryption, usability engineering and testing, and performs work to improve testing and conformity assessment programs for voting systems. As part of its development of new voting standards, NIST consults with TGDC subcommittees and holds regular subcommittee teleconferences and periodic TGDC meetings. Teleconference audio archives, TGDC meetings, and TGDC meetings and presentations and related NIST work material are open to the public. The public may also view and submit comments and position statements to the TGDC.[1]

Charter

The Technical Guidelines Development Committee (TGDC) assists EAC in developing the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines. The chairperson of the TGDC is the director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The TGDC is composed of 14 other members appointed jointly by EAC and the director of NIST. TGDC Charter is available by NIST and the [Election Assistance Commission].[2]

History

While the Help America Vote Act required that the Election Assistance Commission "adopt voluntary guidance and recommdations relating to the implementation of ... voting system standards," by Jan. 1, 2004, delays in appointing commissioners and lack of funding delayed the first meeting of the TGDC until July 9, 2004.[3][4]

The initial members of the committee, listed with the statutory constituencies represented, were:[4]

Membership, Charter and Meetings

A list of current members is available on the Web site of the Election Assistance Commission.

Work Plan

In accordance with the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), NIST provides the Technical Guidelines Development Committee (TGDC) with the technical assistance necessary to develop voluntary voting systems guidelines for consideration by the Election Assistance Commission (EAC). NIST has coordinated with the TGDC to host a number of public meetings, in which NIST technical staff presented results of analysis and recommendations for voluntary voting systems guidelines. This work culminated in the production of the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines Version 1 (VVSG Version 1), delivered to the EAC on May 9, 2005. NIST is now consulting with the TGDC to develop the second version of the VVSG. TGDC meetings are open to the public, and the public is invited to send public comments to the TGDC.

References
  1. Technical Guidelines Development Committee Home Page
  2. Charter of Technical Guidelines Development Committee
  3. FY2003 Annual Report, U.S. Election Assistance Commission, Apr. 17, 2004.
  4. FY2004 Annual Report, U.S. Election Assistance Commission, Feb. 17, 2005.
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