#aaf? ,,congress  #b;d ,session  ,h4 ,r4
 #diij  ,,an ,,act  ,to direct !        
,national ,in/itute ( ,/&>ds &          
,te*nology & ! ,national ,sci5ce        
,f\ndation to c>ry out rese>* & o!r     
activities to promote ! security &      
mod]nization ( vot+ sy/ems1 & = o!r     
purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may
 be cit$ z ! ,election ,te*nology       
,rese>* ,act ( #bjbj4  #b4 ,national    
,in/itute ( ,/&>ds & ,te*nology  7a7    
,vot+ sy/ems rese>* ,! ,director ( !    
,national ,in/itute ( ,/&>ds &          
,te*nology1 9 collaboration ) !         
,national ,sci5ce ,f\ndation z          
appropriate1 %all c>ry out a program (  
rese>* on vot+ sy/ems1 includ+--  7#a7 !
 cyb]security ( diff]5t compon5ts ( su* 
sy/ems2  7#b7 end-to-end v]ifiable      
sy/ems2  7#c7 int]net-enabl$ vot+2  7#d7
 ! accessibility & usability ( diff]5t  
compon5ts ( su* sy/ems2  7#e7 vot]      
privacy & data protection2  7#f7 me?ods 
= audit+ elections2  7#g7 !             
int]op]ability ( sy/em te*nologies2     

7#h7 means = provid+ vot]s ) ! ability  
to easily *eck :e!r a ballot s5t by mail
 has be5 dispat*$ to ! vot] & :e!r !    
vot]'s m>k$ ballot has be5 receiv$ &    
accept$ by ! appropriate election       
(ficial2  7#i7 ! reliability ( v>i\s    
approa*es to vot] au!ntication2 &  7#aj7
 su* o!r areas ( rese>* z ! ,director ( 
! ,national ,in/itute ( ,/&>ds &        
,te*nology det]m9es to be appropriate & 
relat$ to ! security & integrity (      
elections = ,f$]al (fice4  7b7          
,elections sy/ems c5t] ( excell5ce  7#a7
 ,9 g5]al ,! ,director ( ! ,national    
,in/itute ( ,/&>ds & ,te*nology %all    
make an aw>d to an in/itution ( high]   
education or an eligible nonpr(it       
organization 7or a consortium !re(7 to  
e/abli% a ,c5t] ( ,excell5ce 9 ,election
 ,sy/ems4  7#b7 ,collaborations ,!      
,director %all ensure t ! ,c5t] (       
,excell5ce includes a collaboration (   
in/itutions ( high] education1 nonpr(it 
organizations1 private sector entities1 
& ,/ate & local election (ficials4  7#c7

 ,purpose ,! purpose ( ! ,c5t] (        
,excell5ce %all be to-- 7,a7 conduct    
measurem5t rese>* & /ati/ical analyses  
to in=m ! developm5t ( /&>ds =          
te*nologies & processes t contribute to 
m secure1 fair1 & accessible elections2 
7,b7 te/ & evaluate ! security1         
usability1 & accessibility ( !          
te*nologies ( vot+ sy/ems1 includ+ !    
accessibility ( poll book data by vot]s2
  7,c7 rese>* te/+ me?ods t c\ld be us$ 
= ! c]tification ( vot+ sy/em           
te*nologies2  7,d7 educate & tra9 /ud5ts
 /udy+ 9 sci5ce1 te*nology1 eng9e]+1 &  
ma!matics fields to conduct measurem5t  
sci5ce & /&>ds rese>* relevant to su*   
sy/ems2 &  7,e7 fo/] collaboration among
 academic rese>*]s1 private sector      
v5dors ( election te*nology1 & ,/ate &  
local election (ficials4  7#d7          
,requirem5ts  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,an         
in/itution ( high] education or an      
eligible nonpr(it organization 7or a    
consortium !re(7 seek+ fund+ "u ?is     
subsection %all submit an application to

 ! ,director at su* "t1 9 su* mann]1 &  
conta9+ su* in=mation z ! ,director may 
require4  7,b7 ,applications ,ea*       
application "u subp>agraph 7,a7 %all    
include a description (--  7i7 h[ !     
,c5t] w "w ) o!r rese>* in/itutions1    
indu/ry p>tn]s1 & ,/ate or local        
election (ficials to id5tify !          
measurem5t1 te/+1 & /&>ds ne$s ( vot+   
sy/ems & to lev]age ! exp]tise (        
election practition]s2 &  7ii7 h[ !     
,c5t] w promote active collaboration    
among rese>*]s 9 multiple discipl9es    
involv$ 9 ensur+ ! security & integrity 
( su* sy/ems4  7,c7 ,selection &        
duration ,ea* ,c5t] e/abli%$ "u ?is     
section is au?oriz$ to c>ry out         
activities = a p]iod ( #e ye>s1 r5ewable
 = an additional #e ye>s at ! discretion
 ( ! ,director4  7c7 ,au?orization (    
appropriations ,!re are au?oriz$ to be  
appropriat$ to c>ry out ?is section     
#ab1jjj1jjj = ea* ( ! fiscal ye>s #bjba 
?r\gh #bjbe4  #c4 ,national ,sci5ce     
,f\ndation  7a7 ,rese>* grants ,!       

,director ( ! ,national ,sci5ce         
,f\ndation1 9 collaboration ) !         
,national ,in/itute ( ,/&>ds &          
,te*nology & o!r relevant ag5cies1 z    
appropriate1 %all aw>d basic rese>*     
grants to increase ! und]/&+ ( cyb] &   
o!r ?reats to vot+ sy/ems & to in=m !   
developm5t ( te*nologies1 processes1 &  
policies t contribute to m secure1 fair1
 & accessible elections1 includ+ rese>* 
on-- 7#a7 ! cyb]security ( diff]5t      
compon5ts ( su* sy/ems2  7#b7 end-to-end
 v]ifiable sy/ems2  7#c7 ! risks &      
b5efits ( int]net-enabl$ vot+2  7#d7 !  
human-te*nology int]face1 includ+ !     
usability1 accessibility1 &             
compreh5sibility ( ballot design1 ballot
 m>k+ devices1 & o!r compon5ts ( su*    
sy/ems2  7#e7 vot] privacy & data       
protection2  7#f7 vot] practices reg>d+ 
! v]ification ( ballots g5]at$ by ballot
 m>k+ devices & ! likelihood t vot]s1   
bo? ) & )\t disabilities1 w recognize   
errors or omissions ) respect to su*    
ballots2 &  7#g7 su* o!r topics z !     

,director det]m9es to be appropriate &  
relat$ to ! integrity ( elections4  7b7 
,elections sy/ems rese>* c5t]  7#a7 ,9  
g5]al ,! ,director ( ! ,national ,sci5ce
 ,f\ndation1 9 consultation ) !         
,director ( ! ,national ,in/itute (     
,/&>ds & ,te*nology & ! ,secret>y (     
,homel& ,security1 z appropriate1 %all  
aw>d grants to in/itutions ( high]      
education or eligible nonpr(it          
organizations 7or consortia !re(7 to    
e/abli% at lea/ "o multidiscipl9>y c5t] 
= elections sy/ems rese>* & education4  
7#b7 ,consortia ,a consortia receiv+ an 
aw>d "u ?is subsection may include      
in/itutions ( high] education1 nonpr(it 
organizations1 private sector entities1 
& ,/ate & local election (ficials4  7#c7
 ,purpose ,! purpose ( a c5t] e/abli%$ )
 a grant aw>d$ "u ?is subsection %all be
 to-- 7,a7 conduct basic rese>* to      
advance und]/&+ ( cyb] & o!r ?reats to  
election sy/ems & ! conduct ( secure1   
fair1 & accessible elections2  7,b7     
conduct rese>* t may in=m ! developm5t (

 te*nologies1 processes1 & policies t   
contribute to m secure1 fair1 &         
accessible elections2  7,c7 educate &   
tra9 /ud5ts /udy+ 9 sci5ce1 te*nology1  
eng9e]+1 & ma!matics fields to conduct  
rese>* relevant to election sy/ems2     
7,d7 design curricula t address ! gr[+  
organizational managem5t & in=mation    
te*nology ne$s ( ! election community2 &
  7,e7 fo/] collaboration among academic
 rese>*]s1 private sector v5dors (      
election te*nology1 & ,/ate & local     
election (ficials4  7#d7 ,requirem5ts   
7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,an in/itution ( high]    
education or an eligible nonpr(it       
organization 7or a consortium !re(7     
seek+ fund+ "u ?is subsection %all      
submit an application to ! ,director ( !
 ,national ,sci5ce ,f\ndation at su* "t1
 9 su* mann]1 & conta9+ su* in=mation z 
! ,director may require4  7,b7          
,applications ,ea* application "u       
subp>agraph 7,a7 %all include a         
description (--  7i7 h[ ! c5t] e/abli%$ 
) a grant aw>d$ "u ?is subsection w "w )

 o!r rese>* in/itutions1 indu/ry p>tn]s1
 & ,/ate & local election (ficials to   
id5tify rese>* ne$s & lev]age ! exp]tise
 ( election practition]s2 &  7ii7 h[ !  
c5t] w promote active collaboration     
among rese>*]s 9 multiple discipl9es    
involv$ 9 elections sy/ems security1    
includ+ comput] sci5ce1 data sci5ce1 &  
social & behavioral sci5ces4  7#e7      
,selection & duration ,ea* c5t] e/abli%$
 ) a grant aw>d$ "u ?is section is      
au?oriz$ to c>ry out activities = a     
p]iod ( #e ye>s1 r5ewable = an          
additional #e ye>s at ! discretion ( !  
,director4  7c7 ,au?orization (         
appropriations ,!re are au?oriz$ to be  
appropriat$ to c>ry out ?is section     
#aj1jjj1jjj = ea* ( ! fiscal ye>s #bjba 
?r\gh #bjbe4  #d4 ,o!r activities (     
,national ,in/itute ( ,/&>ds &          
,te*nology to promote security &        
mod]nization ( vot+ sy/ems  7a7 ,common 
data =mat ,! ,national ,in/itute (      
,/&>ds & ,te*nology %all e/abli% & make 
publicly available common data =mat     

specifications = audit+1 vot]           
regi/ration1 & o!r elem5ts ( vot+       
sy/ems1 & provide ! specifications to ! 
,te*nical ,guidel9es ,developm5t        
,committee ( ! ,election ,assi/ance     
,commission "u section #bba7;e7 ( !     
,help ,am]ica ,vote ,act ( #bjjb 7#eb   
,u4,s4,c4 #bjifa7;e774  7b7 ,elections  
sy/ems c]tifications ,! ,national       
,in/itute ( ,/&>ds & ,te*nology %all "w 
9 collaboration ) ! ,election ,assi/ance
 ,commission to update ! process "u :i* 
vot+ sy/ems are c]tifi$ pursuant to !   
,help ,am]ica ,vote ,act ( #bjjb s t    
,/ate & local election (ficials w be    
bett] able to c>ry out updates & o!rwise
 mod]nize su* sy/ems4  7c7 ,te*nical    
assi/ance ,! ,director ( ! ,national    
,in/itute ( ,/&>ds & ,te*nology %all--  
7#a7 provide te*nical assi/ance to ,/ate
 & local election (ficials on !         
implem5tation ( cyb]security /&>ds1     
privacy /&>ds1 risk assessm5ts1         
risk-limit+ audits1 & te*nologies :i*   
are incorporat$ 9 ! volunt>y vot+ sy/em 

guidel9es issu$ "u ! ,help ,am]ica ,vote
 ,act ( #bjjb2 &  7#b7 9 collaboration )
 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,homel& ,security & !    
,election ,assi/ance ,commission1 z     
appropriate1 conduct outrea* to ,/ate & 
local election (ficials 9 ord] to       
dissem9ate be/ practices = !            
implem5tation ( su* volunt>y vot+ sy/em 
guidel9es4  #e4 ,,gao report ,n lat] ?an
 #ah mon?s aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is 
,act1 ! ,comptroll] ,g5]al %all submit a
 report to ,congress t--  7#a7 addresses
 ! ext5t to :i* ef=ts by ! ,national    
,in/itute ( ,/&>ds & ,te*nology 7,,ni/7 
to assi/ ! ,te*nical ,guidel9es         
,developm5t ,committee ( ! ,election    
,assi/ance ,commission 9 ! developm5t ( 
volunt>y vot+ sy/ems guidel9es h result$
 9 m>ket-ready /&>diz$ vot+ equipm5t &  
s(tw>e1 & addresses ! res\rces made     
available to ,,ni/ to c>ry out ^!       
activities2  7#b7 addresses ef=ts by    
,,ni/ to monitor & review ! p]=mance (  
laboratories accr$it$ by ! ,elections   
,assi/ance ,commission & to make        

recomm5dations = cont9u+ accr$itation1  
increas$ vot+ te*nology reliability1 & !
 numb] ( accr$it$ private laboratories1 
& addresses res\rces made available to  
,,ni/ to c>ry out ^! activities2 &  7#c7
 addresses ! ext5t to :i* ! annual li/ (
 sugge/ions requir$ to be submitt$ by   
,,ni/ to ! ,election ,assi/ance         
,commission = rese>* issues = grants &  
pilot programs "u section #bga7;d7 ( !  
,help ,am]ica ,vote ,act ( #bjjb 7#eb   
,u4,s4,c4 #bajda7 & ! evaluation (      
grants & programs by ,,ni/ has improv$  
vot+ te*nology & be5 successful 9       
enc\rag+ ! implem5tation ( new          
te*nologies 9 vot+ sy/ems & equipm5t4   
#f4 ,am5dm5ts to ! ,help ,am]ica ,vote  
,act ( #bjjb ,section #cja7;b7 ( ! ,help
 ,am]ica ,vote ,act ( #bjjb 7#eb        
,u4,s4,c4 #bajha7;b77 is am5d$--  7#a7 9
 ! matt] prec$+ p>agraph 7#a71 by /rik+ 
?is section & ins]t+ ?is ,act2  7#b7 by 
/rik+ & at ! end ( p>agraph 7#a72  7#c7 
by r$esignat+ p>agraph 7#b7 z p>agraph  
7#f72 &  7#d7 by ins]t+ aft] p>agraph   

7#a7 ! foll[+ new p>agraphs3  7#b7 any  
o!r pap] or electronic te*nologies or   
processes = collect+1 /or+1 or          
transmitt+ p]sonal in=mation ( vot]s =  
use 9 ! adm9i/ration ( elections =      
,f$]al (fice1 includ+ electronic poll   
books ) respect to an election2  7#c7   
vot] regi/ration databases & sy/ems1    
includ+ onl9e int]faces2  7#d7 sy/ems = 
c>ry+ out po/-election audit+2  7#e7    
*a9-(-cu/ody proc$ures2 &  4  #g4       
,def9itions ,9 ?is ,act-- 7#a7 ! t]m    
vot+ sy/em has ! mean+ giv5 su* t]m 9   
section #cja7;b7 ( ! ,help ,am]ica ,vote
 ,act ( #bjjb 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4            
#bajha7;b771 z am5d$ by section #f2 &   
7#b7 ! t]m ,/ate means ea* ( ! sev]al   
,/ates1 ! ,di/rict ( ,columbia1 !       
,commonweal? ( ,pu]to ,rico1 ,guam1     
,am]ican ,samoa1 ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,virg9 
,isl&s1 & ! ,commonweal? ( ! ,nor!rn    
,m>iana ,isl&s4  ,pass$ ! ,h\se (       
,repres5tatives ,septemb] #af1          
#bjbj4;,cl]k4