Voluntary Voting System Guidelines (VVSG)

1. A set of requirements and specifications that are used to test and evaluate the quality of voting systems. Machines are tested to meet the VVSG (Voluntary Voting System Guidelines) as a quality assurance measure. The VVSG tests machines to make sure they meet requirements in a number of categories, including but not limited to functionality, accessibility, and security. HAVA requires that the EAC (Election Assistance Commission) periodically update the VVSG.

Source: America’s Voting Machines at Risk America’s Voting Machines at Risk, Brennan Center for Justice, https://www.brennancenter.org/sites/default/files/2019-08/Report_Americas_Voting_Machines_At_Risk.pdf

2. Collection of standards that is developed and maintained by the EAC (Election Assistance Commission). The VVSG specifies a minimum set of performance requirements that voting systems must demonstrated when tested by the VSTLs (Voting System Test Labs).

Source: Glossary - Introduction to Information Technology for Election Officials, U.S. Election Assistance Commission, https://www.eac.gov/assets/1/28/Glossary_IT-Terms_Managing_Election_Technology.pdf; The State and Local Election Cybersecurity Playbook, Defending Digital Democracy Project, Harvard Kennedy School Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, https://www.belfercenter.org/sites/default/files/files/publication/StateLocalPlaybook%201.1.pdf