E-voting accreditation takes a small step forward

Since the National Institute of Standards and Technology will not be able to provide a list of recommended labs to certify e-voting machines until 2007, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission has adopted a plan to temporarily accredit labs already used by state and local authorities. National Association of State Election Directors-accredited labs will be accredited on a temporary basis until the final accreditation process is put in place.

Accredited labs will test voting machines for compliance with EAC guidelines and standards. The EAC is mandated under the Help America Vote Act to create a process for testing and certifying voting systems.

Accrediting labs is just the first step in the process, so this temporary accreditation is decidedly a baby step. The entire  certification system will need to be operational prior to the November 2008 presidential election.

The U.S. Election Assistance Commission has approved a plan that to temporarily accredit independent labs already accredited by