EASE 4.0

**NOTE** Please note that electronic systems are NOT permitted to actually transmit the voted ballot and if they do will NOT be eligible for funding.

For clarity during the review process please clarify in any

submitted proposals.

The purpose of the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP)

grant program is to receive proposals that will fulfill a public purpose of

support by improving the voting experience of UOCAVA voters, reduce voting

impediments faced by them, and stimulate the development of innovative

approaches to absentee voting by UOCAVA voters. FVAP identifies the following

objective for this funding opportunity:

Provide research data to advance FVAP’s electronic absentee

voting support responsibilities for states and UOCAVA voters. Electronic

absentee voting system research, development, testing, and evaluation are to

collect and present data that can show cost-effective methods that:

·      Establish and operate

successful, sustainable and affordable electronic tools that will improve voting

systems for voters protected by UOCAVA. These systems include improved

electronic transmission of outbound ballots sent from election offices to

voters, tracking of outbound mailed ballots, and use of digital signature

verification like the Department of Defense Common Access Card on election

documents.

·      Increase the percentage of

ballots successfully returned by UOCAVA voters.

·      Reduce the failure rates

for UOCAVA voters experienced during stages of the absentee voting process

(voter registration, absentee ballot request, blank absentee ballot delivery,

absentee ballot marking, absentee ballot tabulation, and absentee ballot return

verification). The standard is to reduce the gap in failure rates compared

to levels of the general electorate for similar stages in the voting process,

and for similar demographic populations.

·      Establish and maintain a

pipeline of ideas, techniques, and best practices of election officials and the

services they provide for UOCAVA voters.

·   NOTE: Grant funds cannot be used for the

electronic return of completed ballots to election offices.

** Multiple awards may be given, the TOTAL funding available for ALL awards given will be $5,321,655.50