Technical Guidelines Development Committee (TGDC)
Human Factors and Privacy Subcommittee (HFP)*
July 20, 2007
Draft Minutes

AGENDA

1. Administrative updates (Eustis)
2. Discussion of proposed changes of usability benchmark shalls to shoulds
3. Other issues

Attendees: Alexia Scott-Morrison, Allan Eustis, David Baquis (U.S. Access Board), John Cugini, Nelson Hastings, Whitney Quesenbery, Philip Pearce

Administrative Updates (Allan Eustis):

• Everything is on track with plans for the August 17, 2007, plenary teleconference meeting.
• The new draft of the VVSG will be posted early next week on the web site. (See: http://vote.nist.gov/TGDC/VVSG-Draft-07202007.pdf).
  

Proposed Benchmark Changes:

Whitney reviewed the latest discussions that had taken place regarding the usability benchmarks being proposed. There are issues with putting in numbers because research is still being conducted. It was felt that there should be no difference in the effectiveness goals whether the voter had disabilities or not, but now additional tests are being conducted (initially in Chicago and Denver) to broaden demographics and to include individuals with disabilities. The requirements in the VVSG will have usability requirements for conformance testing and reporting with a statement that they are based on current data and that further research is still being performed. Based on the current research, the VVSG will recommend that the benchmarks be set at a specific number. The question to be asked of the TGDC at the plenary meeting will be how high to set the benchmark numbers. Currently they are set at a medium range, should they be higher? Should we be setting them so that vendors have an aspiration goal for improvement? These are questions for the TGDC and the EAC. [NOTE: Test performed to date has been on systems certified to VVSG 02 and used in the 2000 or later elections.]

Other:

• Everyone should have a copy of the latest HFP section along with the changes list since the May meeting. The only item that may change would be on the performance benchmarks.
• Nelson Hastings will distribute to both HFP and CRT the latest revision of the new IVVR chapter.
• Whitney proposed canceling the next two HFP subcommittee meetings and convening the one on August 10. A note will be sent out about the final decision.
  

[* Pursuant to the Help America Vote Act of 2002, the TGDC is charged with directing NIST in performing voting systems research so that the TGDC can fulfill its role of recommending technical standards for voting equipment to the EAC. This teleconference discussion serves the purposes of the HFP subcommittee of the TGDC to direct NIST staff and coordinate its voting-related research relevant to the VVSG 2007. Discussions on this telecon are preliminary and do not necessarily reflect the views of NIST or the TGDC.]

• Teleconferences from 2004, 2005, 2006 and upcoming in 2006.

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