NVLAP - Laboratory Accreditation

The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002 Section 231 requires EAC and NIST to develop a national program for accrediting voting system testing laboratories. On June 23, 2004, NIST published a notice in the Federal Register announcing the establishment of this program. In June 2005, NIST/NVLAP announced the availability of applications for the voting systems program in the Federal Register.

The purpose of the Voting System Testing laboratory accreditation program (VST LAP) is to accredit Voting System Test Laboratories (VSTLs) to conduct testing of voting systems and components, providing a measure of confidence that such laboratories are capable of performing testing to meet the requirements of HAVA. VSTLs will provide testing services for core voting requirements and may subcontract requirements that are not voting-specific. VSTLs will use tests and test methods from the VSS-2002 available at: http://www.eac.gov/testing_and_certification/voluntary_voting_system_guidelines.aspx [PDF version], including test methods incorporated by reference (e.g., electromagnetic compatibility).

Laboratories that achieve NVLAP accreditation will be recommended by NIST to the EAC. The EAC will then decide whether to certify the recommended testing laboratories as EAC-certified VSTLs. The EAC may add additional criteria as part of their process.

More detailed information about NVLAP and its Voting System Testing Program can be viewed at http://www.nist.gov/nvlap

Resources:

• Q&As about NIST Evaluation of Laboratories that Test Voting Systems 
  
  
• Details of Core Tests Reviewed to Determine Competency of Voting Systems Testing Laboratories 
  
  
• NIST - Laboratory Recommendations to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC)
  
  
• Current Chart of Laboratories who have applied to NVLAP
  
  
• Federal Register Notice announcing the Establishment of a Laboratory Accreditation Program for Voting Systems Under the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (6/23/04) (html)
  
  
• Federal Register Notice announcing Availability of Applications for the Laboratory Accreditation Program for Voting System Testing Under the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (6/17/05) (html)
  
  
• NIST Handbook 150-22:2007, NVLAP Voting System Testing
  
  
• NIST Handbook 150, NVLAP Procedures and General Requirements
• NVLAP Fee Schedule