In order to complete this study I first did research on the web to locate voter registration vendors. Some were already well known, and others are rather obscure. I was able to find about 13 vendors that either have or claim to have VR software. I collected as much information as I could on each of those vendors and created a basic vendor listing with names, addresses and contact information.

I then prepared a survey that was sent to those vendors. That survey asked a number of technical questions along with basic company information. The items contained include:

Operating Systems Requirements.
Workstation and Server Requirements.
Type of Databases Used.
Programming Languages Used.
Type of Application—single app or multiple apps.
Scanning System Used.
Explanation of Scanning Technology.
Type of Storage for Image Files.
Operating Systems Used for Imaging.
Report Writer Technology Used.
Report Capability: description of ad hoc reporting, etc.
Listing of VR Modules.

Length of time in the VR business.
Number of employees.
Number of Support Reps.
Number of Jurisdictions where VR is in place.
States where support staff is maintained.
Largest Jurisdiction with VR product.
Listing of other services, such as tabulation.
Statewide System Plans.

Along with the survey was a request for brochures, manuals, electronic documents (.pdf files, etc.). Several firms did take the time to send quite extensive documentation. Without that, it is rather hard to make a detailed analysis of software without some kind of on-site visit to a county or a trip to that firm's office.

Surveys were returned from 3 of the 4 Top Tier Vendors. I received surveys from only 2 of the 5 2nd Tier Vendors

Vendors were contacted again as a follow up to remind them to submit surveys. I still hope that some vendors will follow through with a survey. However, I have to prepare a report based on the material I have. I also considered their return of the survey in my evaluation of that firm. Showing attention to detail and to requests from potential clients is a very important factor in assessing these firms. So, it wasn't lost on me that ES &S did not respond.

In requesting brochures and manuals in electronic form, I was planning to present this information in a web-based environment. I felt that it would be impossible to present this information in something like a straight written report. I then began the creation of a web site that would present the information gathered.

Based on the information from web sites, and surveys I divided the vendors into those three classifications. First Tier Vendors were vendors that had very comprehensive VR solutions. They had to be sold into large counties and across a fairly wide geographic area. Their products had to be very strong as well. Only 4 vendors I felt fit that criteria: ES & S, DFM, DIS and Votec.

Second Tier Vendors were vendors that had less comprehensive products, or had aging products. They can be firms that are in a state of decline, or they can also be firms that have good solid products but sell to a limited number of counties and states (like Tenex that has one client—Polk County, FL.).

Finally, the Other Vendor section was left to vendors that claimed to have VR products, but no information on the web could be found, and it was unclear if the product was a complete product or even in use. In some cases they can be vendors that supply merely parts of a VR product such as NVRA mailings.

Surveys were compiled and pages were added that allow you to compare each vendor's survey in that category. In addition, whatever manuals or brochures were added to each vendor's page.

Since the passage of HAVA, statewide systems are now mandatory. Therefore, I could not avoid the subject of statewide systems even as it was outside of the scope of this study. I complied information on the current state of statewide systems in all 50 states as well as whatever information I could find on statewide VR systems. I provided a review of election.com as they are a major player in this area with systems in Arkansas, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania.