Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Current Population Survey (CPS) Voting and Registration Supplement

AGENCY:

Census Bureau, Commerce.

ACTION:

Notice of information collection, request for comment.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment on the proposed reinstatement without change of the Current Population Survey Voting and Registration Supplement as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, prior to the submission of the information collection request (ICR) to OMB for approval.

DATES:

To ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on or before June 14, 2024.

ADDRESSES:

Interested persons are invited to submit written comments by email to Kyra Linse, Survey Director, Current Population Surveys via the internet at dsd.cps@census.gov. Please reference Current Population Survey (CPS) Basic Demographic Items in the subject line of your comments. You may also submit comments, identified by Docket Number USBC-2024-0006, to the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. All comments received are part of the public record. No comments will be posted to http://www.regulations.gov for public viewing until after the comment period has closed. Comments will generally be posted without change. All Personally Identifiable Information (for example, name and address) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected information. You may submit attachments to electronic comments in Microsoft Word, Excel, or Adobe PDF file formats.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or specific questions related to collection activities should be directed to Kyra Linse, Survey Director, Current Population Surveys via the internet at dsd.cps@census.gov, or by phone at 301-763-9280.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

The Census Bureau plans to request clearance from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the collection of data concerning the Voting and Registration Supplement to be conducted in conjunction with the November 2024 CPS. The Census Bureau sponsors the supplement questions, which have been previously collected in November biennially since 1964. The current clearance expired July 31, 2023.

This survey has provided statistical information for tracking historical trends of voter and nonvoter characteristics in each Presidential or Congressional election since 1964. The data collected from the November supplement relates demographic characteristics (age, sex, race, education, occupation, and income) to voting and nonvoting behavior. The November CPS supplement is the only federal survey that provides a comprehensive set of voter and nonvoter characteristics. Federal, state, and local election officials use these data to formulate policies relating to the voting and registration process. Academic researchers, political party committees, think tanks, and other private organizations also use the voting and registration data.

II. Method of Collection

The voting and registration information will be collected by both personal visit and telephone interviews in conjunction with the November CPS interviewing. All interviews are conducted using computer-assisted interviewing.

III. Data

OMB Control Number: 0607-0466.

Form Number(s): There are no forms. All interviews are conducted using computers.

Type of Review: Regular submission, Request for Reinstatement, without Change of a previously approved collection for which approval has expired.

Affected Public: Households.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 44,000.

Estimated Time per Response: 1.5 minutes.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1100.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: There is no cost to the respondents other than their time (This is not the cost of respondents' time, but the indirect costs respondents may incur for such things as purchases of specialized software or hardware needed to report, or expenditures for accounting or records maintenance services required specifically by the collection.)

Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.

Legal Authority: Title 13, U.S.C. 8(b), 141, and 182.

IV. Request for Comments

We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) Minimize the reporting burden on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of public record. We will include, or summarize, each comment in our request to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.