COMISION ESTATAL 
DE ELECC
IONES 
ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO 
Help America Vote Act of 2002 
Puerto Rico’s Plan for Implementation 
August 14, 2003 

August 14, 2003 
An open letter to all citizens: 
On July 8th, 2003 the Puerto Rico State Elections Commission presented a preliminary plan for 
the implementation of the “Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA)”, as required by law. The 
Commission disseminated copies of the Plan for public commentary and review through the 
press, public media and by posting it on the Government of Puerto Rico’s website. The 
Commission received responses and commentaries from individuals and organizations both in 
writing and at the public hearing held on August 4th, 2 003. The Commission will be responding 
individually to each one. 
This process of the design of the implementation of this Plan has given Puerto Rico an 
exceptional opportunity to continue to improve its election process and to involve a broad 
spectrum of the government and interested public into the discussion. This Plan has benefited 
from perspectives and suggestions of the members of the Puerto Rico HAVA Advisory 
Committee that represent the diverse constituencies that are a part of Puerto Rico’s electorate. 
Puerto Rico is already in compliance with many of the requirements under HAVA thanks to 
the foresight and vision of former and current Commissions and the initiative of the 
Commission staff. Indeed, Puerto Rico’s Electoral Law goes beyond these minimal 
requirements in the area of complaints, provisional ballots, the creation of a centralized voter 
registry and voter identification. For over twenty years, Puerto Rico has been at the forefront 
of the movement to make voting accessible to persons with disabilities. The Commission will 
continue working assiduously to improve and make elections accessible to each voter in 
Puerto Rico. 
The State Elections Commission is proud of the response and interest expressed by the 
Committee members and the citizens of Puerto Rico. 
Sincerely, 
Aurelio Gracia Morales 
President 

Help America Vote Act of 2002 
Table of Contents 
Page 
Background on Elections in Puerto Rico 1 
Unique Characteristics of Elections in Puerto Rico 3 
Section 1 – Achieving Compliance with HAVA in Puerto Rico 5 
o Achieving Compliance with Voting System Requirements in §301 of 5 
HAVA 
o Achieving Compliance with New Polling Place Requirements in §302 7 
o Achieving Compliance with New Registration Requirements in §303 of 9 
HAVA 
o Achieving Compliance with Military and Overseas Voters Requirements 12 
in Title VII of HAVA 
o Planned Activities to Achieve and Enhance Compliance with Title III 13 
o Projects to improve election administration (§101 funds) 14 
o Planned Activities to Improve Accessibility (§261 funds) 14 
Section 2 – Distribution and Monitoring of Requirements Payments 16 
Section 3 – Education and Training 16 
Section 4 – Voting System Guidelines and Processes 19 
Section 5 – Election Funds 20 
Section 6 – Budget for Title III Requirements 20 
Section 7 – Maintenance of Effort 23 
Section 8 – Performance Goals and Measures 24 
Section 9 – Grievance Procedure 25 
Section 10 – Budget for Title I Funds 26 
Section 11 – Management of the State Plan 26 
Section 12 – Changes from the Previous Year’s Plan 27 
Section 13 – HAVA Committee 27 
Appendix A – Summary of HAVA Requirements and Puerto Rico’s Compliance 1-A 
or Necessary Actions for Compliance 
Appendix B – Current Requirements for Voting Systems in Puerto Rico 13-A 

Comisión Estatal de Elecciones 
Page 1 
Background on Elections in Puerto Rico 
The Comisión Estatal de Elecciones de Puerto Rico (the Commonwealth Elections 
Commission or “the Commission”) is an independent, body constituted by a 
representative of each political party and responsible for all aspects of election 
administration in Puerto Rico. The current three commissioners are appointed by their 
respective political parties. If another political party were to meet the criteria to become 
a recognized party, a commissioner would be added to represent that party. 
The commissioners unanimously appoint a president for a four-year term. Subject to the 
unanimous consent of the other two parties’ commissioners, each of the parties appoints a 
vice president to serve a four-year term. 
Although all responsibility for elections resides with the Commission, a local commission 
carries out election administration duties at the local level. There are 110 local 
commissions serving 110 precincts with approximately 330 part-time local 
commissioners, 330 alternative part-time local commissioners and 110 judges serving 
part-time as presidents of local commissions. Local commissions review polling place 
procedures and handle local problems. 
While the local commissions have primary responsibility, a Junta de Inscripción 
Permanente (“JIP” or “registration board”) provides secretariat functions to these 
commissions, namely: (1) administering voter registration; (2) issuing voter 
identification; (3) assign voters to polling places; (4) transaction reports; and (5) submit 
monthly all transactions to local commission for approval. The Commonwealth 
Commission employs a staff of approximately 1000 people; of those, approximately 325 
staff the offices of JIPs. 
There is one General Election to elect all levels of public office and it is held every four 
years. In Puerto Rico Election Day is a holiday and it occurs on the first Tuesday after 
the first Monday in November of the same year the President of the United States is 
elected. The next general election will be held on November 2, 2004. 
Across Puerto Rico all polling places are open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Voter turnout 
traditionally ranges between 85 percent and 90 percent. Primaries for the general election 
are held in November of the prior year.1 Parties may also nominate candidates within 
party assemblies before the primaries. Special elections may be held if a vacancy occurs; 
in the last two years there have been five special elections. The Commission also 
conducts special elections for referenda, plebiscites and primaries. 
All voters in Puerto Rico cast paper ballots. On Election Day, Puerto Rican voters vote 
three separate paper ballots. On the first ballot, identical across Puerto Rico, Puerto 
1 By law beginning in 2005 Puerto Rico will hold its party primaries twelve days prior to Good Friday of 
the general election year. 

Comisión Estatal de Elecciones 
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Ricans elect their Governor and Resident Commissioner (Puerto Rico’s representative to 
Congress). Using a separate ballot, voters elect the entire Puerto Rican legislature (51 
members of the House of Representatives, including 11 at-large, and 27 members of the 
Senate, including 11 at-large). Finally, there is a third ballot for electing public officials 
in each of Puerto Rico’s 78 municipalities. In a general election there are more than 120 
different ballots. 
There are eight senate districts and forty legislative districts in Puerto Rico. Each of the 
representative districts may include from one to six precincts. Each of the senate districts 
may include six to eighteen precincts. There are 110 precincts in Puerto Rico, but these 
precincts are not equivalent to precincts as the term is traditionally used in the United 
States and within HAVA. Within these precincts there are currently 1694 election units. 
These election units are equivalent to precincts as the term is conventionally used, as 
each election unit is one physical polling place location. 
Since 1988 Puerto Rico has provided blind voters with a template that allows the blind to 
vote independently and in secret. In 1991, the template was modified to include Braille. 
Most polling places are totally accessible, and the Commission will this year survey all 
polling places and determine what more needs to be done to make all polling places 
totally accessible. The Commission intends to have all polling places (election units) 
totally accessible in advance of the next general election in 2004. 
Each election unit or polling place, typically a school or government building, will 
usually house between two and twelve colegios or colleges. The size of each college 
varies according to the type of election; in a general election approximately 375 voters 
will be assigned to each college. Voters are alphabetically assigned to colleges with one 
exception: within each election unit there is always one college for all provisional voters. 
The size of the provisional voting college cannot be determined in advance as it depends 
on the number of provisional voters. 
All colleges, except the provisional ballot college, will have a minimum of nine poll 
workers: three inspectors, three auxiliary inspectors and three secretaries. The chairman 
of the college is the inspector who represents the Governor’s party. Inspectors give the 
ballots and instructions to the voters. Special inspectors examine voters’ fingers when 
they arrive to ensure the voter has not already voted. Secretaries are in charge of the list. 
The provisional ballot college will only have two party workers for each party. 
After the polls close, each college will resolve any challenged votes and tally its votes. 
Only if there is unanimous consent in a challenge situation is the vote counted by the 
college.2 All colleges’ votes at the election unit are then tallied together. The election 
unit’s preliminary results are posted and then transmitted to the local election office 
where the election unit results are entered into the computer system and faxed to the 
Commonwealth Commission office. The Commission is responsible for issuing a 
preliminary certification of all results on Election Night. All materials, including all 
Uncounted ballots at the college level, whether challenge ballots or provisional ballots, are then sent directly to the Commission for 
resolution. 

Comisión Estatal de Elecciones 
Page 3 
ballots, are then transmitted to the Commission the night of the election where they are 
securely held until the official general count of all the results. 
The official count typically takes a couple of weeks to complete, and is conducted under 
the Commission’s auspices in San Juan. A team of party representatives and a 
representative of the Commission work to resolve challenges, determine the voter’s intent 
on ballots where local polling place officials were unable to reach a unanimous decision, 
and determine the eligibility of voters who cast provisional ballots. If this team fails to 
reach unanimous agreement on how to treat a ballot, the ballot next goes to the 
Commission for a decision. If there is no unanimous decision by the Commission, the 
President decides. 
Unique Characteristics of Elections in Puerto Rico 
The Commonwealth Commission is one of a handful of state election authorities that run 
centralized elections. While Puerto Rican law clearly delineates the responsibilities of 
the Commission, the local commissions and the local registration boards, the 
Commission, located in San Juan, has ultimate authority over the registration process – 
the Commission administers the registration database, for example – and over the 
counting of the ballots. As a consequence of this centralized system, some of the 
provisions in HAVA intended to shift responsibility and authority from the localities to 
the state election authority do not apply. 
In addition, Puerto Rico is exempt from the requirements of the National Voter 
Registration Act (NVRA). Specifically, Puerto Rico does not allow mail-in registration 
and no government agencies other than local registration boards may process voter 
registrations. Accordingly, certain provisions of HAVA intended to improve functions 
required under the NVRA do not apply in Puerto Rico. 
As noted above, Puerto Rico is exempt from the National Voter Registration Act and, 
therefore, exempt from those provisions of §303 that require a state to use list-cleaning 
procedures prescribed by NVRA in administering the computerized list, including 
§303(a)(2) and §303(a)(4). The U.S. Department of Justice has confirmed this exemption 
in a letter to the Secretary of State of Alabama on March 17, 2003. That being said, the 
Commission coordinates its list with the Civil Registry records, which include death 
records. Felons convicted in Puerto Rico have the right to vote, and, therefore, there is no 
need to coordinate records on felony convictions. 
Under this same exemption, Puerto Rico does not permit voters to register by mail except 
for those voters covered under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting 
Act (UOCAVA). Since Puerto Rico does not otherwise allow voters to register by mail, 
§303(b) of HAVA, which requires mail-in registrants voting for the first time to provide 
identification, does not apply to Puerto Rico. 
In addition to these provisions, the provision required in the State Plan under §254(a)(2) 
also does not apply. This provision requires the State to describe how it will distribute 

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Page 4 
and monitor funds to units of local government. Although there are local election offices 
– the local registration boards – these are not separate local government entities as named 
in this provision but rather field offices. The Commonwealth Commission will be the sole 
agency authorized to expend federal funds received under HAVA. 

Comisión Estatal de Elecciones 
Page 5 
Section 1: Achieving Compliance with HAVA in Puerto Rico 
How the State will use the requirements payment to meet the requirements 
of Title III, and, if applicable under §251(a)(2), to carry out other activities 
to improve the administration of elections. – HAVA §254 (a)(1) 
See Appendix A for a summary chart detailing Puerto Rico’s current compliance with 
the requirements of HAVA and, where Puerto Rico is not in compliance, actions that 
will be taken to meet the requirements. 
Puerto Rico is in a unique quandary. According to the 2000 census, Puerto Rico’s voting 
age population is 2.7 million, a significantly larger population than in many states. 
According to a calculation by the Congressional Research Service using the formula 
based on voting age population established in the Help America Vote Act, Puerto Rico 
could receive up to $37,362,313 in funds available for assisting in meeting the new 
federal requirements. Puerto Rico is also authorized to receive $3, 410,128 in early 
money. Puerto Rico is therefore authorized to receive a total of $40,772,441. In the 
FY2003 congressional appropriation, however, funds to Puerto Rico were capped at $4 
million. Even the District of Columbia, which has a population of less than 600,000, 
received a guaranteed minimum of $5 million. In sum, Puerto Rico with a significant 
population is being expected to meet mandatory requirements without receiving 
appropriate – and congressionally authorized – resources relative to other states and 
territories. 
The challenge for Puerto Rico, then, is to meet the mandatory requirements without any 
guarantee of sufficient requirements payments. Unless the funding inequity is resolved, 
Puerto Rico is severely constrained in the options available for meeting the requirements. 
The following Plan reflects these constraints. 
Puerto Rico’s current level of compliance with the requirements of both Title III and Title 
VII of HAVA is summarized in Appendix A. 
Achieving Compliance with Voting System Requirements in §301 of HAVA 
HAVA requires that all voting systems used in federal elections meet certain new 
requirements by 2006. These requirements include the following: all voting systems 
must (1) give the voter an opportunity to review and correct the ballot secretly and 
independently prior to voting; (2) provide a permanent paper record of ballots cast; (3) be 
accessible to voters with disabilities; (4) provide alternative language ballots in 
jurisdictions required to do so under the Voting Rights Act; and (5) not exceed the error 
rate established by the Federal Election Commission. 
Puerto Rico now uses a paper ballot voting system in which all ballots are hand-counted. 
Current law in Puerto Rico requires that all voters cast ballots on a single type of voting 
system. During the 1980’s Puerto Rico began considering changing to a new system and, 
in preparing for the change, the Commission adopted a set of criteria for any voting 

Comisión Estatal de Elecciones 
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system and notified the legislature in several reports (see Appendix B for listing of 
current Puerto Rico voting system requirements). The first criterion on the list called for 
preserving the paper ballot system. 
The Commission has sole authority to purchase voting equipment and directs all activities 
of its statewide, uniform voting system. The Commission also has responsibility for 
designing, printing and distributing all ballots. There are three ballots in every general 
election: (1) the statewide ballot that includes the Governor and the Resident 
Commissioner (Puerto Rico’s representative to Congress); (2) a ballot that includes 
candidates for the Puerto Rico legislature; and (3) a ballot with local municipal 
candidates. 
Under HAVA, Puerto Rico may continue to use its paper ballot system. HAVA explicitly 
states that nothing in the law prohibits a state from continuing to use the same system it 
used in the 2000 election so long as the system meets or is modified to meet the new 
requirements. The law further asserts that the requirement that each system allow the 
voter to “verify” his or her choices prior to voting may not be defined in such a way as to 
make it impossible for a paper ballot system to meet this requirement. 
In complying with these requirements, Puerto Rico, like many states, faces a challenge in 
making the electoral process, including the vote-casting process, accessible to voters with 
disabilities. Puerto Rico has adapted its current system to the needs of blind voters by 
giving them the option of using a Braille template for all ballots. The instructions, 
including the names and numbers of the candidates, on the template are in Braille. For 
blind voters who do not use Braille training is available prior to the election to familiarize 
the voter with the ballot and the position of the candidates. Polling place officials will, 
when requested, provide verbal instructions for any voter requesting audible instructions 
so they can vote privately and independently. 
Since the early 1980’s the Commission by regulation has reviewed, adopted and 
distributed uniform definitions of what constitutes a valid vote for all paper ballots for 
both the initial count and any recount prior to each general election. 
For several years Puerto Rico has been considering changing to an optical scan system, as 
it preserves the paper ballot system. Puerto Rico has conducted pilot projects using 
optical scan ballots. The Commission is now beginning to explore other options. Various 
surveys of both electors and election officials indicated broad support for modernizing 
the vote casting and counting system. 
To meet the requirements of §301 of HAVA – 
The Commission will review options to determine which system can meet the standards 
required by HAVA, in particular the standard for guaranteeing access to voters with 
disabilities, as well as criteria established by the Commission and approved by the 
legislature. 

Comisión Estatal de Elecciones 
Page 7 
If necessary, the Commission will establish certification standards for vote casting and 
vote counting equipment, and ensure these standards fully comply with the requirements 
of §301, including voter verification (in a private and independent manner), audit 
capacity, accessibility and error rates. The Commission expects that such standards, if 
established, would also be consistent with Federal Election Commission’s voluntary 
voting system standards. (Puerto Rico has been looking at equipment in use in other Latin 
American countries that has not yet passed the voluntary guidelines as such equipment is 
not yet being marketed in the United States.) 
The Commission will modify the existing voting systems to meet the accessibility 
requirements of §301. The particular option chosen will be contingent, in part, on the 
funds available. If sufficient federal funds are available, the Commission will consider 
using FY04 and FY05 Title II funds to meet the new voting system standards. 
The Commission will ensure that if any voting or vote counting equipment is purchased, 
that it will be able to provide for alternative language accessibility (§301(a)(4)). 
The Commission will revise its instructions to voters and include specific instructions 
directing voters to review their ballot choices and the effect of voting for more than one 
candidate. In addition to revising current instructions, the Commission will conduct a 
special multi-media education outreach on the voting process (§301(a)(1)). 
The Commission will continue, as necessary, to update its uniform definitions of what 
constitutes a vote (§301(a)(6)). 
Achieving Compliance with New Polling Place Requirements in §302 
Puerto Rico currently administers both a provisional ballot process and a challenge ballot 
process to protect the rights of eligible voters. 
Provisional Ballots 
Under the process for administering provisional ballots (called añadidos a mano, a 
reference to the process of manually adding names to the list), voters who show up in a 
polling place but whose names are not on the voter registration list are directed to a 
special college within the election unit. They are issued a regular ballot that is set aside 
in a special envelope and counted only if the voter is found to be eligible. Each polling 
place has multiple colleges, this special college is somewhat like an absentee ballot 
precinct, which has no voters regularly assigned, but on Election Day has votes assigned 
to it for reporting purposes. 
As a matter of practice, the polling place official first attempts to determine why the 
voter’s name is not on the list. An official at the polling place checks the precinct or 
municipality register to discover if the voter is on the list but not in the correct polling 
place or precinct. If the name is not on the precinct list, the voter is permitted to go to the 
Junta de Inscripción Permanente (JIP or local registration board) to determine if his or 
her name is on the official statewide list and the proper polling place where he is 

Comisión Estatal de Elecciones 
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registered. Alternatively, the voter is permitted to vote by this special procedure at that 
polling place. 
If the voter votes a provisional ballot, but is not in his own proper polling place, the 
provisional ballot is counted to the extent the voter is eligible to vote the ballot. For 
example, all provisional votes for the statewide ballot, such as votes for Governor and 
Resident Commissioner, will be counted, so long as the voter is registered in Puerto Rico. 
If the voter is registered and votes within his legislative district, even if not at his polling 
place, his vote for legislative representative will also be counted. His vote for municipal 
office would only be counted if he is registered within the municipality. All these 
decisions are made prior to opening the envelope to preserve the secrecy. 
In order to receive a ballot in this special college, the voter must sign an affidavit on the 
special envelope swearing that he or she is a registered voter in the jurisdiction and 
eligible to vote and receives a second envelope to deposit his ballot. The voter is given 
information about the process, including the how to confirm whether or not the vote was 
counted. 
Provisional ballots are kept separate from other ballots when they are sent to the 
Commission office for the official canvass of the votes. Following Election Day, 
Commission staff will research the eligibility of each provisional ballot voter. Once the 
investigation is completed, those votes cast for offices for which a voter is eligible to vote 
are counted. The research of the voter’s eligibility and the counting of provisional votes 
are carried out by separate officials in order to preserve the secrecy of the ballots. All the 
parties are represented in both processes. 
Following the election, all voters who cast ballots in this special college can access 
information on the disposition of the ballot either by means of a toll-free automated 
phone system or by visiting the local office. Only the voter who cast the provisional 
ballot has access to information on whether the ballot was counted. 
Challenged voters vote in the regular college, but their votes are segregated from regular 
ballots. The college inspectors review the challenge at the polling place on Election Day 
after the polls close. If the inspectors come to a unanimous decision the ballot is added to 
the college’s voted ballots for counting. 
If the inspectors cannot come to a unanimous decision, or if they unanimously decide not 
to count the ballot, the challenged ballot will be kept separate in a specially identified 
envelope from other ballots of the college when they are sent to the Commission office 
for a final review.3 Following Election Day, Commission staff will research the 
eligibility of each challenged ballot voter. This investigation process is open to public 
viewing. Once the investigation is completed, if the voter is eligible, his or her vote is 
3 Only the Commission can invalidate a ballot, though the local commission can unanimously decide to count a ballot and this 
decision does not proceed to the Commission. If the Commission cannot come to a unanimous decision, the President decides 
whether a ballot will be counted. 

Comisión Estatal de Elecciones 
Page 9 
added to the other votes counted within the college. All the parties are represented in this 
process. 
(Changes to the challenge ballot process will not apply to the regular practice of 
challenging the ballots of poll workers since those voters are allowed to cast a ballot and 
those ballots are automatically counted.) 
While Puerto Rico is largely in compliance with the provisional ballot requirement under 
§302, some minor changes are necessary. 
To meet the requirements of §302(a) of HAVA -• 
While in practice all voters who claim to be eligible are allowed to vote a ballot 
either by voting in the special college or voting a challenged ballot, the law 
specifies certain circumstances under which voters are denied the right to cast a 
ballot. The law will need to be amended to ensure that every voter meeting the 
circumstances defined in HAVA §302 is issued a ballot. 
• The Commission will amend the challenge ballot to ensure the protections given 
to the voters who cast ballots in the special college, such as the protection of 
secrecy, are given to challenged voters as well. 
Posting of Voter Information 
Voting information is currently posted at all polling places in Puerto Rico on Election 
Day. Most of the information required by HAVA is posted already, but the Commission 
will review and revise all materials prior to the 2004 Presidential and party primaries to 
ensure that it is compliant with HAVA. 
To meet the requirements of §302(b) of HAVA, the Commission will post the following 
information at every polling place: information on the date of the election and the hours 
for voting; general information on voting rights under applicable federal and Puerto 
Rican laws, including information on the right to cast a provisional ballot and how to 
proceed if these rights have been violated; and information on federal and Puerto Rican 
laws regarding fraud and misrepresentation. 
Voters Casting Their Votes After the Polls Close 
Under current law in Puerto Rico, voters who vote after the polls close due to a court 
order already have their ballots segregated and held apart from other provisional ballots. 
Achieving Compliance with New Registration Requirements in §303 of 
HAVA 
Centralized, Statewide, Computerized Voter Registration List 
Puerto Rico already complies with §303 requirement for a centralized, statewide, 
computerized voter registration list. The Commission maintains and administers a single 
database that stores the records of every legally registered Puerto Rican voter, both active 

Comisión Estatal de Elecciones 
Page 10 
and inactive.4 By the end of calendar year 2003, the computerized database will include 
digitized photos and signatures of all voters. All 92 local offices of the Commission have 
online access to the complete database, which is used as the official list in every 
election. The database was originally established on a mainframe computer and is now a 
hybrid system, using both a mainframe and PCs. Authorized users can access the 
database online and in real time. A voter can access information regarding his or her 
record via a toll-free automated telephone system or via the Internet. 
For the purposes of tracking voters, the Commission assigns each voter a unique 
identifier that is a randomly generated number. Currently, the voter registration form 
requests the voter’s Social Security Number, but does not require the number in order for 
the voter to register to vote. 
The local offices have responsibility for keeping the list up-to-date –adding names, 
deleting names and address changes– a process described in greater detail below; changes 
entered into the list by a local offices can be viewed immediately by Commission 
officials, including those at the other local Commission offices. Lists for each polling 
place are printed from the official Puerto Rico-wide list. The Commission prints and 
distributes the lists used at each polling place. 
Puerto Rican law and the Commission have established strict protocols to protect the 
voter information contained in the database. The Commission does not share this voter 
information with any other Puerto Rico agency, including the court system.5 
Certain provisions in §303 do not apply to Puerto Rico, which was exempted from the 
requirements of the National Voter Registration Act. Puerto Rico does, however, receive 
birth and death records from the Civil Registry, which it matches against voter records 
for the purpose of keeping the list current. The local office staff must verify such data 
prior to removing a voter from the list. 
The Puerto Rico-wide computerized voter registration system, after the upgrade that is in 
process, will be unique among current U.S. statewide systems in that each voter record 
will contain a photographic image of the voter. Beginning in 2004, the list printed out for 
use at the polling place will also contain this photo image. All voters currently receive a 
voter identification card from the Commission, which must be presented on Election Day, 
and that ID card will use the same photo. The two photos (the one on the card and the 
one printed on the list) and the signature will be matched at the polling place on Election 
Day prior to the voter casting a vote. Currently, if the voter shows up on Election Day 
without his voter identification card, the voter may not vote without this card; he may, 
however, go to the local office and a request a duplicate ID card and return to vote. 
4 
Inactive voters under the Puerto Rican system do not refer to those made inactive under NVRA. Puerto Rico keeps in its database 
all prior voters who are no longer eligible, whether they are no longer Puerto Rico residents, dead, or otherwise no longer actively 
registered with its correspondent codification. 
5 
By agreement, the Commission, using parameters given to it by the court, will create a modified version of the list for the purpose of 
selecting citizens for jury duty. 

Comisión Estatal de Elecciones 
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Puerto Rico employs a stringent list maintenance process that is open to all voters, but 
relies heavily on the efforts of local parties. In Puerto Rico all voters must apply to 
register or change their address in person at the local election office; there is a ten-day 
period for challenging any such additions or changes at the local office. In addition, there 
is a specified period for challenging voter registrations based on residency that occurs 
before each general election, from January 15 to May15. During this period, the 
Commission conducts a vigorous multi-media public outreach campaign to inform voters 
that they need to register or update their address. The local parties conduct their own 
investigation and public outreach that may include in-person inquiries to track new 
voters, voters new to the municipality and voters of the other parties whose status may 
have changed. 
During this five-month period during a general election year, parties challenge names on 
the list based on information that the voter’s residency has changed (challenges based on 
residency are not allowed on Election Day). Challenges are made public and voters who 
wish to appeal are given an opportunity to appeal the change and present evidence at a 
public hearing. Even if the proposed challenge is unopposed by the voter, or others on 
his behalf, the challenger must present evidence to the local commission and they must 
unanimously decide to remove the voter in order to remove the voter’s name from the 
list. If there is not a unanimous decision on the challenge, the challenge must be decided 
by the President of the local commission. 
In addition, the Commission receives data from other agency databases and will compare 
that data to the voter list. If a discrepancy between the voter list and other Puerto Rico 
databases emerges, the Commission will notify the local election official who is 
responsible for verifying the voter information and resolving the discrepancy. 
Computerized list maintenance requirements 
As noted above, Puerto Rico is exempt from the National Voter Registration Act and, 
therefore, exempt from those provisions of §303 that require a state to use list-cleaning 
procedures prescribed by NVRA in administering the computerized list, including 
303(a)(2) and 303(a)(4). The US Department of Justice has confirmed this exemption in 
a letter to the Secretary of State of Alabama on March 17, 2003. That being said, the 
Commission coordinates its list with the Civil Registry records, which include death 
records. Felons convicted in Puerto Rico have the right to vote, and, therefore, there is no 
need to coordinate records on felony convictions. 
Requirements for mail-in registrants 
Puerto Rico, which is exempt from the National Voter Registration Act, does not permit 
voters to register by mail except for those voters covered under the Uniformed and 
Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA). Such voters who register by mail 
are only allowed to vote in federal elections, however. Consequently, §303(b) does not 
apply to Puerto Rico since voters covered by UOCAVA are exempt from the requirement 
affecting first-time, mail-in registrants and no other voters register by mail. 
To meet the requirements of §303 of HAVA -- 

Comisión Estatal de Elecciones 
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• The Commission will modify the registration form to require (a) from those voters 
who have been issued a driver’s license the license number, and (b) from all other 
voters the last four digits of the voter’s Social Security Number. (Puerto Rico 
currently requests the voter’s whole Social Security Number, though it is not a 
requirement in order to become a registered voter.) Any person attempting to 
register who does not have either number will, as has always been the case, be 
assigned a unique identifier. Additionally, all other voters, regardless of which 
number they provide, will continue to be issued a unique identifier. 
• The voter registration database will be modified to store the driver’s license 
number or last four digits of the Social Security Number information as part of the 
voter record. 
• The chief election official will need to enter into an agreement with the head of 
the Puerto Rico Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTOP) in order 
to receive and compare data from DTOP. Under the exemption from the National 
Voter Registration Act, the DTOP, which issues driver’s licenses, does not 
provide voter registration, and so the Commission does not currently match 
information with DTOP records. HAVA additionally requires that the head of 
DTOP enter into an agreement with the Social Security Administration to match 
data. 
Achieving Compliance with Military and Overseas Voters Requirements in 
Title VII of HAVA 
Puerto Rico already has a designated central office of Junta Administrativa de Voto 
Ausente (Administrative Board of Absentee Voters) or JAVA. This office is responsible 
for providing information to all UOCAVA voters, as well as all other absentee voters. 
This office is the only office in Puerto Rico that accepts Federal Voting Assistance 
Program voter registration applications, applications for absentee ballots and absentee 
ballots. This office also counts all the absentee votes for Puerto Rico, whether from 
UOCAVA voters or any other absentee voters. On Election Day, it functions, essentially, 
as an absentee precinct for all of Puerto Rico. 
Anyone can get a copy of the application for an absentee ballot from the Internet or any 
election office and send it to an eligible federal absentee voter, but only the voter can sign 
the application for the ballot, or the envelope affidavit that accompanies the returned 
ballot. The application may be mailed or faxed back to the JAVA office; the absentee 
ballot must be mailed back to the JAVA. 
By law, the JAVA office coordinates with the Department of Defense to get contact 
information for all Puerto Rican servicemen, and then contacts them with election 
information. 

Comisión Estatal de Elecciones 
Page 13 
The JAVA office already collects statistics on the number of absentee ballots transmitted, 
and those returned and counted. These are made publicly available now in a report done 
after the conclusion of each election. 
Planned Activities to Achieve and Enhance Compliance with Title III 
Pilot project for new voting system 
The Commission is planning to conduct a pilot project to test the use of voting systems 
that meet the requirements of §301. The project will test the use either of optical scan 
ballots and in-precinct counters or touch-screen voting systems. This project will include 
training voters, producing materials, equipment rental, licenses, technical support and an 
evaluation of the results. The project would be carried out across an entire precinct at 
least. (Estimated cost: $1 million) 
Reengineering of voter registration database 
Puerto Rico’s voter registration system was originally developed on a mainframe 
computer system. The system has been hybridized and is administered both using the 
mainframe and personal computers. In order to improve the efficiency and greatly reduce 
the time required for certain operations –and to make the system more user-friendly– the 
Commission will reengineer its system so that voter records will be stored on the 
mainframe but most operations will be carried out using personal computers. As part of 
this reengineering, the database will be modified to store the new information required as 
part of the registration process under §303. (Estimated cost: $750,000) 
Address correction project 
The Commission will conduct a project to convert the postal address of voter records 
previous to 1999 into a format consistent with the format used by the postal service. This 
conversion to make the address formats consistent will allow the Commission to conduct 
mailings without producing returned mail, which in Puerto Rico can prompt a challenge 
to the voter’s eligibility. (Estimated cost: $125,000) 
Verification of Data Assignments (Mapificación) 
The Commission will upgrade its system for linking the voter registration database with 
jurisdictional maps to improve the process for both assigning voters to electoral units and 
determining appropriate and effective electoral unit boundaries. (Estimated cost: $1.2 
million) 
Mobile Units for Voter Registration 
To improve the accessibility of registration to persons in remote areas, older persons in 
nursing homes and persons with disabilities (Puerto Rico requires in-person registration), 
the Commission will add eight new mobile registration units. The Commission is 
considering expanding their service to include voting. The Commission will pay for the 
new mobile units using §252 funds. (Estimated cost: $70,000) 

Comisión Estatal de Elecciones 
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Projects to improve election administration (§101 funds) 
Transferring paper files to microfilm 
Currently the Commission keeps paper records, which requires maintaining a warehouse 
and special conditions necessary for storing paper. The Commission intends purchase 
equipment that will enable the Commission simultaneously to digitalize these records and 
transfer them to microfilm. (Estimated cost: $400,000) 
Mechanized distribution controls 
Implementing mechanized controls for the distribution of election materials to the local 
election offices. Since the ballots, registration lists and all other election materials are 
produced by the Commission and distributed to the local offices, procedures to ensure the 
accuracy and reliability of this process is vitally important. This project will significantly 
reduce the possibility of errors in the process. (Estimated cost: $120,000) 
Equipment upgrade for local election offices 
The local election offices are currently hampered by out-of-date equipment. The 
Commission intends to upgrade older equipment and purchase multi-functional 
equipment that can serve as a printer, fax machine, photocopier and scanner for these 
offices. (Estimated cost: $300,000) 
Computers for mobile units 
To improve the accessibility of registration to persons in remote areas, older persons in 
nursing homes and persons with disabilities (Puerto Rico requires in-person registration), 
the Commission will, as noted above, add eight new mobile registration units. These 
mobile units will need to be equipped with computers, cell phones and other electronic 
devices integral to the registration process. (Estimated cost: $90,000) 
HAVA administration and planning 
The Commission intends to use some §251 funding for education and training of 
Commission officials in the requirements of HAVA. In addition, the Commission will 
invest in a planning process to facilitate effective implementation of the new law in a way 
that both complies with the law and is appropriate to Puerto Rico. (Estimated cost: 
$250,000) 
Planned Activities to Improve Accessibility (§261 funds) 
Puerto Rico has a long history of working to make the electoral process accessible to 
voters with disabilities. Even before the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, 
the Commission developed a template device that would allow blind voters to vote a 
paper ballot in secrecy. Puerto Rico instituted mobile units that, in effect, take the 
electoral process to the voter. These efforts are ongoing. Puerto Rico is continuing to 
strive for complete accessibility. Funds authorized under HAVA will help make 
accessibility a reality. 

Comisión Estatal de Elecciones 
Page 15 
Voters with disabilities confront two different kinds of obstacles to in-person 
participation in the elections process – barriers to the polling place and obstacles involved 
the process of casting a vote. Puerto Rico has addressed and will continue to address 
both these challenges. HAVA provides two different funding streams for addressing 
these problems. Under §261 of HAVA, Congress authorized $100 million over three 
years to states to improve the accessibility of polling places. The Commission anticipates 
that Puerto Rico will receive $151,345 from the Department of Health and Human 
Services under this grant. States will use a portion of the requirements payments 
authorized under §257 to make voting systems accessible. 
Using funds authorized under §261, the Commission is undertaking several initiatives to 
make polling stations – and the voting process as a whole – more accessible. The 
Commission has invited organizations representing the disability community to work in 
partnership on this effort and has begun discussions with the National Federation of the 
Blind, among others. Projects funded under this grant include the following: 
Eliminating barriers to polling stations 
The Commission is conducting an extensive survey of all existing and alternative polling 
stations to determine what barriers still exist and how the barriers might be eliminated. 
The Commission will target a portion of this funding to building ramps and making other 
improvements to remove physical barriers. 
Training and accessibility manual 
The Commission believes better education and training of local election officials and 
polling place workers will be an important component in eliminating barriers. In 
addition, the Commission, working closely with the members of the disability 
community, is producing special training and manual for local election officials and 
polling place workers on how to accommodate the needs of all voters with disabilities. 
Opening up the voting process 
The Commission is currently considering how best to meet the requirement under §301 to 
make voting systems accessible. Some additional improvements can be made. For 
example, the Commission intends to purchase aids for voters with disabilities, such as 
audiotapes for use by blind voters and magnifying glasses for voters whose sight is 
impaired. 
In addition, the Commission is developing a voice-activated telephone system, which will 
include TTY, to make it easier for all voters to access voter information. 

Comisión Estatal de Elecciones 
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Section 2 – Distribution and monitoring of 
Requirements Payments 
How the State will distribute and monitor the distribution of the requirements 
payment to units of local government or other entities in the State for 
carrying out the activities described in paragraph (1) including a description 
of – 
(A) The criteria to be used to determine the eligibility of such units or 
entities for receiving the payment; and 
(B) The methods to be used by the State to monitor the performance 
of the units or entities to whom the payment is distributed, 
consistent with the performance goals and measures adopted 
under paragraph (8). – HAVA §254 (a)(2) 
There are no units of local government or other entities in Puerto Rico that will receive or 
spend HAVA funds; the Commission will receive, spend and account for all federal funds 
received under HAVA. The Commission will manage all activities funded by the 
requirements payments authorized under Title II of HAVA. The Commission will adhere 
to federal and state accounting policies and standards when using federal funds. 
Section 3 – Education and Training 
How the State will provide for programs of voter education, election official 
education and training, and poll worker training which will assist the State in 
meeting the requirements of Title III. – HAVA §254 (a)(3) 
Puerto Rico already has an aggressive program of voter education, election official 
education and training and poll worker training. Puerto Rico also provides information 
at the polling places on Election Day. These programs will continue to be funded 
through the Commission’s regular budget. HAVA funds will be used to pay for special 
voter education necessary under HAVA outlined in this Plan. 
Election Official Training 
The Commission has an extensive training program for new state election officials who 
staff the 92 local offices. This week-long training includes training on the voter 
registration system and training on all office procedures. This training includes testing 
and officials who do not pass these tests properly will not be kept on as local officials 
until they have successfully completed the training. In addition, whenever there is a 
change in any procedures, there will be periodic training for all these local office 
officials, and during the general election year there is always a formal training program 
of at least three days of training on all the regulations and procedures that is offered on a 
regional basis. 

Comisión Estatal de Elecciones 
Page 17 
The Commission also trains the local party participants who make up the 110 part-time 
local commissions. New local party participants receive individual training by the 
Commission staff. In addition, all local party participants will be given training in an 
election year. The local commission president is always a state judge appointed by the 
President of the Puerto Rico Supreme Court. These judges receive training on election 
responsibilities during their judicial training by staff of the Commission, and receive 
additional training during the general election year. 
Once the new requirements under HAVA have been established in regulations, the 
Commission will evaluate and modify the training program and the materials to include 
the new procedures and modify those procedures that need to be changed. 
The Commission has a staff of inspector auditors with responsibility for auditing the 
procedures of the local offices and address local precinct commission problems and 
issues. These inspector auditors will be charged with monitoring compliance with new 
HAVA requirements at the local level. 
The procedures, including HAVA procedures once they have been finalized, are captured 
in multiple written manuals. The Commission is in the process of making these manuals 
available to the election officials on a website, which will also be available to the general 
public. 
Polling Place Official Training6 
Polling place officials are trained by their respective parties; Commission staff provides 
support for each party’s training sessions. The parties use materials developed by the 
Commission. The parties administer their own tests to ensure their party polling place 
workers understand the materials. They also simulate ballot casting in their training. 
The Commission provides at least twelve hours of training to “train the trainers” in 
polling place procedures and provides a manual on Election Day procedures. The polling 
place procedures are also reduced to a one-hour video aired on public television. 
All of these materials will be modified once the new requirements under HAVA have 
been established in regulation. They will include new procedures required under HAVA 
and necessary alterations to current procedures. 
Voter Education 
• The Commission prepares Public Service Announcements for distribution to 
newspapers, radio and television stations. Periodically the Commission will 
produce educational programs for public television to run multiple times. 
Polling places in Puerto Rico are staffed entirely by the political parties. Each political party provides three officials in each college. 
The parties are responsible for the training. 

Comisión Estatal de Elecciones 
Page 18 
• The Commission does extensive voter outreach to community and civic 
associations, clubs, schools, and any other groups that request such presentations. 
The Commission pays particular attention to conduct extensive demonstration of 
pilot or new voting equipment to these organizations. 
• After each election the staffs of the local offices go to every high school to 
register all students who will be eligible by the next general election. These 
students may be as young as 15 who are being registered, as the general elections 
are held every four years. 
• The mobile local unit travels to colleges to register university students, elderly in 
nursing homes and those in more remote or underserved communities. 
• Publicize election information in grocery stores, schools, certain high traffic 
government agencies, such as social services and health department offices, 
public buses, and libraries and on the Internet. 
• Make appropriate resource material available for high school teachers and college 
professors for their appropriate courses on the electoral process (developed jointly 
by teachers or university level professors and Commission staff) and ensure that it 
stays up to date. 
• Ensure that other appropriate websites link to the Commission’s web site. 
In addition to the current programs, Puerto Rico plans to provide the following voter 
education initiatives under HAVA – 
• In compliance with §301, the Commission will revise its instructions to voters and 
include specific instructions directing voters to review their ballot choices and the effect 
of voting for more than one candidate. In addition to revising current instructions, the 
Commission will conduct a special multi-media education outreach on the voting process. 
• If the Commission continues to pilot voting equipment they will set up voting 
equipment for practice sessions and mock elections, especially at shopping malls, 
and public places. In such cases the Commission plans to require that voting 
equipment vendors provide practice machines and include training in their 
contracts. In addition, in such cases the Commission would look to require that 
vendors provide emulation software as part of their package so that the 
Commission could create interactive web pages for that type of voting equipment, 
which would include a voting demonstration and allow the voter to practice 
voting. 
• The Commission will ensure that its web site is accessible to the disabled voters. 

Comisión Estatal de Elecciones 
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Section 4 – Voting System Guidelines and Processes 
How the State will adopt voting system guidelines and processes which are 
consistent with the requirements of §301. – HAVA §254 (a)(4) 
Currently, all of Puerto Rico’s voters use paper ballots that are hand counted. This 
process is established in Puerto Rico law. It is likely that the Commission will replace 
this system with a new system that meets the requirements of §301 rather than adapting 
its current system, which will probably require a legislative change. However, this 
decision has not yet been made. 
The Commission has established a set of criteria for any voting system (Appendix B). 
While these criteria were not formally adopted by the legislature, the Commission has 
notified the legislature of the criteria in a series of reports. The first criterion on the list 
called for preserving the paper ballot system. Accordingly, pilot projects testing other 
voting systems have been limited to tests using optical scanning voting equipment that 
uses a paper ballot. 
Any significant change in the voting system used in Puerto Rico requires the following 
process: 
(1) The Commission’s Technical Committee will review and recommend any change in 
voting system to the Commission. Most likely, new equipment will be expected to pass a 
Qualification Test (conducted by an independent testing authority), a Certification Test 
(conducted by the Technical Committee and/or a consultant on retainer to the 
Commission) and Acceptance Tests on receipt of the purchased equipment. Vendors 
would also be expected to provide detailed technical and corporate financial information. 
(2) The Commission would review the current criteria for voting systems and recommend 
changes to ensure they are consistent with the requirements of §301 and the voluntary 
voting system standards produced by the Federal Election Commission. The 
Commission would submit proposed changes to the legislature. The legislature may or 
may not choose to draft legislation to change the voting system or establish the criteria in 
law. 
All blind voters are provided the option of a Braille template for all ballots. The 
instructions, including the names and numbers of the candidates, in the template are in 
Braille. In addition, for those who do not use Braille there is training prior to the election 
for the blind about who is in each column and position. Polling place officials will, when 
asked, provide verbal instructions for any voter requesting audible instructions so they 
can vote privately and independently. 
The Commission will continue current practice, dating back to the 1980’s, and, before 
each general election, update its uniform definitions of what constitutes a vote. 

Comisión Estatal de Elecciones 
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Section 5 – Election Funds 
How the State will establish a fund described in subsection (b) for purposes 
of administering the State’s activities under this part, including information 
on fund management. – HAVA §254 (a)(5) 
The Puerto Rico Department of Revenue (Departamento de Hacienda) will establish a 
separate Election Fund Account through an administrative procedure as directed by 
Puerto Rico law. The President and the Members of the Commission approve the projects 
and use of the funds. The Commission’s Office of Budget (Oficina de Presupuesto) 
administers the distribution of funds and establishes controls. The funds are released 
directly and are not commingled with the Commission’s budget. The Office of Budget 
will be set up account codes that will allow the Commission to track receipts and 
disbursements. 
Once a budget is established for the projects to be carried out with the Election Fund 
Account, the Office of Budgets prepares a projection of expenses reflecting the budget, 
the expense and the balance. This report is sent to the Commission President and its 
Members on a monthly basis for review. The Office of Budget controls the expenditures 
to ensure that funds are properly used and not overspent. The State Department of 
Revenue and the Commission work with the agency’s Office of Budget and the Office of 
Finance to ensure that fund management follows all appropriate federal and state policies 
and procedures. 
Section 6 – Budget for Title III Requirements 
The State’s proposed budget for activities under this part, based on the 
State’s best estimates of the costs of such activities and the amount of funds 
to be made available, including specific information on (A) the costs of the 
activities required to be carried out to meet the requirements of Title III; (B) 
the portion of the requirements payment which will be used to carry out 
activities to meet such requirements; and (C) the portion of the requirements 
payment which will be used to carry out other activities. HAVA §254 (a)(6) 
Puerto Rico faces a significant challenge in developing an accurate and realistic budget 
for coming into compliance with the requirements of Title III. While it is possible for 
Puerto Rico to achieve compliance with the voting system requirements while 
maintaining its paper ballot system, the voters and election officials support 
modernization and, certainly, Puerto Rico could both meet the new requirements more 
effectively and implement a system appropriate for Puerto Rico’s unique election system. 
These goals are achievable, however, only if Puerto Rico receives the amount it was 
originally authorized. The discrepancy between the funds authorized for Puerto Rico – 
an amount that was based on population – and the amount appropriated in FY 2003 
severely limits the available options. 

Comisión Estatal de Elecciones 
Page 21 
Puerto Rico’s voting age population is 2.7 million, a significantly larger population than 
in many states. According to a calculation by the Congressional Research Service using 
the formula based on voting age population established in the Help America Vote Act, 
Puerto Rico could receive up to $37,362, 313 in funds available for assisting in meeting 
the new federal requirements. Puerto Rico is also authorized to receive $3, 410,128 in 
early money. Puerto Rico is therefore authorized to receive a total of $40,772,441. In the 
FY2003 congressional appropriation, however, funds to Puerto Rico were capped at $4 
million. Even the District of Columbia, which has a population of less than 600,000, 
received a guaranteed minimum of $5 million. In sum, Puerto Rico with a significant 
population is being expected to meet mandatory requirements without receiving 
appropriate – and congressionally authorized – resources relative to other states and 
territories. 
According to the Congressional Research Service, Puerto Rico was authorized to receive 
$10,492,702 in FY 2004 and $6,295,621 in FY 2005. The President’s estimated budget, 
however, reduces the amount allocated for requirements payments from $1.6 billion to $1 
billion. Using the President’s budget, Puerto Rico would receive $6,610,402 in FY 2004 
and $3,966,241 in FY 2005. 
As indicated in the chart below, the Commission will use all funds appropriated under 
§252 to carry out activities to come into compliance with the requirements of §301, §302, 
and §303. 
Funding Assumptions (FY 2003 – FY 2005) 
FY 2003 FY 2004 FY 2005 
HAVA Title I (101) $3,151,144 
HAVA Title II (252) $4,000,000 $6,610,402* $3,966,241* 
HAVA Title II (261) $151,345 
PR matching funds $210,400 $347,707 $208,624 
Maintenance of effort $29,039,000 $29,039,000 $29,039,000 
* Title II funding amounts are based on the current estimated budget allocations reflecting reductions in the President’s proposed 
budget for FY04. 

Comisión Estatal de Elecciones 
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Projected Expenditures for Meeting HAVA Requirements and Improving Election 
Administration 
Estimated Expenditures on Title III Requirements (FY2003 – FY2005) 
HAVA 101 HAVA 252 HAVA 261 5%match total cost 
Sec. 301 – Voting System Requirements 
Pilot project using HAVA compliant system $1,000,000 $1,000,000 
Voting aids for blind voters $34,888 $34,888 
Commodities for voters with disabilities $25,000 $25,000 
Sec. 302 – Provisional Voting and Voter 
Information 
Voice activated information $90,000 $51,457 $141,457 
Sec. 303 – Computerized voter registration 
and verification requirements 
Upgrade of identification system $3,000,000* 
Reengineering of the voter registration system $750,000 $750,000 
Verification of data assignments $1,200,000 $1,200,000 
Conversion of postal addresses $125,000 $125,000 
Computers for mobile units $90,000 $90,000 
HAVA administration 
Implementation planning and training $125,000 $125,000 
Implementation of new procedures $75,000 75,000 
Oversight and management $50,000 $50,000 
Total $250,000 $2,505,000 $111,345 $750,000 3,616,345 
*This expenditure is noted for information purposes only and is not reflected in the total. 

Comisión Estatal de Elecciones 
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Expenditures for Improving Election Administration (FY 03 – FY 05) 
HAVA 101 HAVA 252 HAVA 261 5% match total cost 
Voter Education and Training 
Outreach to voters with disabilities $30,000 $30,000 
Improving Accessibility 
Accessibility study and manual $10,000 $10,000 
Voter Registration 
Mobile units for voter registration $70,000 $70,000 
Election Administration 
Transfer of files to microfilm $400,000 $400,000 
Mechanized controls for election materials $120,000 $120,000 
Upgrade and multi-functional equipment for JIPs $300,000 $300,000 
Total $890,000 $40,000 $930,000 
Section 7 – Maintenance of Effort 
How the State, in using the requirements payment, will maintain the 
expenditures of the State for activities funded by the payment at a level that 
is not less than the level of such expenditures maintained by the State for 
the fiscal year ending prior to November 2002. – HAVA §254 (a)(7) 
Puerto Rico will continue to maintain expenditures of State funds for election-related 
activities covered by the requirements of HAVA Title III at a level not less than the level 
of expenditures in FY2000 for those items and activities now required by HAVA Title 
III. In using the requirements payment, Puerto Rico will expend funds to meet the 
requirements of HAVA Title III and improve the administration of Federal elections. 
The maintenance of effort amount is based on expenditures in FY2000 for items or 
activities now required by HAVA Title III including: 
• Those activities in 2000 necessary to meet the requirements including 
expenditures for equipment, software, technical and physical infrastructures, 
materials, services, salaries, overhead; and 
• Other expenses in 2000 related to the requirements including expenditures for the 
planning, development, documentation, maintenance and operation, 
administration of the requirements, and for outreach, education, and training to 
promote the items and activities now required by HAVA Title III. 

Comisión Estatal de Elecciones 
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Section 8 – Performance Goals and Measures 
How the State will adopt performance goals and measures that will be used 
by the State to determine its success and the success of units of local 
government in the State in carrying out the Plan, including timetables for 
meeting each of the elements of the Plan, descriptions of the criteria the 
State will use to measure performance and the process used to develop such 
criteria, and a description of which official is to be held responsible for 
ensuring that each performance goal is met. – HAVA §254 (a)(8) 
The President of the Commission, through consultation with the Commission, will 
establish goals and performance criteria and will have the ultimate responsibility for 
ensuring the success of Puerto Rico’s HAVA implementation effort. 
The President will draft specific goals and performance measures, based on 
recommendations of the Vice Presidents, and submit them to the Commission for 
approval. The Commission will, as the implementation proceeds, annually evaluate 
existing goals and measures and propose adjustments as needed. The Commission will 
approve all performance goals, measures and adjustments. 
The following table provides the functional division of the responsibility for HAVA 
implementation. 
Plan Elements Commission Official Time frame 
Voting Systems §301 Administrative Board of OSIPE7 
and the Technical Committee 
Compliant by January 1, 2006 
Provisional Voting §302 First Vice President Compliant by July 1, 2004 
Voter Registration List and List 
Maintenance §303 
Commission Secretary and Second 
Vice President 
Compliant with §303 (a) by 
January 1, 2004. All changes 
necessary for compliance with 
other provisions of §303 will be 
completed prior to January 1, 
2006 
Education and Training §254(a)(3) Director of Education & Training On-going 
Polling Place Accessibility Director of Planning8 On-going 
Budget and Fiscal Controls Director of Administration On-going 
Grievance Procedures Commission and President On-going – all changes necessary 
for compliance will be completed 
prior to January 1, 2004 
JAVA Office for UOCAVA voters JAVA Board and its President Already exists 
7 
OSIPE, Oficina de Sistema de Información y Procesamiento Electrónico, is the information technology office of the Commission. 
8 
In Spanish this is the Oficina de Planificación, which title implies city planning. This Commission office handles redistricting, 
mapping, location and inspection of polling places, etc. 

Comisión Estatal de Elecciones 
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Section 9 – Grievance Procedure 
A description of the uniform, nondiscriminatory State-based administrative 
complaint procedures in effect under §402. – HAVA §254 (a)(9) 
Puerto Rico already has in place a uniform and non-discriminatory process for resolving 
complaints in a timely manner – indeed, the Commission is required to resolve 
complaints lodged on Election Day within an hour. 
Under current law in Puerto Rico, complaints concerning violations of election law are 
filed first with the local election commission. Any decision of the local election 
commission may be appealed to the Commission, except for decisions challenging voter 
registration on the basis of residence. Any elector, candidate, party, organizational 
representative or individual may file a written and sworn statement alleging a violation of 
state law – a violation by action, omission or conduct – against any elector, candidate, 
party, organizational representative or individual. Complainants must present a sworn 
complaint in writing. By regulation the Commission will provide a public hearing. 
Under ordinary circumstances, the Commission is required to resolve complaints fewer 
than thirty days after the complaint is lodged. The closer to the election, the less time 
allowed for rendering a decision. In case of disagreements among commissioners 
preventing a unanimous decision, the President makes the determination (this is the only 
circumstance in which the President has a say). All decisions of the Commission are 
published. 
The Commission’s decision may be appealed to the Superior Tribunal. As a matter of 
practice, the President of the Supreme Court will assign a judge in each judicial region to 
resolve election complaints during the election period. The Tribunal is required to 
resolve election disputes within a maximum of twenty days. (Fewer days are allowed as 
the election gets closer.) 
Changes necessary to meet the requirements of §402 
Puerto Rico will amend its complaint process, which is established in regulations, to 
specify that complaints may be filed alleging violations of Title III requirements in 
HAVA. 
Under this procedure as prescribed in current law, no complaint could take longer than 
one hundred days from the first filing to the final resolution. Puerto Rico plans to 
compress deadlines prescribed by law to ensure that every complaint is resolved before 
the ninety-day period that would require the matter to go to an alternative dispute 
resolution process. 

Comisión Estatal de Elecciones 
Page 26 
Section 10—Budget for Title I Funds 
If the State received any payment under Title I, a description of how such 
payment will affect the activities proposed to be carried out under the Plan, 
including the amount of funds available for such activities. HAVA §254(a)(10) 
The Commission will use funds received under Title I both to improve election 
administration described in Section One above under “Improving Election 
Administration” and to lay the groundwork for implementing the requirements of 
Title III. 
The Commission has allocated $100,000 in Title I funds for training and planning 
purposes related to HAVA implementation. This includes funding for education and 
training of Commission officials in the requirements of HAVA. The Commission is also 
investing in a planning process that will facilitate implementing the new law in a way that 
both complies with the law and is appropriate to Puerto Rico. 
Section 11 – Management of the State Plan 
How the State will conduct ongoing management of the Plan, except that the 
State may not make any material change in the administration of the Plan 
unless the change – 
(A)Is developed and published in the Federal Register in accordance 
with §255 in the same manner as the State Plan; 
(B)Is subject to public notice and comment in accordance with §256 in 
the same manner as the State Plan; and 
(C)Takes effect only after the expiration of the 30-day period which 
begins on the date the change is published in the Federal Register 
in accordance with subparagraph (A). – HAVA §254 (a)(11) 
The President of the Commission will have overall responsibility for the implementation 
and management of the State Plan and will make regular reports to the Commission. The 
Vice Presidents will have day-to-day operational responsibility for the implementation of 
the Plan with their appropriate staff managing the implementation of the aspects of the 
Plan that fall within their purview. 
The Commission will establish an annual review procedure that will include (at a 
minimum) an evaluation process that measures progress against the performance 
standards adopted the prior year and a procedure for adopting changes to the State Plan. 
Puerto Rico understands that no material changes in the administration of the Plan will be 
made unless the change: 

Comisión Estatal de Elecciones 
Page 27 
1. Is developed and published in the Federal Register in accordance with §255; 
2. Is subject to public notice and comment in accordance with §256; and 
3. Takes effect only after the expiration of the 30-day period which begins on the 
date the change is published in the Federal Register 
Section 12 – Changes from the Previous Year’s Plan 
In the case of a State with a State Plan in effect under this subtitle during the 
previous fiscal year, a description of how the Plan reflects changes from the 
State Plan for the previous fiscal year and of how the State succeeded in 
carrying out the State Plan for such previous fiscal year. – HAVA §254 
(a)(12) 
This section is inapplicable for this year. 
Section 13 – HAVA Committee 
A description of the committee which participated in the development of the 
State Plan in accordance with §255 and the procedures followed by the 
committee under such section and §256. – HAVA §254 (a)(13) 
Puerto Rico’s HAVA Advisory Committee is a diverse group of citizens including members of 
the Commission, representatives from the three political parties, disabled representation, student 
groups, and representation of various constituency groups; the First Vice President of the 
Commission chaired the committee. As required by HAVA, the Committee included 
representatives from local commissions serving the two largest jurisdictions in Puerto Rico: San 
Juan and Toa Baja. In addition, the Committee included a representative from the Office of the 
Ombudsman for Persons with Disabilities. 
On July 3, the Commission convened the first meeting of the HAVA Advisory Committee. The 
Committee provided valuable suggestions for Puerto Rico’s compliance with HAVA. 
The Committee reviewed a draft of the State Plan and was requested to help in 
disseminating the Plan and soliciting public comment. 
Following the first meeting, the Commission issued a preliminary plan for 
implementation on July 8, 2003. The Commission disseminated copies of the plan to a 
broad spectrum of the interested public including the following stakeholders: 
. Governor and Resident Commissioner 
. Representatives and Senators 
. Former members of the Commission 
. Local commissioners 
. Advocates for persons with disabilities and other stakeholder groups 

Comisión Estatal de Elecciones 
Page 28 
. Political party representatives 
. Directors of relevant government agencies, such as agencies serving the elderly and 
persons with disabilities 
. Non-profit organizations representing stakeholders 
. Technology experts and professors from universities in Puerto Rico and the 
Commission’s independent Technology Review Board 
The Commission also released the preliminary plan to the press and posted it on the 
official elections webpage on the website maintained by the government of Puerto Rico. 
Following the public posting of the preliminary plan, the Commission published two 
notices announcing a public hearing to solicit comments in Puerto Rico’s three largest 
newspapers. 
The Commission received comments both in writing and at the public hearing held on 
August 4, 2003. The Commission received eleven responses representing the views of 
individuals and organizations. 
The Commission reviewed the written comments and is providing a written response to 
each. 
Summary of Comments to the Preliminary Plan 
The following is a summary of comments categorized according to topic. 
Accessibility 
• The Commission should provide accessible alternatives for voting a ballot, such 
as an audio ballot on direct record equipment, or accessible tools, such as 
magnifying glasses, large print, etc., in addition to the current Braille alternative, 
so that those with disabilities are able to vote a secret ballot independently. The 
Commission should expand the use of the mobile units to include accessible 
absentee voting for hospitals and other places with large numbers of disabled. 
• The Commission should ensure accessible polling places, including ramps, 
handicapped parking, or appropriate signage, as needed. 
• The Commission should provide sensitivity training to election and polling place 
officials on interaction with persons with disabilities. 
• The Commission should engage persons and/or organizations for persons with 
disabilities in developing and providing services. 
• The Commission should provide voter education or information targeted to voters 
with disabilities. 
The Commission notes that all of these suggestions were already contemplated in the 
Plan and/or in the accessibility grant application made to the US Department of Health 
and Human Services under HAVA. Language has been revised or added to the Plan to 
clarify this. These suggestions will be taken into account when developing the work plan 
for implementing the Plan. 

Comisión Estatal de Elecciones 
Page 29 
Voter Education 
The Commission should broaden access to election information by: 
• Using the Internet and other technologies; 
• Increasing the amount and variety of voter information and education; and 
• Targeting voter information and education to particular populations, such as 
persons with disabilities. 
The Commission notes that all of these suggestions were already contemplated in the 
Plan and/or in the accessibility grant application made to the US Department of Health 
and Human Services under HAVA. Language has been revised or added to the Plan to 
clarify this. These suggestions will be taken into account when developing the work plan 
for implementing the Plan. 
Other Comments 
• The Commission should proceed at a deliberate pace and through a process that 
maintains trust in the current system, continues to comply with Puerto Rican law. 
If changes are adopted, the Commission should ensure they ultimately improve 
the process. 
• Comments praising the current system and the proposed Plan. 
• Suggests procedural changes related to use of the last four digits of the Social 
Security number. 
• Puerto Rico should accept federal funds on a one-time basis to avoid Federal 
fiscal dependency. 
• The Commission should establish priorities for implementation in the event that 
Puerto Rico does not receive all authorized federal funds. The Commission 
should increase funding for training. 
• The timeframe for review complaints should be shortened. 
• The Commission should provide candidates with access to voter address 
information to allow them to directly communicate with individual registered 
voters. 
• The Commission should broaden voter registration by mail. 
• The Commission should require finger prints and other biometrics as part of the 
voter registry. 
• The Commission should try to determine the location and needs of all disabled 
voters and target resources to meet those voters’ needs. 
• The Commission should do targeted voter registration, particularly for those with 
disabilities. 
• The Commission should address transportation for the disabled as a part of 
accessibility. 
• The Commission should include information about parties and candidates as part 
of its voter education program. 
• The Commission should: 
a. Expand the list of those allowed to vote absentee; 
b. Improve the voting process for the incarcerated; 

Comisión Estatal de Elecciones 
Page 30 
c. Consider alternatives for those in hospitals or otherwise unable to 
physically get to the polling places; and 
d. Consider alternatives voting systems for absentee voting to speed up the 
counting process for the JAVA. 
The Commission appreciates all these suggestions and comments and will consider these 
suggestions outside the HAVA planning process. 
HAVA Advisory Committee 
The Committee membership, including each person’s affiliation, is as follows: 
• Juan M. Toledo Díaz, First Vice President, Election Commission of PR (EC) 
• Néstor J. Colón Berlingeri, Second Vice President, EC 
• Aníbal Díaz Hernández, Third Vice President, EC 
• José Raúl Ocasio, Esq., Ombudsman, Office of the Ombudsman for Persons with 
Disabilities; represented by Enrique Rodríguez, Assistant Ombudsman 
• Dr. Pablo Rivera Ortiz, Deputy Secretary of Education; represented by Dr. 
Brunilda Martínez 
• General Francisco A. Márquez Haddock, Puerto Rico National Guard; 
represented by José A. Rodríguez 
• Lesbia Betacourt, Social Worker, Friends and Family Committee of Prisoners 
(CAFC) 
• Margarita Iglesias, Social Worker, CAFC 
• Ramón Barquín III, Esq., Executive Director, Institute of Democratic Education 
• Dr. Otoniel Rodríguez, Computer Engineer, Polytechnic University 
• Iván Algarín García, Election Commissioner, Popular Democratic Party (PPD) 
• Brunilda Ortiz Rodríguez, Alternate Election Commissioner, New Progressive 
Party (PNP) 
• Andrés Miranda Rosado, Election Commissioner, Puerto Rican Independence 
Party (PIP) 

Comisión Estatal de Elecciones 
Page 31 
• Carmen Vanesa Dávila, San Juan, PPD Local Election Commissioner 
• José M. Rivera Torres, Toa Baja, PNP Local Election Commissioner 
• Gilberto Bracero, President, Administrative Board of Absentee Voters (JAVA), 
EC 
• Luz Delia Vázquez, Director of Education and Training, EC 
• José A. Valentín, Esq., Director of Planning, EC 
• Ángel Alvelo, Director, Election Operations, EC 
• Ing. Eduardo Nieves, Director, MIS (OSIPE), EC; represented by Carlos Cacho 
Rodríguez 
• Francés Carrión, Deputy Director of Administration, EC 
• Delia J. Rivera, Budget Analyst, EC 
• Magali Pietri, Esq., Office of Legal Affairs, EC 
• Ramón M. Jiménez, Secretary of Elections, EC 
• Javier Carrasquillo Cruz, Cidra, PNP Local Election Commissioner 
• Joaquín Santiago Santos, Caguas, PPD Local Election Commissioner 
• Dr. Trina Rivera de Ríos, Spokesperson, CAFC 
• Dr. Gladys Escalona, Rector, Río Piedras Campus, University of Puerto Rico 
• Dr. Fernando Vega 
• Dr. Isidoro Couvertier 
Directors of Electric Engineering and Computers, Mayagüez Campus, 
University of Mayagüez 

Comisión Estatal de Elecciones 
Page 1 
Appendix A 
Summary of HAVA Requirements and Puerto Rico’s Compliance or 
Necessary Actions for Compliance 
Sec. 301. Voting System Requirements Compliant Not Actions Needed 
Compliant for Compliance 
. 
(a)(1)(A) The voting system shall (i) permit 
the voter to verify in a private and 
independent manner the votes selected by 
the voter on the ballot before the ballot is 
cast and counted; (ii) provide the voter 
with the opportunity (in a private and 
independent manner) to change the ballot 
or correct any error before the ballot is cast 
and counted (including the opportunity to 
correct the error through the issuance of a 
replacement ballot if the voter was 
otherwise unable to change the ballot or 
correct any error; and (iii) if the voter 
selects votes for more than one candidate 
for a single office – (I) notify the voter that 
the voter has selected more than one 
candidate for a single office on the ballot: 
(II) notify the voter before the ballot is cast 
and counted of the effect of casting 
multiple votes for the office; and (III) 
provide the voter with the opportunity to 
correct the ballot before the ballot is cast 
and counted. X 
(a)(1)(B) A State or jurisdiction that uses a 
paper ballot voting system … (including 
mail-in absentee ballots and mail-in 
ballots), may meet the requirements of 
subparagraph (A)(iii) by – (i) establishing a 
voter education program specific to that 
voting system that notifies each voter of the 
effect of casting multiple votes for an office; 
and (ii) providing the voter with instructions 
on how to correct th e ballot before it is 
cast and counted (including instructions on 
how to correct the error through the 
issuance of a replacement ballot if the 
voter was otherwise unable to change the 
ballot or correct any error). 
(a) (1)(C) The voting system shall ensure 
that any notification required under this 
paragraph preserves the privacy of the 
voter and the confidentiality of the ballot. 

Comisión Estatal de Elecciones 
Page 2 
Sec. 301. Voting System Requirements Compliant Not 
Compliant 
Actions Needed 
for Compliance 
(a)(2) The voting system shall produce a 
record with an audit capacity. The voting 
system shall produce a permanent paper 
record with a manual audit capacity. The 
voting system shall provide the voter with 
an opportunity to change the ballot or 
correct any error before the permanent 
paper record is produced. The paper 
record shall be available as an official 
record for any recount conducted with 
respect to any election in which the system 
is used. 
X 
(a)(3) The voting system shall be 
accessible for individuals with disabilities, 
including non-visual accessibility for the 
blind and visually impaired, in a manner 
that provides the same opportunity for 
access and participation (including privacy 
and independence) as for other voters. The 
voting system shall satisfy this requirement 
through the use of at least 1 direct 
recording electronic voting system or other 
voting system equipped for individuals with 
disabilities at each polling place. 
X 
The current 
system provides 
for a template for 
privately and 
independently 
marking the 
ballot for the 
blind; the 
Commission will, 
prior to 2006, 
assure that it is 
in compliance. 
(a)(4) The voting system shall provide 
alternative language accessibility pursuant 
to the requirements of section 203 of the 
Voting Rights Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 
1973aa-1a). 
X 
(a)(5) The error rate of the voting system in 
counting ballots (determined by taking into 
account only those errors which are 
attributable to the voting system and not 
attributable to an act of the voter) shall 
comply with the error rate standards 
established under section 3.2.1 of the 
voting systems standards issued by the 
Federal Election Commission which are in 
effect on the date of the enactment of this 
Act. 
N/A9 
9 Currently, PR does not use any voting or counting equipment, so this section is inapplicable. Because PR 
tries to ensure that voter intent is honored, and that all ballots marked in the same manner are handled 
uniformly, there is essentially no errors that would prevent any discernable vote from being counted. 

Comisión Estatal de Elecciones 
Page 3 
Sec. 301. Voting System Requirements Compliant Not Actions Needed 
Compliant for Compliance 
(a)(6) Each State shall adopt uniform and 
nondiscriminatory standards that define 
what constitutes a vote and what will be X 
counted as a vote for each category of 
voting system used in the State. 
Sec. 302. Provisional Voting and Voting 
Information Requirements 
Compliant Not 
Compliant 
Actions Needed 
for Compliance 
(a) Provisional voting requirements. If an 
individual declares that he or she is a 
registered voter in the jurisdiction and that 
he or she is eligible to vote in a Federal 
election, but the name of the individual 
does not appear on the official list of 
eligible voters for the polling place or an 
election official asserts that the individual is 
not eligible to vote, such individual shall be 
permitted to cast a provisional ballot as 
follows 
X 
An amendment 
to Art. 5.031 and 
regulatory 
change are 
needed to meet 
this requirement. 
(a)(1) An election official at the polling 
place shall notify the individual that the 
individual may cast a provisional ballot in 
that election. 
(a) (2) The individual shall be permitted to 
cast a provisional ballot at that polling 
place upon the execution of a written 
affirmation by the individual before an 
election official at the polling place stating 
that the individual is-- (A) a registered voter 
in the jurisdiction in which the individual 
desires to vote; and (B) eligible to vote in 
that election. 
X 
(a)(3) An election official at the polling 
place shall transmit the ballot cast by the 
individual to an appropriate election official 
for prompt verification. 
X 
(a)(4) If the election official to whom the 
ballot or voter information is transmitted 
determines that the individual is eligible 
under State law to vote, the individual's 
provisional ballot shall be counted as a 
X 

Comisión Estatal de Elecciones 
Page 4 
Sec. 302. Provisional Voting and Voting 
Information Requirements 
Compliant Not 
Compliant 
Actions Needed 
for Compliance 
vote in that election in accordance with 
State law. 
(a)(5)(A) At the time that an individual casts 
a provisional ballot, the appropriate 
election official shall give the individual 
written information that states that any 
individual who casts a provisional ballot will 
be able to ascertain under the system 
established under subparagraph (B) 
whether the vote was counted, and, if the 
vote was not counted, the reason that the 
vote was not counted. 
X 
(a) (5)(B) The appropriate election official 
shall establish a free access system (such 
as a toll-free telephone number or an 
Internet website) that any individual who 
casts a provisional ballot may access to 
discover whether the vote of that individual 
was counted, and, if the vote was not 
counted, the reason that the vote was not 
counted. 
X 
(a) …The appropriate State or local official 
shall establish and maintain reasonable 
procedures necessary to protect the 
security, confidentiality, and integrity of 
personal information collected, stored, or 
otherwise used by the free access system 
established under paragraph (5)(B). 
Access to information about an individual 
provisional ballot shall be restricted to the 
individual who cast the ballot. 
X 
(b) Voting information requirements. The 
appropriate election official shall cause 
voting information to be publicly posted at 
each polling place on the day of each 
election for Federal office. 
X 
(b)(2)(A) a sample version of the ballot that 
will be used for that election; X 
(b)(2) (B) information regarding the date of 
the election and the hours during which 
polling places will be open; 
X 

Comisión Estatal de Elecciones 
Page 5 
Sec. 302. Provisional Voting and Voting 
Information Requirements 
Compliant Not 
Compliant 
Actions Needed 
for Compliance 
(b)(2)(C) instructions on how to vote, 
including how to cast a vote and how to 
cast a provisional ballot; 
X 
(b)(2)(D) instructions for mail-in registrants 
and first-time voters whose identity has not 
been verified prior to Election Day; 
N/A 
(b)(2)(E) general information on voting 
rights under applicable Federal and State 
laws, including information on the right of 
an individual to cast a provisional ballot 
and instructions on how to contact the 
appropriate officials if these rights are 
alleged to have been violated; 
X 
(b)(2)(F) general information on Federal 
and State laws regarding prohibitions on 
acts of fraud and misrepresentation. 
X 
(c) Voters who vote after the polls close. 
Any individual who votes in a Federal 
election as a result of a court order or any 
other order extending the time established 
for closing the polls by a State law in effect 
10 days before the date of that election 
may only vote in that election by casting a 
provisional ballot. Any such ballot cast 
under the preceding sentence shall be 
separated and held apart from other 
provisional ballots cast by those not 
affected by the order. 
X 
Section 303. Computerized statewide Compliant Not Actions Needed 
Voter Registration List Requirements Compliant for Compliance 
and Requirements for Voters Who 
Register by Mail 
(a) (1)(A) Computerized statewide 
registration list requirements. Each State, 
acting through the chief State election X 
official, shall implement, in a uniform and 
nondiscriminatory manner, a single, 
uniform, official, centralized, interactive, 

Comisión Estatal de Elecciones 
Page 6 
Section 303. Computerized statewide 
Voter Registration List Requirements 
and Requirements for Voters Who 
Register by Mail 
Compliant Not 
Compliant 
Actions Needed 
for Compliance 
computerized statewide voter registration 
list defined, maintained, and administered 
at the State level that contains the name 
and registration information of every legally 
registered voter in the State (in this 
subsection referred to as the computerized 
list), and includes the following: 
(a)(1)(A)(i) The computerized list shall 
serve as the single system for storing and 
managing the official list of registered 
voters throughout the state. 
X 
(a)(1)(A)(ii) The list contains the name and 
registration information of every legally 
registered voter in the State. 
X 
(a)(1)(A)(iii) Under the computerized list, a 
unique identifier is assigned to each legally 
registered voter in the State. 
X 
(a)(1)(A)(iv) The computerized list shall be 
coordinated with other agency databases 
in the State. 
X 
(a)(1)(A)(v) Any election official in the 
State, including any local election official, 
may obtain immediate electronic access to 
the information contained in the 
computerized list. 
X 
(a)(1)(A)(vi) All voter information obtained 
by any local election official shall be 
electronically entered into the 
computerized list on an expedited basis at 
the time the information is provided to the 
local official. 
X 
(a)(1)(A)(vii) The chief State election official 
shall provide such support as may be 
required so that local election officials are 
able to enter information. 
X 
(a)(1)(A)(viii)The computerized list shall 
serve as the official voter registration list for 
the conduct of all elections for Federal 
office in the State. 
X 

Comisión Estatal de Elecciones 
Page 7 
Section 303. Computerized statewide 
Voter Registration List Requirements 
and Requirements for Voters Who 
Register by Mail 
Compliant Not 
Compliant 
Actions Needed 
for Compliance 
(a)(2) Computerized list maintenance. The 
appropriate election official shall perform 
list maintenance with respect to the 
computerized list on a regular basis as 
follows: 
(a)(2)(A)(i) If an individual is to be removed 
from the computerized list, such individual 
shall be removed in accordance with the 
provisions of the National Voter 
Registration Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C 1973gg 
et seq). 
N/A10 
(a)(2)(A)(ii) For purposes of removing 
names of ineligible voters, from the official 
list of eligible voters – 
(I) under section 8(a)(3)(B) of such Act 
(42 U.S.C 1973gg-6(a)(3)(B)), the 
State shall coordinate with State 
agency records on felony status; and 
(II) by reason of the death of the 
registrant under section 8(a)(4)(A) of 
such Act (42 U.S.C 1973gg-6(a)(4)(A)), 
the State shall coordinate the 
computerized list with State agency 
records on death. 
N/A11 
(a)(2)(B) The list maintenance performed 
under subparagraph (A) shall be conducted 
in a manner that ensures that – 
(i) the name of each registered voter 
appears in the computerized list; 
X 
(a)(2)(B) (ii) only voters who are not 
registered or who are not eligible to vote 
are removed from the computerized list; 
and 
X 
(a)(2)(B)(iii) duplicate names are eliminated 
from the computerized list. X 
10 Puerto Rico is exempt from the National Voter Registration Act. See description of MENT list 
maintenance process. 
11 Puerto Rico is exempt from the National Voter Registration Act. In Puerto Rico, felons convicted in 
Puerto Rico are eligible to vote, eliminating the need to coordinate with records on felony status. Puerto 
Rico already coordinates with Civil Registry records on death. 

Comisión Estatal de Elecciones 
Page 8 
Section 303. Computerized statewide 
Voter Registration List Requirements 
and Requirements for Voters Who 
Register by Mail 
Compliant Not 
Compliant 
Actions Needed 
for Compliance 
(a)(3) Technological security. The 
appropriate official shall provide adequate 
technological security measures to prevent 
the unauthorized access to the 
computerized list established under this 
section. 
X 
(a)(4) Minimum standard of accuracy for 
state records. – The State election system 
shall include provisions to ensure that voter 
registration records in the State are 
accurate and are updated regularly, 
including the following: 
(a)(4)(A) A system of file maintenance that 
makes a reasonable effort to remove 
registrants who are ineligible to vote from 
the official list of eligible voters. Under 
such system, consistent with the national 
Voter Registration Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C 
1973gg et seq.), registrants who have not 
responded to a notice and who have not 
voted in 2 consecutive general elections for 
Federal office shall be removed from the 
official list of eligible voters, except that no 
registrant may be removed solely by 
reason of a failure to vote. 
N/A12 
(a)(4)(B) Safeguards to ensure that eligible 
voters are not removed in error from the 
official list of eligible voters. 
X 
(a)(5) Verification of voter registration 
information. 
(a)(5)(A)(i) Except as provided in clause 
(ii), notwithstanding any other provision of 
law, an application for voter registration for 
an election for Federal office may not be 
accepted or processed unless the 
application includes— 
(I) in the case of an applicant who has 
been issued a current and valid driver's 
license, the applicant's driver's license 
number; or 
(II) in the case of any other applicant 
(other than an applicant to whom 
clause (ii) applies), the last 4 digits of 
the applicant's social security number. 
X 
Recommendation 
is being 
submitted to 
Commission to 
meet this 
requirement; 
registration form 
and list will be 
modified to meet 
this requirement. 
12 Puerto Rico is exempt from the National Voter Registration Act. See description of MENT list 
maintenance process. 

Comisión Estatal de Elecciones 
Page 9 
Section 303. Computerized statewide 
Voter Registration List Requirements 
and Requirements for Voters Who 
Register by Mail 
Compliant Not 
Compliant 
Actions Needed 
for Compliance 
(a)(5)(A)(ii) Special rule for applicants 
without driver’s license or Social Security 
Numbers. If an applicant for voter 
registration for an election for Federal 
office has not been issued a current and 
valid driver's license or a social security 
number, the State shall assign the 
applicant a number which will serve to 
identify the applicant for voter registration 
purposes. To the extent that the State has 
a computerized list in effect under this 
subsection and the list assigns unique 
identifying numbers to registrants, the 
number assigned under this clause shall be 
the unique identifying number assigned 
under the list. 
X 
(a)(5)(A) (iii) The State shall determine 
whether the information provided by an 
individual is sufficient to meet the 
requirements of this subparagraph, in 
accordance with State law. 
X 
(a)(5)(B) Requirements for state officials.— 
(i) The chief State election official and the 
official responsible for the State motor 
vehicle authority of a State shall enter into 
an agreement to match information in the 
database of the statewide voter registration 
system with information in the database of 
the motor vehicle authority to the extent 
required to enable each such official to 
verify the accuracy of the information 
provided on applications for voter 
registration. 
N/A13 
(b) Requirements for voters who register by 
mail.— 
(b)(1) Notwithstanding section 6(c) of the 
National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (42 
U.S.C. 1973gg-4(c)) and subject to 
paragraph (3), a State shall, in a uniform 
N/A14 
13 Since the Puerto Rico Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTOP) does not process voter 
registration applications (Puerto Rico is exempt from NVRA), this provision does not apply to Puerto Rico. 
14 Puerto Rico is exempt from the National Voter Registration Act and is not required to provide mail-in 
registration. Puerto Rico requires in-person voting except that persons eligible under the Uniformed and 
Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) may apply to register to vote by mail. 

Comisión Estatal de Elecciones 
Page 10 
Section 303. Computerized statewide 
Voter Registration List Requirements 
and Requirements for Voters Who 
Register by Mail 
Compliant Not 
Compliant 
Actions Needed 
for Compliance 
and nondiscriminatory manner, require an 
individual to meet the requirements of 
paragraph (2) if— 
(A) the individual registered to vote in a 
jurisdiction by mail; and 
(B)(i) the individual has not previously 
voted in an election for Federal office in 
the State; or (ii) the individual has not 
previously voted in such an election in 
the jurisdiction and the jurisdiction is 
located in a State that does not have a 
computerized list that complies with the 
requirements of subsection (a). 
(b)(2) Requirements -- 
(b)(2)(A) An individual meets the 
requirements of this paragraph if the 
individual-- 
(b)(2)(A)(i) in the case of an individual who 
votes in person--
(I) presents to the appropriate State or 
local election official a current and valid 
photo identification; or 
(II) presents to the appropriate State or 
local election official a copy of a current 
utility bill, bank statement, government 
check, paycheck, or other government 
document that shows the name and 
address of the voter; or 
N/A 
(b)(2)(A)(ii) in the case of an individual who 
votes by mail, submits with the ballot-- 
(I) a copy of a current and valid 
photo identification; or 
(II) a copy of a current utility bill, 
bank statement, government check, 
paycheck, or other government 
document that shows the name and 
address of the voter. 
N/A 
(b)(2)(B) Fail-Safe Voting 
(b)(2)(B)(i) An individual who desires to 
vote in person, but who does not meet the 
requirements of subparagraph (A)(i), may 
cast a provisional ballot under section 
302(a). 
N/A 
(b)(2)(B)(ii) An individual who desires to N/A 

Comisión Estatal de Elecciones 
Page 11 
Section 303. Computerized statewide 
Voter Registration List Requirements 
and Requirements for Voters Who 
Register by Mail 
Compliant Not 
Compliant 
Actions Needed 
for Compliance 
vote by mail but who does not meet the 
requirements of subparagraph (A)(ii) may 
cast such a ballot by mail and the ballot 
shall be counted as a provisional ballot in 
accordance with section 302(a). 
(b)(3) Inapplicability 
Paragraph (1) shall not apply in the case of 
a person – 
(b)(3)(A) --who registers to vote by mail 
under section 6 of the National Voter 
Registration Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C. 
1973gg-4) and submits as part of such 
registration either— 
(i) a copy of a current and valid photo 
identification; or 
(ii) a copy of a current utility bill, bank 
statement, government check, paycheck, 
or government document that shows the 
name and address of the voter; 
N/A 
(b)(3)(B)(i) – who registers to vote by mail 
under section 6 of the National Voter 
Registration Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C. 
1973gg-4) and submits with such 
registration either— 
(I) a driver's license number; or 
(II) at least the last 4 digits of the 
individual's social security number; and 
(b)(3)(B)(ii) with respect to whom a State or 
local election official matches the 
information submitted under clause (i) with 
an existing State identification record 
bearing the same number, name and date 
of birth as provided in such registration; or 
N/A 
(b)(3)(C) who is--(i) entitled to vote by 
absentee ballot under the Uniformed and 
Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (42 
U.S.C. 1973ff-1 et seq.);(ii) provided the 
right to vote otherwise than in person under 
section 3(b)(2)(B)(ii) of the Voting 
Accessibility for the Elderly and 
Handicapped Act (42 U.S.C. 1973ee-
1(b)(2)(B)(ii)); or (iii) entitled to vote 
otherwise than in person under any other 
Federal law. 
X 
N/A 

Comisión Estatal de Elecciones 
Page 12 
Section 303. Computerized statewide 
Voter Registration List Requirements 
and Requirements for Voters Who 
Register by Mail 
Compliant Not 
Compliant 
Actions Needed 
for Compliance 
(b)(4) Contents of mail-in registration form. 
(b)(4)(A) The mail voter registration form 
developed under section 6 of the National 
Voter Registration Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C. 
1973gg-4) shall include the following: (i) 
The question ``Are you a citizen of the 
United States of America?'' and boxes for 
the applicant to check to indicate whether 
the applicant is or is not a citizen of the 
United States. 
(b)(4)(A)(ii) The question ``Will you be 18 
years of age on or before election day?'' 
and boxes for the applicant to check to 
indicate whether or not the applicant will be 
18 years of age or older on election day. 
N/A 
(b)(4)(A)(iii) The statement ``If you checked 
`no' in response to either of these 
questions, do not complete this form.'' 
N/A 
(b)(4)(A)(iv) A statement informing the 
individual that if the form is submitted by 
mail and the individual is registering for the 
first time, the appropriate information 
required under this section must be 
submitted with the mail-in registration form 
in order to avoid the additional identification 
requirements upon voting for the first time. 
N/A 
(b)(4)(B) Incomplete forms.--If an applicant 
for voter registration fails to answer the 
question included on the mail voter 
registration form pursuant to subparagraph 
(A)(i), the registrar shall notify the applicant 
of the failure and provide the applicant with 
an opportunity to complete the form in a 
timely manner to allow for the completion 
of the registration form prior to the next 
election for Federal office (subject to State 
law). 
N/A 

Comisión Estatal de Elecciones 
Page 13 
Appendix B 
Current Requirements for Voting Systems in Puerto Rico 
The Commission has adopted the following parameters for any acceptable voting system 
to be used in Puerto Rico. These criteria include the following: 
Necessary characteristics: 
1. Provides an alternative for voters with disabilities that preserves the paper 
ballot. 
2. Does not limit the number or color of ballots. 
3. Guarantees the “write-in” option. 
4. Guarantees absentee ballots and ease of use by voters with disabilities. 
5. Guarantees a second chance in case of a spoiled ballot. 
6. Counts the number of spoiled ballots (any ballot that is processed by a 
machine and is set aside for any reason). 
7. Provides for the authenticity of the ballot via initials of the officers or another 
equally secure mechanism. 
8. Guarantees ballot secrecy. 
9. Guarantees the ability of party representatives to hand-count if necessary. 
10. Achieves an equal or better level of precision and speed as the current system. 
11. Provides alternatives according to any variance of infrastructure conditions 
(example: battery operated, wireless communications, among others). 
12. Simplicity of operation and use for election officials. 
13. Permits the challenge of ballots in cases allowed by Law. 
14. The program allows easy and dynamic changes and adjustments to fit the 
needs of different electoral events. 
15. Must be certified by a competent independent testing authority. 
16. Easy to use and to explain to voters with limited voting experience. 
Desirable Characteristics 
1. Preference for the X as the acceptable marking. 
2. Desirability to reduce the ballot size to 8.5” X 11” or 8.5” X 14”. 
3. (Cost-effective) Cost of the new system is proportional to the benefit and 
precision achieved, and the utility of the investment for other applications during 
non-election periods. 
4. Easy to carry, install and handle. 
5. Desirability to allow easy and dynamic changes and adjustments to fit the 
election needs of a variety of civic, professional, labor, school organizations, etc. 
6. Desirability to allow easy adaptation for use by other electoral jurisdictions.