The Technical Guidelines Development Committee (TGDC) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology supports the Election Assistance Commission in the United States by providing recommendations on voluntary standards and guidelines related to voting equipment and technologies.
The chairperson of the TGDC is the director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
The TGDC is composed of 14 other members appointed jointly by EAC and the director of NIST from various standards boards and for their technical and scientific expertise related to voting systems and equipment.
NIST chairs and manages the TGDC, provides technical guidance in areas such as encryption, usability engineering and testing, and performs work to improve testing and conformity assessment programs for voting systems.
[2] While the Help America Vote Act required that the Election Assistance Commission "adopt voluntary guidance and recommdations relating to the implementation of ... voting system standards," by Jan. 1, 2004, delays in appointing commissioners and lack of funding delayed the first meeting of the TGDC until July 9, 2004.