And third, we suggest four criteria that Congress could  use as it weighs the merits of various reform proposals. As a  result, the 1990 standards have become dated. Successful  election administration requires the appropriate integration of people,  processes and technology. Criterion IV:  The Affordability and Sustainability of Proposed  Election Reforms. Section 4: Conclusion

Events surrounding the November 2000 election brought into question the  integrity of our nation’s election systems.
What GAO Found

As a result of events surrounding the November 2000 presidential election, public officials and various interest groups have proposed reforms to address perceived shortcomings of various election systems. The complexity and intricacy of the American electoral system suggests that the success of an election system depends on the appropriate integration of people, processes, and technology. This report presents an analytical framework that Congress could use as it weighs the merits of various reform proposals.