VSR1 certification set a testing baseline, with local deployment still a separate step

The U.S. Election Assistance Commission certified Smartmatic VSR1 2.1 on November 26, 2025, after testing by Pro V&V against the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines 2.0. The approval established that the evaluated configuration met the applicable federal standards in that scope. ^{[1] [2]}

The certification followed a multiyear transition in federal testing. EAC commissioners adopted VVSG 2.0 in February 2021, and laboratories were accredited to test against it in late 2022. EAC stopped accepting applications for new systems under the older guidelines after November 15, 2023, apart from limited maintenance modifications to previously certified systems, according to its reference page updated in May 2026. ^[3]

The certified configuration includes election-management software, the BMD-155 paper-ballot marking device, the A4-800 precinct scanner and a central-count scanner using Canon’s imageFORMULA DR-G2140. The scanner and ballot-marking functions are parts of the evaluated combination, not separately certified interchangeable products. ^[2]

For voters with disabilities, the standards address more than marking a selection. EAC's summary of VVSG 2.0 describes private, independent voting through marking, verifying and casting, along with language access and stronger documentation of accessibility testing. Its security changes include network isolation, restrictions on wireless technology and multifactor authentication; auditability and ballot secrecy are also among the updates. ^[4]

The certificate also limits what that approval means. It is not a determination of accessibility under civil-rights laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, or of readiness for an election. Changes to the described configuration were not included in that evaluation; state and local testing remain separate. ^[2]

EAC’s later deployment report explains why approval and use can be separated by years. States may add testing, public input and legal requirements. Jurisdictions then face procurement, integration and worker training. Officials interviewed for that report said training demands could strain smaller, less-resourced jurisdictions. Those interviews do not establish conditions for a particular VSR1 customer. ^[5]

Nor did the transition automatically invalidate equipment already in use. EAC's May 2026 reference says migration changes the standards available for future certifications; previously certified systems are not decertified by that migration. Older systems may remain in service unless a state's law requires replacement. The newer certification and a local replacement timetable are therefore separate questions. ^[3]

The public laboratory report adds a practical version check. Its cover identifies Revision 06, dated September 4, 2025, and its introduction says the report records final component versions and supersedes the test plan. It lists detailed test cases and an additional-findings attachment as proprietary. A buyer comparing a proposed installation therefore needs the evaluated configuration and versions, rather than the VSR1 name alone. This review did not verify a local purchase, post-certification voter experience or training effectiveness. ^[6]

About this item: Retrospective report. No first-hand reporting or independent testing is claimed. Corrections policy.