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	V. Scope of Substance The ultimate aim of the EPIC Project is to assemble a unique (never-before-collected) set of data which has never been collected before from for a given list of countries. In time, it is hoped that the same data set can be collected from every country in the world. As a starting point, EPIC partners aim to secure data on electoral processes within twelve different topic areas. These areas are consistent with those either being completed or proposed for the Administration and Cost of Elections Project, including: electoral systems legislative framework electoral management voter registration voter education parties and candidates boundary delimitation polling operations, and vote counting elections and the media elections and technology electoral observation The data should give electoral implementers and analysts insight on the structures within a given country which can be compared, "apples-for-apples and oranges-for-oranges," with another country. This is what differentiates the EPIC Project from others, such as the ACE Project and the virtual F. Clifton White Resource Center. The data which is pursued should be that which can realistically be collected from a majority of countries. In addition, the data will focus on national-level election systems. While the ultimate goal with be both to include all countries and all levels of elections within those countries, it is best to begin with a 'minimalist' approach in mind, one that that is clearly achievable within the financial and human resource constraints of the project. By assembling a strong research and methodological foundation, additional resources will be easily secured to expand our focus in subsequent phases of the project. Later versions of the Project Plan will contain increased and refined information on the data designated for collection in each topic area. Currently, examples of general data to be considered for each topic area includes: Electoral Systems general information information on representation in national legislatures type of electoral system methods of election Legislative Framework information on electoral legislation timing for elections Electoral Management structure of election authority: policy body and implementation body · responsibility of election authorities level of independence from government budget independence Voter Registration requirements for registration method for compiling Voter Education who conducts? methods used Parties and Candidates registered parties/registration process candidates/registration process fees · funding for parties/candidates campaign expenditures contributions Boundary Delimitation background on constituencies approach to constituencies Polling Operations materials, supplies and expertise required workflow and management structures at the polling place training · hours of operation advance voting fraud control measures Vote Counting method followed Elections and the Media legislative framework for media codes of conduct Elections and Technology technology used in electoral management, voter registration, voter education, polling operations, vote counting, other Electoral Observation methods: domestic/foreign/both? invitations and accreditations rights of domestic political parties/foreign international organizations to observe Before considering a work methodology, the partners must agree on what data is to be collected within the scope of EPIC. The Project Management Team must work together to come up with a final proposal for the Steering Committee to approval. The PMT should take into account the work that has already been done in advance of this project on the survey. In addition, a writer-by-writer survey of authors and contributors involved in the ACE Project should be conducted. Further, the partner organizations should be consulted on what type of information should be sought after. Given this input, the PMT will follow an approach of refinement, rather than inclusion. That is, the number of questions being asked will not grow with the amount of input. The length of our research survey should be limited to a set number of pages. The PMT will take a 'minimalist' approach by asking a number of questions on input provided: Does the question overlap with others? If so, can it help improve question without increasing the length? What are the most pressing questions in a given subject area? Which questions will provide answers that are most help to those who are implementers?