A document used to record temporary transfer of COMSEC material from a COMSEC Account Manager to a user or maintenance facility and acceptance by the recipient of the responsibility for the proper storage, control, and accountability of the COMSEC material. Source: CNSSI No. 4005 (COMSEC); NSA/CSS Manual Number 3-16 (COMSEC)
What is hand receipt?
The term Hand Receipt refers to an accountability document recording the transfer, custody, or responsibility for property or controlled material from one person or account to another. It gives election, security, legal, or technical readers a specific label for the concept rather than a broader everyday meaning.
How is hand receipt used in cryptography or COMSEC?
In practice, Hand Receipt is applied to the technical or security purpose captured by its definition: an accountability document recording the transfer, custody, or responsibility for property or controlled material from one person or account to another. Organizations combine that function with documented procedures, authorized access, testing, monitoring, and controls appropriate to the system.
Why does hand receipt need security controls?
Understanding Hand Receipt matters because the concept can affect security, reliability, auditability, or trusted operation. In this glossary context, it refers to an accountability document recording the transfer, custody, or responsibility for property or controlled material from one person or account to another.
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A document used to record temporary transfer of COMSEC material from a COMSEC Account Manager to a user or maintenance facility and acceptance by the recipient of the responsibility for the proper storage, control, and accountability of the COMSEC material. Source: CNSSI No. 4005 (COMSEC); NSA/CSS Manual Number 3-16 (COMSEC)
Cite this term
Election Security Glossary. (2026). Hand Receipt. In Election Security Glossary. Retrieved September 3, 2026, from https://electionsecurityglossary.com/glossary/hand-receipt
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