Designing usable ballots

Transcription

1 Field Guides To Ensuring Voter Intent Vol. 01 Designing usable ballots Field-researched, critical election design techniques to help ensure that every vote is cast as voters intend Field Guides To Ensuring Voter Intent Vol. 01 Designing usable ballots Second edition, 2014

2 2 Designing usable ballots 3 About the Field Guide series There have been excellent ballot design guidelines around since mid-2007 when the U.S. Election Assistance Commission published AIGA Design For Democracy s work in its report, Effective Designs for the Administration of Federal Elections. Everyone involved in that project quickly figured out that, as juicy as the design specs were in that report, they needed to be boiled down to essentials that local election officials could easily act on within the constraints they had. Field Guides To Ensuring Voter Intent were inspired by that need. Dana Chisnell, Field Guides Editor 4 Designing usable ballots 5 About this Field Guide We know now from several years of testing ballots all over the U.S. that implementing simple principles of design make it much more likely that voters are able to vote the way they intend. In research conducted by AIGA's Design for Democracy Project for the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC), Mary Qut Drew Davies their team learned the nittygritty of what makes design in election signage, posters, ballots, other print materials effective for all kinds of voters. This Field Guide pulls 10 key guidelines from the research for the EAC. To learn more about the research behind this guide, to download examples, go to centerforcivicdesign.org or AIGA.org. About ballot design A ballot is a form that represents perhaps the most important interaction between a government its citizens. Thouss of votes are lost in elections every year because of poorly designed ballots. And yet, avoiding these design issues is not difficult or expensive. What a ballot looks like is constrained by legislation, technology, history, custom, cost, other factors. But the anatomy of a ballot is fairly consistent throughout the more than 3,000 counties, parishes, boroughs in the U.S. Design guidelines provide a tool for helping voters focus on their goal to cast votes for their preferred cidates.

3 6 Designing usable ballots 7 Before After THIS LINE IS ALL CAPITAL LETTERS. This Line is Upper Lowercase. No. 01 Use lowercase letters. Lowercase letters are more legible than ALL CAPITAL LETTERS because they make shapes that are easier to recognize. 8 Designing usable ballots 9 Before After in the ballot to be counted. (center-aligned) in the ballot to be counted. (left-aligned) No. 02 Avoid centered type. Left-aligned type is more legible than centered type, which forces the eye to hunt for the start of the next line.

4 10 Designing usable ballots 11 Before After Fill in the oval to the left of the name of your choice. You must blacken the oval completely, do not make any marks outside of the oval. You do not have to vote in every race (8-point) Fill in the oval to the left of the name of your choice. You must blacken the oval completely, do not make any marks outside of the oval. You do not have to vote in every race. (12-point) No. 03 Use big enough type. Small print is hard to read for many voters. Use these minimum type sizes: 12-point for print mm for screen (Larger text may increase the number of pages but it is a worthwhile investment in election accuracy.) 12 Designing usable ballots 13 Avoid Use Times New Roman Georgia Cambria Arial Helvetica Univers Verdana ClearviewADA No. 04 Pick one sans-serif font. Use sans-serif fonts with clean strokes. For dual-language materials, use bold text for the primary language, regular text for the secondary language. Using just one font makes the ballot more unified. Different fonts make voters stop reading adjust.

5 Springfield County, Nebraska Precinct 0001 Ward 0002 Split 0003 Poll Worker Initials the oval to the left 14 of or in the ballot to be counted. Instructions Fill in the oval to the left of completely, do not make any marks outside of the oval. You do not have to vote Do not cross out or erase, or your vote may ask for a new ballot from in the ballot to be counted. James Garritty President Joseph Hallaren Daniel Court Austin Hildebr James Garritty Dennis Weiford Dennis Weiford John Hewetson Victor Martinez Heather Portier 1 / 5 Bruce Reeder State Governor Lieutenant-Governor Barbara Adcock George Hovis Frederick Sharp Burt Zirkle John Hewetson Victor Martinez Heather Portier Continue voting next side Precinct 0001 Ward 0002 Split 0003 Poll Worker Initials Field Guides To Ensuring Voter Intent Barbara Adcock George Hovis Frederick Sharp Burt Zirkle Continue voting next side Continue voting next side instruction is placed at the end of the last column on the page. Designing usable ballots 15 No. 05 Support process navigation. Put instructions where they are needed. Use page (or screen) numbering to show progress. For electronic ballots, let voters change language or display options, with instructions available at any time. Post easy-to-see instructions for both voting moving around the polling place. 16 Designing usable ballots 17 Before After If an overvoted ballot is encountered, the voter is entitled to another blank ballot after surrendering the spoiled ballot. If you make a mistake, ask a poll worker for another ballot. No. 06 Use clear, simple language. Make instructions options as simple as possible. Do not include more than two languages on any one material. If possible, summarize referenda in simple language alongside required formats. Simple language is often shorter, taking up less space.

6 Springfield County, Nebraska Precinct 0001 Ward 0002 Split 0003 Poll Worker Initials 18 Designing usable ballots 19 Springfield County, Nebraska Instructions Instructions Fill in the oval to the left of completely, do not make any marks outside of the oval. You do not have to vote Do not cross out or erase, or your vote may ask for a new ballot from Fill in the oval to the left of completely, do not make any marks outside of the oval. You do not have to vote Do not cross out or erase, or your vote may ask for a new ballot from in the ballot to be counted. President Joseph Hallaren Daniel Court Austin Hildebr James Garritty Dennis Weiford John Hewetson Victor Martinez Heather Portier 1 / 5 Bruce Reeder President Joseph Hallaren State Governor Lieutenant-Governor Barbara Adcock George Hovis Frederick Sharp Burt Zirkle Daniel Court Continue voting next side Austin Hildebr James Garritty Illustrations at the beginning of the ballot demonstrate how to use the ballot. Bruce Reeder State Governor Lieutenant-Governo Linda Bargman Barbara Adcoc No. 07 Use accurate instructional illustrations. Visual instructions help low-literacy all voters. Illustrations must be accurate in their details, highlighting the most important instructions. Do not use photographs. 20 Designing usable ballots 21 Avoid Use Independent Democrat Republican Attention Continue, proceed No. 08 Use informational icons (only). Use icons that call attention to key information support navigation with care. Don t use political party emblems.

7 Springfield County, Nebraska Precinct 0001 Ward 0002 Split 0003 Poll Worker Initials Springfield County, Nebraska Precinct 0001 Ward 0002 Split 0003 Poll Worker Initials 22 Designing usable ballots 23 Instructions Fill in the oval to the left of completely, do not make any marks outside of the oval. You do not have to vote Do not cross out or erase, or your vote may ask for a new ballot from in the ballot to be counted. 1 / 5 President Joseph Springfield Barchi County, Nebraska Joseph Tuesday, Hallaren November Bruce Reeder 07, 2006 Instructions Daniel Court State Governor Austin Hildebr Lieutenant-Governor James Garritty Fill in the oval to the left of Antoine the Jefferson name of your choice. completely, do not make any marks outside Barbara Adcock of the oval. You do Charles not Qualey have to vote George Hovis Do not cross Frederick out Sharp or Dennis Weiford erase, or your Burt Zirkle vote may Sylvia Wentworthask for a new ballot from Continue voting John Hewetson next side Victor Martinez Heather Portier in the ballot to be counted. President Joseph Hallaren Daniel Court Austin Hildebr James Garritty Shading Turning in the color ballot can help voters quickly see the structure of the ballot. Bruce Reeder State Governor Lieutenant-Governor Barbara Adcock George Hovis Frederick Sharp Dennis Weiford Burt Zirkle ructions erase, or your President vote may king selections ask for a new Vote ballot for from 1 pair State Governor Austin Hildebr Lieutenant-Governor Continue voting 24 Field Guides To Ensuring John Voter Hewetson Intent next side Joseph Hallaren James Garritty Bruce Reeder Victor Martinez n the oval to the left of name of your choice. Heather Portier must blacken the oval Greg Official Vuocolo Ballot for General Election mpletely, do not make Springfield County, Nebraska Ballot Title 1 / 5 marks outside of the. You do not have to vote Instructions President Daniel Court very race. Instructions Carroll President Forrest Joseph Hallaren Bruce Reeder Precinct 0001 Ward 0002 Split 0003 Poll Worker Vice-President Initials of the Fill in the oval to the left of not cross out or United States completely, do not make se, or your vote may any marks outside of the oval. Marzena You do not have to vote Pazgier Daniel Court count. If you make a Do not cross out or take or a stray mark, erase, Welton or your vote may Phelps for a new ballot from ask for a new ballot from State Governor Barbara Adcock Austin Hildebr Lieutenant-Governor poll workers. State Governor James Garritty Vote for Joseph 1 pair Hallaren Austin Hildebr Lieutenant-Governor Contest Header ional write-in Insert the completed ballot into the ballot sleeve. James H Fill Garritty in the oval the to oval to the left of left Vote or of for 1 pair in the ballot to be counted. Linda Bargmann Martin completely, Patterson do not make Barbara George Hovis Adcock any marks outside Insert the completed of ballot the in the ballot to be counted. oval. You Vote do not for have 1 to vote George Daniel Hovis Court dd a cidate, fill in Vote for Gerard 1 Harris Frederick Sharp Frederick Sharp oval to the left of Cidate or Name Dennis Weiford Burt Amy Zirkle Blumhard Dennis Weiford e-in print the name Burt Zirkle Party Affiliation rly on the dotted line. Do not cross out or Antoine erase, Jefferson or your vote may Continue Alvin voting Boone John Hewetson next side ning in the ballot not count. If Lloyd you make Garriss a Victor Martinez mistake or a stray mark, Marzena ask Pazgier for a new ballot from Heather Luis PortierGarcia write-in: Austin Hildebr Barbara Adcock James Continue Garritty voting John Hewetson next side ert the completed ballot the ballot sleeve. H he ballot to be counted. Victor Martinez George Hovis not fold the ballot. the oval to the Heather left of or Portier 1 / 5 No. 09 Use contrast color to support meaning. Use color shading consistently: On paper ballots, to separate instructions from contests contests from each other. On electronic ballots, to support navigation, call special attention, provide user feedback. Do not rely on color as the only way to communicate important information. Designing usable ballots 25 No. 10 Show what s most important. Use layout text size to help voters know what to pay attention to. The ballot title should be the most prominent. A contest header should be more prominent than the cidates names. A cidate s name should be bolder than his/her party affiliation. Cidates names options should be presented with equal importance.

8 26 Designing usable ballots 27 Tip Check that the ballot communicates clearly. Can voters read all of the information on the ballot easily? navigate through the ballot to find all contests ballot questions? identify the different sections of the ballot? find, read follow instructions accurately? 28 Designing usable ballots 29 Notes Notes

9 30 Designing usable ballots 31 Who made this Guide possible? Kickstarter contributors, including: Alec Perkins Stephanie Rewis Jess McMullin Alec Bash Jonathan Knoll Lori Lesman Jennifer Pahlka Jascha Franklin-Hodge Ginny Redish Jason Putorti Nicco Mele Tantek Çelik Karen Bachmann Sarah Swierenga David Fiorito James Craig Caroline Jarrett Richard Soley Supported by Pamela Ecker Ivan Wilson, Jr. Whitney Hess Scott Berkun Suzanne Stassevitch James Spool Livia Labate Mark Eberman Josh Clark Joe Sokohl Bolt Peters TangibleUX Keith Instone EightShapes Nick Finck Stewart Bloom Special thanks There was an amazing team behind this project: Dana Chisnell, writer researcher Whitney Quesenbery, writer researcher Drew Davies, book designer researcher Sean Carmichael, videographer Adam Connor, illustrator Michelle, PR Boon Sheridan, strategist Jared Spool, advisor Advisors Janice C. Ginny Redish Joseph Lorenzo Hall Doug Chapin And the many state county election officials who have helped us underst how elections really work. Order more Order more or download PDFs of this Field Guide the other guides in the series at: centerforcivicdesign.org/fieldguides This work is licensed under a Creative Commons license (CC BY- NC-ND 3.0). You are free to share, copy, distribute transmit the work for noncommercial purposes. Field Guides design by Oxide Design Co. oxidedesign.com

10 A project of Center for Civic Design centerforcivicdesign.org Get more Field Guides The Field Guides are online at civicdesign.org/fieldguides, where you can: Read them on your computer or mobile Download a PDF Order printed copies Get in touch hello@civicdesign.org civicdesign.org This work is licensed under a Creative Commons license (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). You are free to share, copy, distribute transmit the work for noncommercial purposes. are produced by Center for Civic Design designed by Oxide Design Co.