california's top lessons learned in design and language
DESCRIPTION
Introducing the Field Guides To Ensuring Voter Intent through an analysis of classic ballot design issues and the California top 2 primary ballot in particular.TRANSCRIPT
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Top 2: lessons learned, looking forward
Dana Chisnell@danachis@ChadButterfly
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page 27
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King County2004
read easily?navigate?identify sections?find instructions?
understand instructions?follow instructions easily?complete without mistakes?
Not so easy to read, find sections, or complete without making mistakes
Wait. Wha...?
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PortlandMaine2011
read easily?navigate?identify sections?find instructions?
understand instructions?follow instructions easily?complete without mistakes?
People missed these instructions
Why do the top instructions have letters?
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ShawneeCounty2004
read easily?navigate?identify sections?find instructions?
understand instructions?follow instructions easily?complete without mistakes?
Not ideal line length and justification.
Sections aren’t that easy to pick out
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New York City2010
read easily?navigate?identify sections?find instructions?
understand instructions?follow instructions easily?complete without mistakes?
DEMONSTRATION BALLOTSAMPLE BALLOT FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION - City of New York - County of Kings - November 2, 2010
1. BEFORE VOTING THIS BALLOT, PLEASE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS BALLOT.
1. ANTES DE EMITIR SU VOTO CON ESTA PAPELETA, SÍRVASE LEER LAS INSTRUCCIONES EN EL DORSO DE ESTA PAPELETA.
2. BALLOT PROPOSALS ARE LOCATED ON THE OTHE SIDE OF THIS BALLOT.
2. LAS PROPUESTAS DE PAPELETA APARECEN EN EL DORO DE ESTA PAPELETA.
MARKINGINSTRUCTIONS:INSTRUCCIONESDE MARCADO:
Correct Mark:Marca Correcta:
[Insert Chinese Translation][Insert Korean Translation]
Electors forGovernor and
LieutenantGovernor
[Spanish]
[Chinese]
[Korean]
Vote OnceVote una vez
[Chinese][Korean]
Comptroller[Spanish][Chinese][Korean]Vote Once
Vote una vez[Chinese][Korean]
Attorney General[Spanish][Chinese][Korean]Vote Once
Vote una vez[Chinese][Korean]
United StatesSenator
[Spanish][Chinese][Korean]Vote Once
Vote una vez[Chinese][Korean]
United StatesSenator
[Spanish][Chinese][Korean]Vote Once
Vote una vez[Chinese][Korean]
Supreme CourtJustice
[Spanish][Chinese][Korean]
Vote for any FIVE[Spanish][Chinese][Korean]
Representative inCongress[Spanish][Chinese][Korean]Vote Once
Vote una vez[Chinese][Korean]
StateSenator
[Spanish][Chinese][Korean]Vote Once
Vote una vez[Chinese][Korean]
Member ofAssembly[Spanish][Chinese][Korean]Vote Once
Vote una vez[Chinese][Korean]
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
1A 1B 1C 1D 1E 1F 1G 1H
1K 1J 1I
2A 2B 2C 2D 2E 2F 2G
3G3F3E3D3C3B3A
4I4K 4J
4G4F4E4D4C4B4A
5A 5B 5C 5D 5E 5F 5G
6E6D6C6B6A
7A 7B 7C 7D 7E
8E8D8C8B8A
9E9D9C9B9A
10D10C10B10A
13D13C13B13A
12C12B12A
11C11B11A
4H
WRITE-INCANDIDATO POR
ESCRITO
WRITE-IN
WRITE-IN
WRITE-IN
WRITE-IN
WRITE-IN
WRITE-IN
WRITE-IN
WRITE-IN
WRITE-IN
WRITE-IN
WRITE-IN
WRITE-IN
WRITE-IN
A B C D E F G H
K J I
A B C D E F G
A B C D E F G
A B C D E F G H
K J I
A B C D E F G
EDCBA
A B C
CBA
DCBA
Democratic[Chinese][Korean]
Democratic[Chinese][Korean]
Democratic[Chinese][Korean]
Democratic[Chinese][Korean]
Democratic[Chinese][Korean]
Democratic[Chinese][Korean]
Democratic[Chinese][Korean]
Democratic[Chinese][Korean]
Democratic[Chinese][Korean]
Republican[Chinese][Korean]
Independence[Chinese][Korean]
Conservative[Chinese][Korean]
Working Families[Chinese][Korean]
Green[Chinese][Korean]
Rent is 2 DamnHigh
[Chinese][Korean]
Libertarian[Chinese][Korean]
Taxpayers[Chinese][Korean]
Freedom[Chinese][Korean]
Anti-Prohibition[Chinese][Korean]
Republican[Chinese][Korean]
Independence[Chinese][Korean]
Conservative[Chinese][Korean]
Working Families[Chinese][Korean]
Green[Chinese][Korean]
Libertarian[Chinese][Korean]
Republican[Chinese][Korean]
Independence[Chinese][Korean]
Conservative[Chinese][Korean]
Working Families[Chinese][Korean]
Libertarian[Chinese][Korean]
Freedom[Chinese][Korean]
Republican[Chinese][Korean]
Independence[Chinese][Korean]
Conservative[Chinese][Korean]
Working Families[Chinese][Korean]
Green[Chinese][Korean]
Rent is 2 DamnHigh
[Chinese][Korean]
Libertarian[Chinese][Korean]
Tax Revolt[Chinese][Korean]
Taxpayers[Chinese][Korean]
Anti-Prohibition[Chinese][Korean]
Republican[Chinese][Korean]
Independence[Chinese][Korean]
Conservative[Chinese][Korean]
Working Families[Chinese][Korean]
Green[Chinese][Korean]
Libertarian[Chinese][Korean]
Republican[Chinese][Korean]
Independence[Chinese][Korean]
Conservative[Chinese][Korean]
Working Families[Chinese][Korean]
Conservative[Chinese][Korean]
Working Families[Chinese][Korean]
Republican[Chinese][Korean]
Working Families[Chinese][Korean]
Republican[Chinese][Korean]
Conservative[Chinese][Korean]
Working Families[Chinese][Korean]
HAnti-Prohibition
[Chinese][Korean]
5H
HarryWilson[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Andrew M.Cuomo[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Carl P.Paladino
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Andrew M.Cuomo[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Carl P.Paladino
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Andrew M.Cuomo[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
HowieHawkins
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
JimmyMcMillan
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
WarrenRedlich[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Carl P.Paladino
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
CharlesBarron[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Kristin M.Davis
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Thomas P.DiNapoli
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
HarryWilson[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
HarryWilson[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Thomas P.DiNapoli
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Julia A.Willebrand
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
JohnGaetani[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Eric T.Schneiderman
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
BruceBlakeman
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Eric T.Schneiderman
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
DanDonovan
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Eric T.Schneiderman
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Carl E.Person[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Ramon J.Jimenez
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Kristen E.Gillibrand
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Joseph J.DioGuardi
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Kristen E.Gillibrand
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Joseph J.DioGuardi
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Kristen E.Gillibrand
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Cecile A.Lawrence
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
JosephHuff
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
JohnClifton[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
DanDonovan
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Joseph J.DioGuardi
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
VivaMorgan[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Charles E.Schumer
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Eugene M.Fahey
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Charles E.Schumer
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
JayTownsend
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Charles E.Schumer
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
ColiaClark
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Randy A.Credico[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Randy A.Credico[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Kevin M.Dillon
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Cheryl A.Green
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Kevin M.Dillon
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Kevin M.Dillon
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Kevin M.Dillon
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Eugene M.Fahey
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Mark C.Rodgers
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Eugene M.Fahey
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
JayTownsend
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Eugene M.Fahey
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Mark A.Montour
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Deborah A.Chimes[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Mark A.Montour
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Deborah A.Chimes[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Cathrine NugentPanepinto
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Nydia M.Velazquez
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Nydia M.Velazquez
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Henry J.Nowak[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
AliceGaffney[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Paul B.Wojtaszek
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Henry J.Nowak[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Paul B.Wojtaszek
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Cathrine NugentPanepinto
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Jeffrey F.Voelkl
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Cathrine NugentPanepinto
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Cathrine NugentPanepinto
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Henry J.Nowak[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Daniel L.Squadron
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Joseph A.Nardiello
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Daniel L.Squadron
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
John L.Millman[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
John A.Jasilli, Jr.
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
John A.Jasilli, Jr.
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
John L.Millman[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Robert J.Duffy
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Gregory J.Edwards
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Robert J.Duffy
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Gregory J.Edwards
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Robert J.Duffy
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
GloriaMattera[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
AldenLink
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Gregory J.Edwards
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
Eva M.Doyle
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
TanyaGendelman
[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]
RDH
RDH
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Worst. Instructions. Ever.
How many votes do I get for governor?
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California 2012
read easily?navigate?identify sections?find instructions?
understand instructions?follow instructions easily?complete without mistakes?
Instructions that are not instructions...
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Problems are well understood
split contests across columns overvoting
there are responses on both sides of names overvoting
arrows rather than bubbles marking incorrectly
formatting is inconsistent or too consistent undervoting
instructions are complicated or lacking all kinds of crazy things
voters don’t know how to correct their ballots lost votes
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Poor design and instructions on ballots makeunderstanding, marking, and casting difficult, time-consuming, and complicated
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Poor design and instructions on ballots makecounting, canvassing, and audits difficult, time-consuming, and complicated
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Deconstructing California Top 2 primary ballots: Lessons learned
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California 2012
read easily?navigate?identify sections?find instructions?
understand instructions?follow instructions easily?complete without mistakes?
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find instructions?read easily?
Yelling!
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find instructions?read easily?
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understand instructions?follow instructions easily?complete without mistakes?
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Voter-nominated and nonpartisan offices
All voters, regardless of the party preference they disclosed upon registration, or refusal to disclose a party preference, may vote for any candidate for a voter-nominated or nonpartisan office.
The party preference, if any, designated by a candidate for a voter-nominated office is selected by the candidate and is shown for the information of the voters only.
It does not imply that the candidate is nominated or endorsed by the party or that the party approves of the candidate. The party preference, if any, of a candidate for a nonpartisan office does not appear on the ballot.
No. 04: Write short sentences.
No. 06: Use active voice.
No. 09: Short paragraphs.
No. 05: Use simple words. 101 words
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No. 04: Write short sentences.
No. 06: Use active voice.
No. 09: Short paragraphs.
No. 05: Use simple words.Voter-nominated and nonpartisan offices
All voters, regardless of the party preference they disclosed upon registration, or refusal to disclose a party preference, may vote for any candidate for a voter-nominated or nonpartisan office.
The party preference, if any, designated by a candidate for a voter-nominated office is selected by the candidate and is shown for the information of the voters only.
It does not imply that the candidate is nominated or endorsed by the party or that the party approves of the candidate. The party preference, if any, of a candidate for a nonpartisan office does not appear on the ballot.
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Voter-nominated and nonpartisan offices
All voters may vote for any candidate for a voter-nominated or nonpartisan office.
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Voter-nominated and nonpartisan offices
All voters may vote for any candidate for a voter-nominated or nonpartisan office.
If the candidate has a preferred political party, the party name appears on the ballot for information only. It does not mean that the candidate is nominated or endorsed by the party or that the party approves of the candidate.
Candidates for nonpartisan offices do not show party preferences.
67 words
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California 2012
Contests split across columns
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California 2012
Responses on both sides of names
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California 2012
Arrows rather than bubbles(and on the wrong side of the choices)
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California 2012
Formattinginconsistent ortoo consistent: no visual hierarchy
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California 2012
Instructionsinstructionsinstructions
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What happened?split contests across columns overvoting
response spaces on both sides of names overvoting
arrows rather than bubbles marking incorrectly
formatting is inconsistent or too consistent undervoting
instructions are complicated or lacking all kinds of crazy things
voters don’t know how to correct their ballots lost votes
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Can voters... read all of the information on the ballot easily?
navigate through the ballot to find all the contests and ballot measures?
identify the different sections of the ballot?
find, read, and follow instructions accurately?
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Use lowercase letters
Avoid centered type
Use big enough type
Pick one sans serif font
Support process and navigation
Use clear, simple language
Use accurate instructional illustrations
Use informational icons (only)
Use contrast and color to support meaning
Show what’s most important
Designing usable ballots
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Can voters... understand what each instruction means?
follow instructions easily?
complete the ballot without making mistakes?
respond appropriately to error messages?
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At the beginning of the ballot explain how to vote
Put instructions where voters need them
Include information that will prevent voters from making errors
Write short sentences
Use short, simple, everyday words
Write in active voice, with the person doing comes before the verb
Write in the positive
When giving instructions that are more than one step, use a numbered list
Keep paragraphs short
Separate paragraphs by a space
Writing instructions voters understand
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New tools.
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Research commissioned by NIST
SOP and Usability and Civic Life Project
Research commissioned by NIST
Research commissioned by EAC
Field Guides series
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Written and designed for you
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Published by 300+ people who say
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thank you for being amazing
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Research partially funded by Kickstarter
Research partially funded by Kickstarter
Coming soon
Effective election department web sites
Delivering useful voter education
Effective design for vote-by-mail
Funding yet to be secured
Designing multi-language ballots
Funding yet to be secured
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Field Guides To Ensuring Voter Intent
civicdesigning.org/fieldguides