don't make me read! less is more in information for voters

Don’t make me read! Less is more in information for voters

Dana Chisnell@danachis@ChadButterfly

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...?

PortlandMaine2011



People missed these instructions

Why do the top instructions have letters?

ShawneeCounty2004



Not ideal line length and justification.

Sections aren’t that easy to pick out

New York City2010



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


United StatesSenator

[Spanish][Chinese][Korean]Vote Once


United StatesSenator



Supreme CourtJustice

[Spanish][Chinese][Korean]

Vote for any FIVE[Spanish][Chinese][Korean]

Representative inCongress[Spanish][Chinese][Korean]Vote Once


StateSenator



Member ofAssembly[Spanish][Chinese][Korean]Vote Once


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]









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]












Freedom[Chinese][Korean]






Rent is 2 DamnHigh

[Chinese][Korean]


Tax Revolt[Chinese][Korean]

Taxpayers[Chinese][Korean]

Anti-Prohibition[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]


Carl P.Paladino



HowieHawkins


JimmyMcMillan


WarrenRedlich[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]

Carl P.Paladino


CharlesBarron[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]

Kristin M.Davis


Thomas P.DiNapoli




Thomas P.DiNapoli


Julia A.Willebrand


JohnGaetani[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]

Eric T.Schneiderman


BruceBlakeman


Eric T.Schneiderman


DanDonovan


Eric T.Schneiderman


Carl E.Person[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]

Ramon J.Jimenez


Kristen E.Gillibrand


Joseph J.DioGuardi




Joseph J.DioGuardi




Cecile A.Lawrence


JosephHuff


JohnClifton[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]

DanDonovan


Joseph J.DioGuardi


VivaMorgan[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]

Charles E.Schumer


Eugene M.Fahey


Charles E.Schumer


JayTownsend


Charles E.Schumer


ColiaClark


Randy A.Credico[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]

Randy A.Credico[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]

Kevin M.Dillon


Cheryl A.Green


Kevin M.Dillon


Kevin M.Dillon


Kevin M.Dillon


Eugene M.Fahey


Mark C.Rodgers


Eugene M.Fahey


JayTownsend


Eugene M.Fahey


Mark A.Montour


Deborah A.Chimes[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]

Mark A.Montour


Deborah A.Chimes[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]

Cathrine NugentPanepinto


Nydia M.Velazquez


Nydia M.Velazquez


Henry J.Nowak[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]

AliceGaffney[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]

Paul B.Wojtaszek



Paul B.Wojtaszek




Jeffrey F.Voelkl







Daniel L.Squadron


Joseph A.Nardiello


Daniel L.Squadron


John L.Millman[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]

John A.Jasilli, Jr.


John A.Jasilli, Jr.


John L.Millman[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]

Robert J.Duffy


Gregory J.Edwards


Robert J.Duffy


Gregory J.Edwards


Robert J.Duffy


GloriaMattera[Chinese][Chinese][Korean][Korean]

AldenLink


Gregory J.Edwards


Eva M.Doyle


TanyaGendelman


RDH

RDH

�

�

✺

✺

a

a

a

:;

Worst. Instructions. Ever.

How many votes do I get for governor?

California 2012



Instructions that are not instructions...

Problems are well understood

too much text ignored

hidden steps miss important items

jargon and unfamiliar words misinterpret meaning

instructions in the wrong place make mistakes

passive voice = ambiguity guess what to do

Poor design and instructions on ballots makeunderstanding, marking, and casting difficult, time-consuming, and complicated

Poor design and instructions on ballots makecounting, canvassing, and audits difficult, time-consuming, and complicated

Don’t make me read!

43% of American adults have reading disabilities

Rushed

Distracted

Tired

Stressed

Unfamiliar

Inexperienced

Uneducated

Other sources of temporary disability

California 2012



find instructions?read easily?

Yelling!

find instructions?read easily?

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

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.


All voters may vote for any candidate for a voter-nominated or nonpartisan office.


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

Other examples

This is Your Secrecy EnvelopeInstructions to Vote Your Ballot: 1. Mark your ballot and enclose it in this Secrecy Envelope. You are not required to use this or any Secrecy Envelope for your ballot.

2. Place this Secrecy Envelope containing your ballot in the colored Official Ballot Envelope. Do not enclose your ballot and someone else’s in the same colored Official Ballot Envelope. Every voter has the right to vote his or her ballot in secret.

3. Sign your name at the X on the back of the outer colored Official Ballot Envelope. Envelopes that are unsigned cannot be counted.

4. Your ballot must be postmarked no later than Election Day to be counted. Ballots not mailed must be delivered to a Ballot-Drop Location prior to 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.

Are they really steps in a procedure?

Wait! What if I decided I didn’t want to use the secrecy envelope?

What are the most important things?

How would you make this a real step?

This is Your Secrecy EnvelopeHow to vote 1. Mark your ballot.

2. Put it in this Secrecy Envelope. You do not have to use this or any Secrecy Envelope for your ballot.

3. Put the Secrecy Envelope in the colored Official Ballot Envelope.

Or, just put your ballot in the Official Ballot Envelope.

Do not put anything but your ballot in the colored Official Ballot Envelope.

4. Sign your name at the X on the back of the outer colored Official Ballot Envelope. Envelopes that are unsigned cannot be counted.

5. Mail your ballot. It must be postmarked no later than Election Day to be counted.

Or, take your ballot to a Ballot-Drop Location before 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.

Voter ed



Other forms



2005

Proposed

Can voters... read all of the information easily?

navigate through the form to find everything they need?

identify the different sections of the ballot or form?

find, read, and follow instructions accurately?

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

Can voters... understand what each instruction means?

follow instructions easily?

complete the ballot without making mistakes?

respond appropriately to error messages?

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

New tools.

Research commissioned by NIST

SOP and Usability and Civic Life Project

Research commissioned by NIST

Research commissioned by EAC

Field Guides series

Written and designed for you

Published by 300+ people who say

thank you for being amazing

Research funded by Kickstarter and MacArthur Foundation


Coming soon

Communicating with voters

Designing voter ed booklets & flyers

Designing election department websites


Guiding voters through the polling place


Field Guides To Ensuring Voter Intent

civicdesigning.org/fieldguides

Thank you.

Dana [email protected]

civicdesigning.org

@danachis@ChadButterfly

don't make me read! less is more in information for voters

Design

chinese translation

korean translation electors

nd instructions

b c d e f g h

nd sections

esta papeleta

ballot proposals

sections arent