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This is a presentation by Jenny Greeve, from EVN 2011, uploaded with her permission.
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AIGA Design for Democracy in Washington State
Jenny Greeve Washington State Election Design Fellow, 2009-2011
Why does design matter in elections?
What’s it like to have a professional designer work with local elections officials?
What can a partnership like this achieve?
Session takeaways
Design for Democracydesigners, researchers, policy-makers & elections officials collaborating to improve elections materials & establish / maintain design standards for elections materials> increased recognition after the infamous “butterfly ballot”> known for “top 10 election design guidelines”
Election Design Fellowscommunication designers working at the state-level on the design of election materials
AIGA Design for Democracy
Design & elections
civic engagementtrust in electionsrisk preventionaccuracyefficiencyeffectiveness
print / web designcopywritingusability testinguser experience
Communication designers deliver
Local elections officials want
!
Florida, 2000: butterfly ballot
Minnesota, 2008: complicated ballot envelopes
Washington, 2009: ballot with race below instructions
Local elections officials must prevent
Evidence-based design
1. Use lowercase letters: Mixed-case letters are more legible than ALL CAPITAL LETTERS because they are easier to recognize.
2. Avoid centered type: Left-aligned type is more legible than centered type, which forces the eye to stop reading in order to find the start of the next line.
3. Use big enough type: “Fine print” is hard to read and may intimidate or alienate voters. Use minimum type sizes: 12-point for optical scan; 25-point for touchscreens. (Following this principle for optical scan ballots may impact printing costs but will be a worthwhile investment in election accuracy.)
4. Pick one sans-serif font: Avoid introducing new fonts, which require the eye to stop reading and adjust. Sans-serif fonts with clean strokes (Arial, Univers, Verdana) are recommended for screen and for the quantity and variation of text found on paper ballots. For dual-language materials, use bold text for the primary language, regular text for the secondary language.
5. Support process and navigation: For optical-scan ballots, offer comprehensive instructions and page numbering. For touchscreen ballots, offer language and mode options, continuous access to instructions, consistent and flexible navigation and clear feedback about selections. Post notable wayfinding and instructional materials in and around the polling place.
6. Use clear, simple language: State instructions and options as simply as possible. Summarize referenda in simple language alongside required formats. Do not include more than two languages on any one material.
7. Use accurate instructional illustrations: Visual instructions help low-literacy and general-population voters. Photo images, which are difficult to shoot and reproduce well, are not recommended. Illustrations must be accurate in their details to avoid misleading voters.
8. Use informational icons (only): Avoid political party icons. Icons that call attention to key information and support navigation are recommended in limited use.
9. Use contrast and color functionally: On optical scan ballots, to differentiate instructions from contents and contests from each other; and on touchscreen ballots, to support navigation, call special attention and provide user feedback. Color cannot be relied on as the only way to communicate important information.
10. Decide what’s most important: Page and screen layout and text sizes should support information hierarchy. For instance, the ballot title should be more prominent than any one contest, a contest header should be more prominent than its candidates’ names and a candidate’s name should be bolder than his/her party affiliation. Candidates’ names and options should be presented with equal importance.
Pop quiz: how many of the Top 10 Election Design Best Practices are being violated in the graphic / type treatment at left? Subversive quiz question: in this instance, does it matter that we’re violating the Top 10?
TOP
TENelectiondesign
Introduction1.1
Effective Designs for theAdministration of Federal Elections
Section 1: Introduction
June 2007
U.S. Election Assistance Commission
Fellowship in Washington State
39 autonomous counties with independently-elected officials
All vote-by-mail state
2 years, 40+ design projects
Statewide & county-specific projects
Fellowship guiding principles
Mission facilitate civic engagement through design
Audiencevia LEOs: voters & potential voters
Skills> diplomacy> persuasion > professionalism > evidence
Tools> understanding > creativity> testing> research> analysis > education
Mantras> design is not an afterthought > design matters
Voter registration form redesignMINI CASE STUDY:
Reasons for redesign > improve usability to gather accurate, complete information> new statute requirements> major administrative shift: will mail directly to county
Process> statewide workgroup 10+ elections officials> 5 rounds / design> 2 rounds / usability
Constraints> not 100% buy-in on need for redesign> complicated language & statute requirements
By signing this document, I hereby assert, under penalty of perjury, that I am legally eligible to vote. If I am found to have voted illegally, I may be prosecuted and/or fined for this illegal act. In addition, I hereby acknowledge that my name and last known address will be forwarded to the appropriate state and/or federal authorities if I am found to have voted illegally. (RCW 29A.08.210)
• I declare that the facts on this registration form are true;• I am a citizen of the United States;• I am not presently denied my civil rights as a result of being convicted of a felony;• I will have lived in Washington state at this address for thirty days immediately before the next election at which I vote;• I will be at least eighteen years old when I vote.(RCW 29A.08.230)
2
1
( )
5
6
7
Mail-In Voter Registration Form
FOR OFFICE USE ONLY
Use Black or Blue Pen Only - Please Print Clearly NAME CHANGE ADDRESS CHANGE SIGNATURE UPDATE NEW REGISTRATION
NOTE: Voter registration requires U.S. Citizenship
NOTE: Previous registration information
Federal and state law require you to provide your Washington Driver’s License number or Washington ID Card number.If you do not have a Washington Driver’s License or Washington ID Card, provide the last four digits of your Social Security Number.
A. Washington Driver’s License or ID Number B. Last four Digits/SSN Date of Birth (MM/DD/YYYY)Check here if you do not have a Washington Driver’s License, ID Card, or SSN.
Last Name
First Name
Daytime Phone Number
Middle Name Email Address (optional)
Washington Residential/Physical Address (Required)
Male
Female
Jr.Sr.
Address Where You Get Your Mail (if different from residential/physical address)
City or Town
City or Town State
ZIP
ZIP
Check any that currently apply Military Domestic Military Foreign National Guard/Reserves U.S. Citizen Overseas
YES NO
I was previously registered under this name and address:
Name
Address
City
County
State ZIP
Sign as previously registered
FOLD HERE
WARNING: If you knowingly provide false information on this voter registration form or knowingly make a false declaration about your qualifications for voter registration, you will have committed a class C felony that is punishable by imprisonment for up to five years, or by a fine of up to ten thousand dollars or both imprisonment and fine. (RCW 29A.08.210)
Voter Declaration
SIGN OR MARK IN THE BOX
NAME
ADDRESS
If you are physically unable to sign your name, please have the person who assisted you in completing this form provide:
DATE SIGNEDMonth/Day/Year
4
3
8
10
11
12
MI 3/07
MOISTEN AND FOLD OVER TO SEAL
ONGOING ABSENTEE REQUEST NOTE: If your county is vote by mail, do not complete this section. A ballot will be mailed to you automatically.
I would like to receive absentee ballots for all future elections9
Will you be at least 18 years of age or older before Election Day?Are you a citizen of the United States?
YES
YES
NO
NO last name first name middle
date of birth (mm / dd / yyyy) phone number* male female
residential address (in Washington)
city zip
mailing address (if different than residential address)
city state / zip
email address*
I am in the Armed Forces (includes National Guard and Reserves)
I am a U.S. citizen living outside the U.S.
personal information
if you mark no to either of these questions, do not complete this form
I am a citizen of the United States of America. yes no
I will be at least 18 years old by the next election. yes no
qualifications
Washington State Voter Registration Form
I declare that the facts on this voter registration form are true. I am a citizen of the United States, I am not presently denied the right to vote as a result of being convicted of a felony, I will have lived in Washington at this address for thirty days immediately before the next election at which I vote, and I will be at least 18 years old when I vote.
oath
if you are already registered and are changing your name or address, fill out this section (this information will be used to update your registration)
former last name first name middle
former residential address city state / zip
instructions
fold
here
moisten glue strip above and fold over to seal
Washington driver’s license / state ID #
former registration
You must be a United States citizen to register to vote.
how to register to vote or update a registration
Please print all information clearly using black or blue pen.
Mail or deliver this form to your County Elections Office. Addresses are on reverse.
for more information
online www.vote.wa.gov
call 1-800-448-4881
visit your County Elections Office
This registration will be in effect for the next election if postmarked or delivered no later than the Monday four weeks before Election Day.
If you miss this deadline, please contact your County Elections Office.
You will receive your ballot by mail. Contact your County Elections Office for in-person voting options.
If you knowingly provide false information on this voter registration form or knowingly make a false declaration about your qualifications for voter registration you will have committed a class C felony that is punishable by imprisonment for up to 5 years, a fine of up to $10,000, or both.
Your name, address, gender and date of birth are public information.
*optional information
sign here
date here
fold
here
if you do not have a Washington driver’s license or state ID card, provide the last four digits of your Social Security number
x x x - x x -
register online at www.vote.wa.gov
09/2009
first person to engage registrants
Voter registration form redesignMINI CASE STUDY:
5 sections of similar types of information
Chelan County ballot packetMINI CASE STUDY:
Reasons for redesign > improve usability for voter> major administrative shift: no “flap” covering signature
Process> started with clean slate> multiple design variations up front> informal prototyping
Constraints> complicated language & statute requirements
Secrecy EnvelopeSeal your completed ballot in this envelope.
Place this envelope in the Return Envelope and follow the numbered steps.
SKIP MOORECHELAN COUNTY AUDITORP.O. BOX 4760WENATCHEE, WA 98807-4760
Address Service Requested
Your Official Ballot
Return Envelope
POSTAGE REQUIRED
1 Read the oathI do solemnly swear or affirm under penalty of perjury that I am:
A citizen of the United States; A legal resident of the state of Washington; At least 18 years old on election day; Voting only once in this election; Not ineligible to vote due to a felony conviction; and Not disqualified from voting due to a court order.
It is illegal to forge a signature or cast another person’s ballot. Attempting to vote when not qualified, attempting to vote more than once, or falsely signing this oath is a felony punishable by a maximum imprisonment of five years, a maximum fine of $10,000, or both.
Try to sign or mark in the “signature of voter” area in the presence of two witnesses. The two witnesses should then sign below.
If you cannot sign
2 Sign & date
3 Postmark or deposit your ballot by 8pm on election day.
date above
signature of voter above
phone number above (optional, in case there is an issue with your signature)
witness 1 signature above witness 2 signature above
visually linked by color, layout, typography
plain language, simple instructions
1, 2, 3 & you’re done!
Chelan County ballot packetMINI CASE STUDY:
Session takeaway review
Yes, design matters in elections!
A design professional working with local elections officials allows each to do their best work and do right by the voter
A partnership can assist us in achieving civic engagement, trust in the system & accurate, efficient elections
Hart ballot design project
Jenny Greeve Washington State Election Design Fellow, 2009-2011
Why ballot design?
What’s it like for local elections officials, design professionals & vendor to partner?
What was achieved?
Session takeaways
Why ballot design?
It’s at the heart of elections!
General Election 2009: undervote in King County blamed on ballot design
Jenny’s self-proclaimed“Year of the Ballot”
Establish consistency based on best practices
Empower local elections officials
Pre-project Hart ballots
Project logistics
+
Instructions
How to vote
Completely fill in the box to the left of your choice.Vote for one in each race. If you vote for more than one, no votes will be counted for that race.
If you make a mistake
Candidate 1
Candidate 3
Candidate 2
Draw a line through the entire measure response or candidate’s name.Then you may make another choice.
Optional write-inor write-in
To vote for a candidate not listed for that race, fill in the box to the left of “or write-in” and print the name on the dashed line.
READ: Each candidate for partisan office may state a political party that he or she prefers. A candidate’s preference does not imply that the candidate is nominated or endorsed by the party, or that the party approves of or associates with that candidate.
Precinct Committee Officer is a position in each major political party. For this office only: If you consider yourself a Democrat or Republican, you may vote for a candidate of that party.
Continue voting next side
Statewide
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Yes
No
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Yes
No
Mickey Mouse
Donald Duck
Minnie Mouse
Goofy
Harrison Ford
Guy Ritchie
Madonna
Linda Ronstadt
Julie Andrews
Van Halen
Liz Lemon
Jack Donaghy
Frank the Tank
Ben Harper
Dave Matthews
Elliott Nolan
Jack Nicholson
Jimmy Buffett
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Yes
No
Tiatenimus sum ipit eos militat usaest, sum aditemo luptustia que volorep editati umendem volorror molore do-luptate labo. Ut inveruptatur, consequid ut es vollor volorror molore.Tiatenimus sum ipit eos militat usaest, sum aditemo luptustia que volorep editati umendem volorror molore doluptate labo.
Yes
No
Mickey Mouse
Donald Duck
Minnie Mouse
Goofy
Harrison Ford
Guy Ritchie
Madonna
Linda Ronstadt
Julie Andrews
Van Halen
Liz Lemon
Jack Donaghy
Frank the Tank
Ben Harper
Dave Matthews
Elliott Nolan
Jack Nicholson
Jimmy Buffett
Instructions
How to vote
Completely fill in the box to the left of your choice.Vote for one in each race. If you vote for more than one, no votes will be counted for that race.
If you make a mistake
Candidate 1
Candidate 3
Candidate 2
Draw a line through the entire measure response or candidate’s name.Then you may make another choice.
Optional write-inor write-in
To vote for a candidate not listed for that race, fill in the box to the left of “or write-in” and print the name on the dashed line.
Continue voting next side
New templates by Hart
New images by SOS / D4D
Better ballots, increased options
39 Washington State counties
21 Hart counties
13 Post-project: Hart counties with templates + images
21 Post-project: counties with images only
Partnering with Hart
Features of new Hart templates
large page identifier
shading for race information
throughout: > different type weights> different type sizes > fewer lines & boxes
dashed line for write-ins
Template specifics
18 total templates
10 English templates, 8 bilingual templates
8.5 x 11, 8.5 x 14, 8.5 x 17, 11 x 17
2, 3, 4 column
Regular: Arial 12 & 10
Condensed: Arial 10 & 8
SOS / D4D image collection
READ: Each candidate for partisan office may state a political party that he or she prefers. A candidate’s preference does not imply that the candidate is nominated or endorsed by the party, or that the party approves of or associates with that candidate.
Precinct Committee Officer is a position in each major political party. For this office only: If you consider yourself a Democrat or Republican, you may vote for a candidate of that party.
Continue voting next side
StatewideInstructions
How to vote
Completely fill in the box to the left of your choice.Vote for one in each race. If you vote for more than one, no votes will be counted for that race.
If you make a mistake
Option 1
Option 3
Option 2
Draw a line through the entire measure response or candidate’s name.Then you may make another choice.
Optional write-in
or write-in
To vote for a candidate not listed for that race, fill in the box to the left of “or write-in” and print the name on the dashed line.
Instructions
How to vote
Completely fill in the box to the left of your choice.Vote for one in each race. If you vote for more than one, no votes will be counted for that race.
If you make a mistake
Option 1
Option 3
Option 2
Draw a line through the entire measure response or candidate’s name.Then you may make another choice.
Optional write-in
write-in
To vote for a candidate not listed for that race, fill in the box to the left of “write-in” and print the name on the dashed line.
Start voting here
throughout: > shading, type sizes
match templates> plain language > just the basics> county collaboration
Image specifics
38 different instruction images
2, 3, 4 column
different treatments for “write-in”
specific layout for when races appear below instructions
ballot section dividers, miscellaneous images, election-specific images
Ballot design guide
Hart Ballot Design GuideSummer 2010 1.31.2 Hart templates
Regular v. condensed templates
Regular v. condensed templates
The difference between regular & condensed templates is the type size of Arial used throughout the ballot.
Regular templates feature type sizes recommended by existing research for maximum legibility.
Condensed templates, which feature smaller type sizes, are provided as a “last resort” when you are in a long ballot situation.
Regular or condensed?
While not always possible, attempt to use a regular template before using a condensed template.
Because condensed templates use 8 point Arial, your voters with low vision may have problems reading their ballot.
Regular template
10 point
• Proposition text• Specific race information
(excluding race title)• Specific race instructions• Party preference
12 point
• Everything else
Condensed template
8 point
• Proposition text• Specific race information
(excluding race title) • Specific race instructions• Party preference
10 point
• Everything else
Visit section 5 to see King County’s decision-making matrix. A visual guide used by their ballot designers for each election to manage difficult questions such as what size ballot to select, whether to place races below the instructions & when to compromise on type size.
? These ballots look funny. Yes, they do. They are missing party preferences, “write-ins” & races are completely in the wrong order & sometimes repeated. These were delivered from Hart as samples, meant to give you a general feeling of the formatting.
Hart Ballot Design GuideSummer 2010
Instructions
How to vote
Use a dark blue or black ink pen to completely fill in the box to the left of your choice.Vote for one in each race. If you vote for more than one, no votes will be counted for that race.
If you make a mistake
Option 1
Option 3
Option 2
Draw a line through the entire measure response or candidate’s name.Then you may make another choice.
Optional write-in
To vote for a candidate not listed for that race, fill in the box to the left of the dashed line and print the name of the candidate.
Instructions
How to vote
Use a dark blue or black ink pen to completely fill in the box to the left of your choice.Vote for one in each race. If you vote for more than one, no votes will be counted for that race.
If you make a mistake
Option 1
Option 3
Option 2
Draw a line through the entire measure response or candidate’s name.Then you may make another choice.
Optional write-inor write-in
To vote for a candidate not listed for that race, fill in the box to the left of “or write-in” and print the name on the dashed line.
Instructions
How to vote
Use a dark blue or black ink pen to completely fill in the box to the left of your choice.Vote for one in each race. If you vote for more than one, no votes will be counted for that race.
If you make a mistake
Option 1
Option 3
Option 2
Draw a line through the entire measure response or candidate’s name.Then you may make another choice.
Optional write-inwrite-in
To vote for a candidate not listed for that race, fill in the box to the left of “write-in” and print the name on the dashed line.
3 & 4 columnregular
“or write-in”
3col_1.bmp
3 & 4 columnregular
“write-in”
3col_2.bmp
3 & 4 columnregularblank “write-in”
3col_3.bmp
Instruction images3 & 4 column | regular | no race below & race below
Instructions
How to vote
Use a dark blue or black ink pen to completely fill in the box to the left of your choice.Vote for one in each race. If you vote for more than one, no votes will be counted for that race.
If you make a mistake
Option 1
Option 3
Option 2
Draw a line through the entire measure response or candidate’s name.Then you may make another choice.
Optional write-inor write-in
To vote for a candidate not listed for that race, fill in the box to the left of “or write-in” and print the name on the dashed line.
Start voting here
Instructions
How to vote
Use a dark blue or black ink pen to completely fill in the box to the left of your choice.Vote for one in each race. If you vote for more than one, no votes will be counted for that race.
If you make a mistake
Option 1
Option 3
Option 2
Draw a line through the entire measure response or candidate’s name.Then you may make another choice.
Optional write-inwrite-in
To vote for a candidate not listed for that race, fill in the box to the left of “write-in” and print the name on the dashed line.
Start voting here
Instructions
How to vote
Use a dark blue or black ink pen to completely fill in the box to the left of your choice.Vote for one in each race. If you vote for more than one, no votes will be counted for that race.
If you make a mistake
Option 1
Option 3
Option 2
Draw a line through the entire measure response or candidate’s name.Then you may make another choice.
Optional write-in
To vote for a candidate not listed for that race, fill in the box to the left of the dashed line and print the name of the candidate.
Start voting here
3 & 4 columnregular
“or write-in”
3col_4.bmp
3 & 4 columnregular
“write-in”
3col_5.bmp
3 & 4 columnregularblank “write-in”
3col_6.bmp
2.232.22
Summer 2010, V.1
Jenny Greeve AIGA / D4D Washington State Design Fellow
Hart InterCivic
Washington State Hart Counties
Washington Secretary of State Elections Division
HAVA
Hart Ballot Design Guide
New template + images
New template + images
Only 4 counties could use new templates for 2010 General
Ballot templates produced enormous files, took 5x as long to produce
Ballot templates required larger paper sizes
Vendor not responsive during ballot production time
Not all counties used SOS / D4D images as intended
Project kinks
“The most important things for us: is the voter less confused? Are they getting it? If only 10 voters have a better experience, it is definitely worth it for us.”
Nissa Burger, Chelan County
“Despite the kinks, we love the look and will continue using the new templates. We have had positive feedback from our local candidates and party members.”
Carolyn Myers, Cowlitz County
Project praise
Washington was primed to make ballot design improvements
Unprecedented collaboration among LEOs, design professionals & vendor
While there were kinks, project was a huge step forward & the work will continue
Session takeaway review
Recommended