The document summarizes research from cataloging 147 election websites and conducting 41 usability tests. It found that 33 of 41 participants looked online for election information, with 23 going to county websites. However, website designs did not match what voters were looking for. The research suggests election websites should focus on answering common voter questions like "What's on the ballot?" and provide priority information like voting options and polling place locations in a clear, voter-centric structure. Proper information architecture and language can help voters easily find critical details to participate in elections.
9. Thank you
•
Michelle Milla
•
Samantha LeVan
•
Karen McGrane
•
Kate Aurigemma
•
Krysta Chauncey
•
Erin Liman
•
Karen Bachmann
•
Alessandra Brophy
•
Rosa Moran
•
Cyd Harrell
•
Jenny Greeve
•
Whitney Quesenbery
•
Josie Scott
•
Andrea Fineman
•
Rachel Goddard
10. Factoids
94% of the population lives in a county that has an
elections website
Of 3,057 counties or equivalent, 966 didn’t have
websites (31.5%)
“election department” varied by region
17. Thank you
Andrea Moed
Jacqui Adams
Kristen Johansen
Josh Keyes
Boaz Gurdin
Josh Bright
Ashley Pearlman
Doug Hanke
Donald A. Cox
Cyd Harrell
Kamaria Campbell
Whitney Quesenbery
Paul Schreiber
Andrea Fineman
Jenn Downs
26. If voters don’t know what
is on the ballot
they are more likely to go to third-party
sources
they are less likely to show up at the right
polling place
they’re likely to undervote down-ballot
they are less likely to turn out
27. Website design problems are
well understood
sites are hard to find
find other sources
navigation reflects
department
don’t know where to go
labels are jargon
don’t know how to get to
content
dates and deadlines
are vague
don’t know when to act
graphics are gratuitous
get distracted or lost in the
site, lose trust
sites are not accessible
disenfranchisement
28. What’s on the ballot?
What are my options for voting?
absentee
what’s the
deadline to apply?
what do I have to
do to get one?
when is it due?
early voting
Election Day
where do I vote?
where do I vote?
29. what’s the
deadline to apply?
where do I vote?
what do I have to
do to get one?
when is it due?
who is in office now?
do I need ID to vote?
what’s the deadline for registering?
where do I vote?
31. Elections = process
1. register
2. voting options
3. polling place location
4. voter ID
5. current office holders
6. military and overseas voters
7. sample ballot
33. Establish...
you’re on a government
website
it’s the election website
this is the source you
want
when the next election is
34. Priority content
What’s on the ballot?
How do I vote if I can’t
get to the polling place?
Who are my reps now,
and what districts am I
in?
Where do I vote?
Do I have to show ID?
35. Information architecture
the ballot
voting options
current office holders
where to vote
voter ID
registering to vote
what to expect
how to vote
military and overseas voters
election results
36.
37. Help voters find your website.
Connect your website to other
government sites.
Answer the question: ‘What’s on the
ballot?’
Group navigation to answer voters’
questions.
Help visitors know what site they are on
and what will be covered there.
38. Write links that use words voters use.
Put the most important information in the
main menu or the center.
Help voters find ballot information.
Use words that voters use in links,
headings, and graphics.
Help voters see at a glance what each
chunk of information is about.
42. Coming soon
Communicating
with voters
Research funded
by Kickstarter and
MacArthur
Foundation
Designing
voter ed
booklets
& flyers
Research funded
by Kickstarter and
MacArthur
Foundation
Designing
election
department
websites
Guiding voters
through the
polling place
Research funded
by Kickstarter and
MacArthur
Foundation
Research funded
by Kickstarter and
MacArthur
Foundation