The document discusses the importance of clear and easy-to-understand instructions on ballots and voter materials. It provides examples of ballots and instructions that are difficult for voters to navigate or understand. The author advocates for designing ballots and instructions using principles like short sentences, active voice, simple language, and clear formatting to make the voting process less confusing and error-prone for voters.

1. Don’t make me read!
Less is more in information for voters
Dana Chisnell
@danachis
@ChadButterfly

3. page 27

4. King
County
2004
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...?

5. Portland
Maine
2011
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?

6. Shawnee
County
2004
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

7. New York City
2010
read easily?
navigate?
identify
sections?
find
instructions?
understand
instructions?
follow
instructions
easily?
complete
without
mistakes?
DEMONSTRATION BALLOT
SAMPLE 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.
MARKING
INSTRUCTIONS:
INSTRUCCIONES
DE MARCADO:
Correct Mark:
Marca Correcta:
[Insert Chinese Translation]
[Insert Korean Translation]
Electors for
Governor and
Lieutenant
Governor
[Spanish]
[Chinese]
[Korean]
Vote Once
Vote 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 States
Senator
[Spanish]
[Chinese]
[Korean]
Vote Once
Vote una vez
[Chinese]
[Korean]
1
2
3
4
1A 1B 1C 1D 1E 1F 1G 1H
1K 1J 1I
2A 2B 2C 2D 2E 2F 2G
3G3F3E3D3C3B3A
4G4F4E4D4C4B4A 4H
WRITE-IN
CANDIDATO POR
ESCRITO
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
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 Damn
High
[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 Damn
High
[Chinese]
[Korean]
Libertarian
[Chinese]
[Korean]
Tax Revolt Taxpayers Anti-Prohibition
Harry
Wilson
[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]
Howie
Hawkins
[Chinese]
[Chinese]
[Korean]
[Korean]
Jimmy
McMillan
[Chinese]
[Chinese]
[Korean]
[Korean]
Warren
Redlich
[Chinese]
[Chinese]
[Korean]
[Korean]
Carl P.
Paladino
[Chinese]
[Chinese]
[Korean]
[Korean]
Charles
Barron
[Chinese]
[Chinese]
[Korean]
[Korean]
Kristin M.
Davis
[Chinese]
[Chinese]
[Korean]
[Korean]
Thomas P.
DiNapoli
[Chinese]
[Chinese]
[Korean]
[Korean]
Harry
Wilson
[Chinese]
[Chinese]
[Korean]
[Korean]
Harry
Wilson
[Chinese]
[Chinese]
[Korean]
[Korean]
Thomas P.
DiNapoli
[Chinese]
[Chinese]
[Korean]
[Korean]
Julia A.
Willebrand
[Chinese]
[Chinese]
[Korean]
[Korean]
John
Gaetani
[Chinese]
[Chinese]
[Korean]
[Korean]
Eric T.
Schneiderman
[Chinese]
[Chinese]
[Korean]
[Korean]
Eric T.
Schneiderman
[Chinese]
[Chinese]
[Korean]
[Korean]
Dan
Donovan
[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]
Joseph
Huff
[Chinese]
[Chinese]
[Korean]
[Korean]
John
Clifton
[Chinese]
[Chinese]
[Korean]
[Korean]
Dan
Donovan
[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]
Gloria
Mattera
[Chinese]
[Chinese]
[Korean]
[Korean]
Alden
Link
[Chinese]
[Chinese]
[Korean]
[Korean]
Gregory J.
Edwards
[Chinese]
[Chinese]
[Korean]
[Korean]
Eva M.
Doyle
[Chinese]
[Chinese]
[Korean]
[Korean]
Tanya
Gendelman
[Chinese]
[Chinese]
[Korean]
[Korean]
RDH
RDH
✺
✺
Worst. Instructions.
Ever.
How many votes do I
get for governor?

8. California
2012
read easily?
navigate?
identify
sections?
find
instructions?
understand
instructions?
follow
instructions
easily?
complete
without
mistakes?
Instructions that are
not instructions...

9. 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

10. Poor design and instructions
on ballots make
understanding, marking, and casting
difficult, time-consuming, and
complicated

11. Poor design and instructions
on ballots make
counting, canvassing, and audits
difficult, time-consuming, and
complicated

12. Don’t make me read!
43% of American
adults have
reading disabilities

13. Rushed
Distracted
Tired
Stressed
Unfamiliar
Inexperienced
Uneducated
Other sources of
temporary disability

14. California
2012
read easily?
navigate?
identify sections?
find instructions?
understand
instructions?
follow instructions
easily?
complete without
mistakes?

15. find instructions?
read easily?
Yelling!

16. find instructions?
read easily?

17. understand
instructions?
follow instructions
easily?
complete without
mistakes?

18. 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

19. 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.

20. Voter-nominated and nonpartisan offices
All voters may vote for any candidate for a voter-
nominated or nonpartisan office.

21. 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

22. read easily?
navigate?
identify sections?
find instructions?
understand
instructions?
follow instructions
easily?
complete without
mistakes?

23. Other examples

25. This is Your Secrecy Envelope
Instructions 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?

26. This is Your Secrecy Envelope
How 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.

27. Voter ed
read easily?
navigate?
identify sections?
find instructions?
understand
instructions?
follow instructions
easily?
complete without
mistakes?

28. Other forms
read easily?
navigate?
identify sections?
find instructions?
understand
instructions?
follow instructions
easily?
complete without
mistakes?

29. Other forms
read easily?
navigate?
identify sections?
find instructions?
understand
instructions?
follow instructions
easily?
complete without
mistakes?

30. 2005
Proposed

31. 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?

32. 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

33. Can voters...
understand what each
instruction means?
follow instructions
easily?
complete the ballot
without making
mistakes?
respond appropriately to
error messages?

34. 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

35. New tools.

36. Research
commissioned by
NIST
SOP and Usability
and Civic Life
Project
Research
commissioned by
NIST
Research
commissioned by
EAC
Field Guides series

37. Written and
designed for you

38. Published by
300+ people
who say

39. thank you
for
being amazing

41. Research funded
by Kickstarter and
MacArthur
Foundation
Research funded
by Kickstarter and
MacArthur
Foundation
Coming soon
Communicating
with voters
Designing
voter ed
booklets
& flyers
Designing
election
department
websites
Research funded
by Kickstarter and
MacArthur
Foundation
Guiding voters
through the
polling place
Research funded
by Kickstarter and
MacArthur
Foundation

42. Field Guides
To Ensuring
Voter Intent
civicdesigning.org
/fieldguides

43. Thank you.

44. Dana Chisnell
dana@civicdesigning.org
civicdesigning.org
@danachis
@ChadButterfly