Making Ballot Language Understandable to Voters

2006 USENIX/ACCURATE Electronic Voting Technology Workshop

Sharon J. Laskowski ; Janice (Ginny) Redish1

PID  :  79424

来源: CEUR

【 摘 要 】

The wording and placement of instructions can help or hinder voters from successfully voting for their choices.Noresearch has been done specifically on the language of instructions to voters, but we can draw best practices fromresearch in several related disciplines.A recent study by the authors shows that typical ballots in the United Statesviolate many of the best practices drawn from research.In this paper, we discuss and offer examples of the gapbetween best practice in giving instructions and the instructions that many voters see as they try to vote.We discussthe research on which we draw for these best practices and the need to study the applicability of this research in thespecific context of voting instructions.Background: HAVA, NIST, and usability The 2002 Help America Vote Act (HAVA) assigns theNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)a key technical role in assisting with nationwideimprovements for voting systems.(Seehttp://vote.nist.gov .) In particular, NIST providesresearch support to the Technical GuidelinesDevelopment Committee (TGDC) established byHAVA to develop voluntary voting system guidelineswhich are then delivered to the Election AssistanceCommission.This paper describes some of NISTswork improving the usability and accessibility of votingsystems in response to the TGDCs resolutions #0805Usability Guidance for Instructions, Ballot Design, andError Messages and #0605 Accommodating a WideRange of Human Abilities.(Seehttp://vote.nist.gov/Official%20wo%20signature.pdffor the full text.)These resolutions recognize that all voting systems (notjust the equipment designated as accessible) must bedesigned for a large range of abilities.Voters may be inexperienced, arrive at the polling place tired and stressed, have limited English proficiency or lowliteracy, orhave reading, learning, or cognitivedisabilities.A good overview of how readability of informationcan be enhanced for people with cognitive disabilitiesthrough clear, concise language can be found in apublication of the National Center for theDissemination of Disability Research (NCDDR 2003).Ballot language is importantClear instructions are a necessary part of the votingprocess whether voters are working with paper orelectronic ballots.Voters are exercising an important right as citizens.Ifthey cannot understand how to use their votingmaterials, they may not be successful in voting for thecandidates and positions of their choice. They may make mistakes that invalidate their ballots.They may vote for candidates or positions that are notthe ones they meant to vote for.They may beintimidated by unclear or insufficient instructions andgive up without voting.Indeed, they may choose not totry to vote.Language and design are critical factors in the usabilityof any document, whether that document is on paper oron a computer screen.Thi