samples can be produced on a desktop printer and used without adjustments.

Ballot samples—including optical scan ballots, full-face DRE ballots (all options visible on a single screen), and rolling DRE ballots (touchscreens)— articulate design systems for election information ( jurisdiction, election type, date), ballot instructions, ballot navigation, and ballot questions (contests, retentions, measures). The optical-scan specifications are

and interaction design and are tailored to address recurring issues found in election materials. For instance, across election media, well-designed artifacts should feature: legible text; clear and simple language; support for process and navigation; and functional use of images, color and contrast, and elements of hierarchy. Ideally, all these recommendations would be followed, but given the constraints, election officials might make tangible

For instance, as in other design projects, it is important to develop relationships with and understand the objectives of all production stakeholders in advance of the election production cycle. In elections, key stakeholders may include government officials, voting equipment manufacturers, printers, writers, designers, and legislators.

It may also be necessary to advocate that election production plans be adjusted to

applicable to other paper ballot formats, such as absentee and emergency. The DRE designs address language selection, completion indicators, and onscreen help. (To view samples of the recommended ballot designs, visit http://interac- tions.acm.org/content/?p=1280.)

improvements by initially working with one or two.

September + October 2009

interactions

The Solution: Design Principles Design for Democracy and the EAC identified the election design best practices that both inform the provided samples and may be applied to other materials. They echo general best practices in information

The Solution:

Design Process Guidance Without an adequate planning and development process, including the appropriate sub-ject-matter experts, it would be difficult to apply the best practices and samples toward ballot reform in particular. Design for Democracy and the EAC were compelled to go beyond the design artifacts themselves and offer recommendations regarding design process and contributors.

include the appropriate contributors, steps, and realistic timelines. Plans should take into account the fact that voting does not start and end on Election Day with ballots and informational materials, but comprises many voter touchpoints and modes of interaction; voter-education and poll-worker training materials may be impacted by decisions made about polling-place materials and ballots, and vice versa.

Election design contributors such as simple-language experts, information designers, interaction designers, usability