In 2010, New York State used paper ballots for the first time. This presentation offers a design concept for how NY ballots can use the design guidelines in the EAC ballot templates to make New York State ballots more readable, while still working within current election law. Design mockup by Drew Davies, Oxide Design Co. and AIGA Design for Democracy Analysis and presentation by Whitney Quesenbery, WQusability and UPA Usability in Civic Life

1. A better ballot for
New York State
in 2012
Whitney Quesenbery
WQusability / Usability in Civic Life
Drew Davies
Oxide Design Co / AIGA Design for Democracy

2. A - Instructions at the top, B - Rows have all C - Uncluttered voting areas makes D - Ballot
in larger text and required items, candidate names easier to see, and identification has a
illustration of a correct with clear party allows larger text. strong visual
mark. names hierarchy
A
D
E
B C
F
G
H
E - Shading and heavier line F - Ovals to the left of the G - Single sans-serif H - Message reminds
weights between contests names puts ovals in direct font creates unified voters to look at both
helps distinguish single- proximity to each design with good sides of the ballot and
column and multi-column candidate readabilltiy reduces roll-off
contests.

3. A Instructions where voters need - and will see - them
Best practice New York election law
Place instructions in the upper-left corner of the Allows instructions to be continued on the back
ballot, where they will be read first. of the ballot.
Put each instruction in its own paragraph, so Nothing prohibits the illustration, showing
each one stands out. correct ballot marking.
Shading separates instructions from the rest of
the ballot.
Ilustration shows the correct way to mark.

4. B Row headers make party names clear

5. C Voting squares are clean and uncluttered
Best practice
New York election law
Show what’s most important – the candidate and
Row identifiers in the voting square.
party.
Oval “above or next to” the name.
Avoid clutter around candidate names.
Candidate names in a uniform font.
Make text big enough.
Left-align text (not centered).

6. D The ballot is easy to identify
Best practice New York election law
Use font size and weight to create a visual hierarchy of the Requires specific identification
information to identify the ballot. information, but does not specify
Use page numbers. the location.

7. E Shading and line weights separate contests
Best practice New York election law
Use contrast, color, and line weights to separate No requirement for the weight of
instructions from contests and contests from each lines.
other.
Line weights create strong boundaries.
Thick lines separate contests.
Thin lines separate candidates.

8. F Voting oval is to the left of the name
G A single font is easy to read
Best practice
New York election law
Ovals to the left of the names puts ovals in direct
Oval “above or next to” the name.
proximity to each candidate.
Candidate names in a uniform font.
A single sans-serif font used on the whole ballot.
Bold text used for emphasis.

9. H Instructions are where they are needed
Best practice New York election law
Instruction to turn ballot over is placed in the bottom right, No requirements.
at the end of the last column or row on the page.

10. We are here to help
Usability in Civic Life Whitney Quesenbery
http://usabilityinciviclife.org whitney@wqusability.com
Design for Democracy Drew Davies
http://ww.aiga.org/ drew@oxidedesign.com
design-for-democracy/
Civic Design Dana Chisnell
http://civicdesigning.org dana@usabilityworks.net
A project of
Usability in Civic Life
usabilityinciviclife.org

11. Field Guides to Ensuring Voter Intent
Summaries of useful, field-tested, best practices in a pocket guidebook.
Download or order printed copies
Research Research Usability in Civic Life Research
commissioned commissioned and industry best commissioned
by EAC by NIST practices by NIST
http://civicdesigning.org/fieldguides