This report analyzes the ballots in elections with unexpectedly high error rates to identify the source of the errors in the ballot design or instructions.

The key points from the report:

• Poor ballot design frustrates voters, undermines confidence in the electoral process, and contributes to related Election Day problems.
• Tens or hundreds of thousands of votes are lost or miscast in every election year as a result of poorly designed ballots.
• All voters are at some risk for lost or misrecorded votes.
• The risk is greater for particular groups of citizens, including older voters, new voters, and low-income voters.
• All voting technologies are affected.
• The recommendations in this report are timely: many can be implemented, relatively easily — before the November election.

Additional details

The project used residual votes – the difference between the number of people voting and the number of valid votes cast for a particular office – to calculate error rates.

The report is based on a series of case studies. Four are online with additional details

• Hamilton County, Illinois
• Kewaunee County, Wisconsin
• LA County, California
• Sarasota County, Florida

The report includes a checklist of recommendations:

Ballot instructions should be brief, simple, and clear.

Paper ballots:

• Display general instructions in the top left-hand corner of the ballot. Place specific instructions and related actions together. Do not put all instructions at the beginning of the ballot.
• Let voters know that if they make a mistake, they can get a new ballot. Include this information in the initial instructions.

Electronic ballots:

• Display startup instructions in an easy-to-spot location in the voting booth.
• Place specific instructions and related actions together. Do not put all instructions at the beginning of the ballot.
• Instruct voters to review their selections and provide clear instructions on how to change a selection and cast the ballot.

All ballots:

• In instructions for write-in votes, state plainly that voters should not vote for both a named candidate and a write-in a candidate for the same office.
• Write instructions in an active voice and in positive terms. (“Fill in the oval for your write-in vote to count,” rather than, “If the oval is not marked, your vote cannot be counted for the write-in candidate.”)
• Use common, easily understood words. (“Move to the next page of the ballot,” or “Move to the next screen,” rather than “Navigate forward through the ballot.”)
• Provide the context of the action first, then the action. (“[Context] To vote for the candidate of your choice, [Action] fill the oval to the left of the candidate’s name.”)
• Place each instruction on its own line.

Don’t split contests.

• List all candidates for the same race on the same page and in the same column.
• Remove the entire column or row for any candidate or party that has been withdrawn or disqualified (not just the candidate or party name).

Make sure ballot design is consistent.

• Use consistent format and style for every contest and voting action.
• Use consistent font type, letter-size, and shading for all contests.
• Place response options (such as fi ll-in ovals) in a consistent place on the ballot, such as one side of candidate names or ballot question choices.

Make ballots easy to understand visually.

Paper ballots:

• Use the fill-the-oval, rather than the connect-the-arrow, method of selecting a choice in a contest.

Electronic ballots:

• Try to place only one contest on each screen, at least for federal and statewide races.

All ballots:

• Use flush-left text, instead of centered text.
• Display all text in mixed case, rather than all capital letters.
• Use a simple and easy-to-read font, such as Arial or Univers.
• Bold and/or shade certain text, such as office names.
• Use a legible, minimum text size, meeting VVSG requirements, such as 12 points.
• Eliminate extraneous information (e.g., candidate’s hometown, occupation, etc.), or design it to avoid visual clutter.

Give voters maximum flexibility.

Electronic ballots:

• Allow voters to select or change the language of the ballot at any time during the voting process.
• Allow voters to change text size and contrast levels and to get audio support at any time during the voting process.

Links

• Report (PDF) on the Brennan Center site
• Links to case studies of ballot designs