Civic design bibliography


Getting out the vote: Assessing technological, social and process barriers to (e) voting for people with disabilities

Why the article is helpful

  • Assess voter satisfaction and ballot issues with disabilities, including e-voting
  • Voter turnout was 20 percent lower amount those with disabilities
  • Social and psychological effects due to decreased social capital and identification

 

Due to a decline in mainstream voter participation, the authors surveyed 563 voters with and without disabilities in regards to measuring satisfaction, usability, and accessibility with electronic and manual voting systems. This study helped assess potential issues and barriers to voting and missed opportunities with those who have disabilities. The study found implications of disabilities extended beyond resource constraints to include social, behavioral, and psychological effects that decreased voter turnout. The authors stated that there needs to be a better understanding for human factors, awareness, environmental variables, and these overall needs for those who have a disability.

 

Additional details

7 of 13 questions showed a statistically significant difference in how voters with disabilities viewed their experience when compared with voters without a disability. There are 3 categories (p.13):

  • “satisfaction with voting experience” – 10% less likely to report
  • “satisfaction with polling officials/place” – 9%-18% less likely to report
  • “satisfaction with voting machine accessibility” – 7% to 20% less likely to report

 

Links to article

 

Baker, P. M. A., Roy, R. G. B., & Moon, N. W. (2005). Getting out the vote: Assessing technological, social and process barriers to (e)voting for people with disabilities. Paper presented at The Twenty-Seventh Annual APPAM Research Conference.