Design for Democracy Solves Election Problems

"A book of guidelines on how graphics can clarify ballots and the voting process generally has won an IDEA award—and endorsement by the Election Assistance Commission."
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_30/b4093048775152.htm


"Democracy is a complex, imperfect, and sometimes messy form of government. This became abundantly clear after the 2000 U.S Presidential election, when a poorly designed butterfly ballot in Palm Beach County, Fla., effectively disenfranchised thousands of voters."

Marcia Lausen, a graphic designer in Chicago, volunteered on behalf of the local chapter of the AIGA, to assist in redesigning her city's butterfly ballot. This idea of redesign transformed into a team of designers undertaking the renovation of the complete voting experience, "from the election forms and brochures mailed to voters to polling place signage and poll worker instruction manuals to, yes, ballots."

Lausen highlights the simple tips for eliminating confusion on election day and enhancing templates related to the elections through clean design.

"Anyone using this guide will find that design can bring order and clarity to a very confusing process,"says von Holzhausen. "We will all benefit if this guide is used in future elections."