Client

Center for Civic Design

Duration

August 2019

Role

Design Researcher

Overview

In August 2019, I joined the Center for Civic Design to assist with their research into how the interface design of electronic voting machines influences voter behavior. We conducted voting simulations and in-depth interviews with fifteen participants over the course of three days. All interviews took place at the Los Angeles County Registrar Recorder/County Clerk office in Norwalk, California.

As one of three design researchers on site, my responsibilities comprised of participant observation, tracking time spent on tasks during voting simulations, recording detailed written memos of phenomenon that occurred during simulations, and engaging in team debriefs at the close of each interview.

Findings

We expect ease of use from our digital interfaces. But is designing for efficiency and pleasure the best approach when it comes to critical decisions? Research insights revealed that participants presumed the electronic voting machine would catch their mistakes, reducing their level of attention to the ballot.

To help voters use electronic voting machines with intention, the experience must be complemented with voter education and multiple reminders to check their ballots before casting.

The full write-up can be found on the Center for Civic Design’s website.

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