All accessible voting systems must include some form of tactile controls – a collection of buttons or other interactive devices that allow voters to mark a ballot without relying on a touch screen. That is controls that allow for discovery through tactile exploration.

The Voluntary Voting System Guidelines (VVSG) 2.0 includes requirements for functions that must be available to voters using the tactile input. It does not prescribe the physical arrangement of controls on these devices. This means that each voting system has its own designs, developed independently, or based on a commercial keypad incorporated into the voting system.

This paper reviews the design of tactile keypads, including the functions and placement of the keys. We wanted to know how much consistency there is among them. It includes:

• A summary of the basic navigation keys found on all voting system tactile keypads
• A comparison of the layout and appearance of the basic navigation keys
• Additional functions found on tactile keypads for the systems reviewed
• Unique designs found on current or future systems

This research was conducted by Lynn Baumeister and Whitney Quesenbery.

This paper analyzes the design of tactile keypads for certified voting systems, including the functions of the keys and their consistency in supporting voters as they mark their ballot. Although typically used with the audio output feature of a voting system, these devices are used by both blind/low vision voters and those with dexterity disabilities that limit use of their hands. To support identification, they often include Braille labels, in addition to printed text on the device, and use different colors to help with visual discrimination between the placement of the buttons or functions they support.