Updated ballot standards for Virginia

Over the last year or so, the Virginia Department of Elections (ELECT) has reviewed processes, forms, and notifications to get everything updated for new voting systems and support changes in legislation. Lately, they’ve focused on efforts to refresh the ballot standards that vendors and general registrars use to lay out ballots across the Commonwealth. The new ballot standards will go into effect for the November 2018 elections. 

The goals were to

  • Update to remove references to old voting systems.
  • Make it easier for vendors and registrars to implement the standards.
  • Ensure uniformity across the 133  localities.
  • Update with evidence-based best practices that make it more likely voters will vote the way they intend.
  • Make the ballot proofing process faster and easier for localities, the vendors, and ELECT.
Sampler of new Virginia provisional ballot materials.
The new ballot standards show with simple, clear keys what is required by election code, what the state board requires, and best practices for ballot design.
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Excerpt of page from Virginia ballot standards
A goal for the ballot standards document was to make the ballot proofing process faster and easier for localities, the vendors, and ELECT. As shown here, the document uses visual examples to show how to incorporate best practices and requirements.
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Excerpt of pages from new ballot standards
For every element of the ballot, the ballot standards communicate the evidence-based best practices, code requirements, and State Board requirements. These pages show the content related to candidate order and name formats.
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Example pages of previous ballot standard document.
The previous Ballot Standards needed to be updated to remove references to old voting systems.
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The Center for Civic Design worked with ELECT, registrars, and vendors to develop guiding principles and operationalize requirements that are in law, requirements instituted by the State Board of Elections, and evidence-based best practices. Together, we sought to

  • ensure that ballot designs reflect current election code and work in approved voting systems
  • implement requirements and best practices that are based on research and credible sources, such as the Election Assistance Commission
  • create a document that reflects, by example, the best practices of usability and plain language
  • make it as easy as possible for localities and the vendors to do the best design for voters.

The result is an easy-to-follow document with clear examples showing the requirements and optional best practices that are implementable across voting systems.

The State Board of Elections adopted the revised ballot standards on March 23, 2018 after brief, positive discussion. The standards will go into effect for ballots created for the 2018 midterm elections.

 

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