2024 Annual Report

January 27, 2025

There is so much to be proud of in 2024. All eyes were on election officials during this presidential election, and they more than came through. Read about our work in 2024 in our Annual Report.

Designing for democracy: Once you get started, it’s hard to stop

September 9, 2016

Taking the first step to a new design can be hard, but it can become addictive. (FOCE Webinar)

Dramatic differences in voter guides

August 25, 2016

Small changes can add up to big differences. Even changing a few pages of a voter guide can improve information for voters.

Center for Civic Design Research Report - Updates from the front line of civic design research

Election design course, online, at Election Academy!

July 17, 2016

A first-in-the-nation course on election design created for (current and future) election officials.

Beautiful tools for promoting civic engagement

June 17, 2016

Meet the Election Toolkit, starting with 11 tools to help election officials engage voters, increase turnout, and smooth operations.

Writing election information that everyone can read

June 12, 2016

The key to effective information for voters with low literacy is plain language and plain interaction.

Breaking the ballot: 34 candidates for Senate

April 5, 2016

Solving a ballot design challenge in California so the layout doesn't encourage voters to make mistakes on their ballots

Starting from principles: remote ballot marking systems

March 7, 2016

Designing remote ballot marking systems that are both accessible and secure.

Less can be more in official notices

January 31, 2016

Tips to make notices, forms, and letters easier for voters to read.

The year in review: 2015 and beyond

January 22, 2016

Looking back at an exciting and productive 2015 as we move into #BeReady16

Delivering accessible information about elections on the web

January 20, 2016

Two tips for making your website accessible

Demystifying accessibility testing

July 10, 2015

Accessibility testing can seem daunting...until you get started.

A voter bill of rights should be easy to read

May 17, 2015

A new law in California works to make basic voter rights easier to understand.

Listening to voters

May 8, 2015

Helping citizens feel included in civic life by listening to voters (Article in Civic Quarterly)

Drawing of a voter reading a voter guide

Day in the life of a poll worker 2014

November 10, 2014

The real test of an election administration is what happens when feelings run high, or when things go wrong.

Ballot design and the intersection of constraints

February 14, 2014

A white paper on ballot simplicity, constraints, and design literacy in election administration.

The year in review: 2013 and the beginning of the Center for Civic Design

January 4, 2014

Looking back at an exceptional 2013, as we started on exciting plans for 2014.

What’s the conversation you’re having with voters?

December 30, 2013

One element important to the success of voter information has to do with "voice."

Stuff just got real: Forming the Center for Civic Design

December 2, 2013

Announcing... the Center for Civic Design. Watch this space!

Testifying to the PCEA: Voting anywhere, any time, on any device

November 20, 2013

Drew Davies testified to the Presidential Commission on Election Administration about work to develop the Anywhere Ballot.

What makes election information helpful to voters?

September 22, 2013

A study of how new voters used election information booklets looked for things that helped voters plan and act.