What we’ve learned about designing for new voting methods

July 28, 2026

These new ways of voting bring promise of a stronger democracy, but also require new and sometimes unfamiliar ballot designs.

Modernizing voting system guidelines and testing

September 13, 2017

Updated voting system standards take a big step forward.

Strategies for recruiting poll workers

September 12, 2017

Tips from recent conversations with election officials from California to Colorado to Indiana to Virginia

Celebrating 4 years: Partnering is powerful

September 10, 2017

We formed the Center for Civic Design 4 years ago this week. To all the town, county, state, and federal election officials we've already worked with, thank you!

Meeting voters’ language needs

August 16, 2017

We're learning about supporting voters with low English proficiency. Some of the lessons we've learned so far from research about voter guides.

Answering voters’ questions: what’s on the ballot, and the mechanics of voting

August 7, 2017

An interactive practice ballot is a secret weapon. When people get the chance to see what the ballot looks like, check out what contests and questions are on it, and they get to actually practice marking the ballot, they’re more committed to voting.

A year-and-a-half in review: Center for Civic Design 2016-2017

July 11, 2017

This has been a big year and a half. We’re growing, with new team members and new projects.

A month of presentations

June 30, 2017

A month of sharing what we've learned about civic design with election officials and UX designers

A person is outlined in shadow against a slide showing two ballots

The epic journey of American voters

March 22, 2017

The voter journey can be a happy path or a burdened one. Let's make voting more rational.

Participating in Participatory Budgeting

February 28, 2017

Learning about designing for the engaged citizens who vote in participatory budgeting

Sign for participatory budgeting taped to a fence in Manhattan

That belongs in a museum

February 1, 2017

We're so proud that the Field Guides are in the Smithsonian Design Museum. The exhibit is open through February.

Future voters: What makes a good president?

December 15, 2016

Checking back in with the student elections at P.S. 20

Pile of materials and Field Guides with student names on them

Why is the U.S. voting infrastructure so fractured?

November 30, 2016

What can you do? Lots!

A care package for our unsung friends who run elections

November 24, 2016

Thank you for the work you do.

Make a difference

November 17, 2016

Get involved. It's democracy in action. Every election. Every day.

Checklists to the rescue

November 4, 2016

A simple list helps voters return ballots and other forms correctly.

Preparing for write-ins

October 17, 2016

Most voters probably don’t know how write-ins work. Put information about it on your website.

Election admin – 4th and 5th grade style

October 5, 2016

Running their own elections teaches students in NYC how to be seen and heard.

Civic designing: election security

October 3, 2016

You might not think of design and security together, but we know that elections are secure (or not) by design.

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