These research projects looked at issues in how (and how easily) voters can review their ballot and cast a ballot marked as they intend. 

• Literature review: Voter review and verification of ballots
  This review of the literature and research approaches looked at recent studies of ballot marking devices and whether they provide voters with a meaningful opportunity to verify their ballot before casting it. A final section looks at what is known about how to conduct this research. (Published as NIST GCR 24-052)
  
• Research report: How voters review & verify ballots from ballot marking devices
  A report of qualitative research to gain deeper insights into how voters mark, review, verify, and cast their ballots. It looked at the role the design of the voting interaction and overall voting process plays in encouraging voters to carefully check their ballot before casting it.
  (Published as NIST GCR 24-051)
  
• Research report: Legibility of summary style printed ballots
  What makes a printed summary-style ballot easy to verify? An exploration of design characteristics of summary ballots and whether they are readable visually and with optical scan recognition (OCR) tools for accessibility. (Published as NIST VTS 100-4)

This research examined the accessibility of voting systems, tools, and technologies available to voters at polling places.

• Poll Worker Training: Assisting voters with disabilities as the mark, verify and cast their ballots
  Sample poll worker training module created through interviews with people working in disability voting rights. (Published as NIST VTS 100-2)
  
• Considering the number of accessible voting systems needed in a voting location
  A summary of approaches to considering how to provide resources so that an accessible voting system can be used on an equal basis to any other method of voting (White paper)
  
• Assistive technologies in the polling place
  A white paper reviewed new and emerging technologies and assistive technologies that might have an impact on how voters with disabilities interact at the polling place. (Written for the VVSG Human Factors Working Group)
  
• Usability and Accessibility of Electronic Pollbooks
  An analysis of the usability of these systems and a checklist and usability testing approach  (Published as NIST VTS 100-3 parts 1-3)
  
• Tactile keypads
  An analysis of the design of tactile keypads, including the functions of the keys and their consistency in supporting voters as they mark their ballot.

This research explored how election offices can make vote by mail work for voters with disabilities, from administrative practices to ballot design and signature requirements.

• Report: Administering accessible vote by mail systems: Challenges and innovations in election offices
  This report reviews current election offices’ practices in administering accessible vote by mail and examines their innovations and challenges. Recommendations include gathering more detailed information about administrative practices. (Published as NIST VTS 100-1)
  
• Report: Voting by mail and the impact of signatures for voters with disabilities
  
• Report: Principles for Remote Ballot Marking

Working with colleagues on the Human Factors and Privacy Public Working Group, we wrote a series of white papers reviewing issues identified in a gap analysis of the current voting system standards and collected research to support new or changed requirements.

• Text size requirements (PDF)
• Color contrast requirements (PDF)
• Navigation from the review screen on an electronic ballot (PDF)
• Scrolling on a ballot (PDF)
• Digital ballot design studio: Select, deselect + scroll and paging (PDF)
• Selecting voters’ choices (PDF)

Webinars on the VVSG 2.0 draft requirements: Improving the Accessibility and Usability of Voting Systems

• Part 1: Introducing the Human Factors Requirements
  Slides: PPT or PDF
• Part 2: Updates to Best Practices and New Technologies for Voting Systems
  Slides: PPT or PDF
  
  • Designing Usable Audio for Voting Systems: Best practices and a test approach (Published as NIST VTS 100-5)

We also wrote guidance for designing, developing, and testing voting systems to the VVSG:

• Handbook for VVSG 2.0 Usability and Accessibility Test Strategies
• Accessible Usability Testing Protocol
• Guidance brief on testing methods for plain language requirements

For several years, we have partnered with the ElectionGuard team to help make end-to-end verifiable voting a reality in elections. ElectionGuard is open-source software that creates an encrypted record of every vote, allowing voters to confirm their ballot was counted and making it possible to audit election results without revealing how anyone voted. Our work has focused on the human side of this technology — researching how voters encounter and understand it, developing communications materials to introduce it clearly, and learning what it takes to build trust in a new kind of election security. From pilot elections in Idaho to the City of College Park, Maryland, we have been on the ground studying what works, what voters notice, and what still needs to improve.

ElectionGuard reports

• Presentation: Innovations in Elections – Implementing ElectionGuard in local elections  – Meeting of the EAC Technical Guidelines Development Commmittee, January 4, 2025
• Report: Election Guard in College Park, City Elections in 2023.  A report on the implementation and voter reactions
• Report: End to End Verifiability in Real-World Elections: A report on the use of ElectionGuard and Hart InterCivic’s Verity precinct-scan voting system in the Franklin County, Idaho 2022 General Election

End-to-End verifiable systems

• Report: Innovation for Accessible and Secure Voting – A review of the literature

What if you could vote on any device — one you already own, know, and have set up just the way you like? The Anywhere Ballot is an accessible, responsive ballot design to make voting easier for everyone, especially people with disabilities or low literacy. Built on open web standards, the project has inspired real voting systems used across the country.

• Project: Anywhere Ballot

As election technology evolves, so does our understanding of what it takes to make it work well for voters and election officials alike. From remote ballot marking to electronic poll books, new tools bring new design challenges — and new opportunities to make elections more accessible, secure, and easy to use. This work examines emerging technologies in the field, developing principles and practical guidance to help jurisdictions evaluate and adopt systems that meet the needs of all voters.

• Principles for remote ballot marking systems. Requirements and principles for systems that are both secure and accessible.

The usability of electronic poll books. Landscape analysis, checklist for usability and accessibility and a usability test plan for election officials, state certification programs, and system designers.

Research on Accessibility and Human Factors – from the NIST Voting Project

• Improving the Usability and Accessibility of Voting Systems and Products (NIST SP 500-256)
• Style Guide for Voting System Documentation (NISTIR 7519) – Dana Chisnell
• Report of Findings: Use of Language in Ballot Instructions (NISTAIR 7556) Ginny Redish and Dana Chisnell
• Guidelines for Writing Clear Instructions and Messages for Voters and Poll Workers (NISTIR 7596) Ginny Redish and Dana Chisnell

Accessible Voting Technology Initiative

The Accessible Voting Technology Initiative (AVTI) conducted research to assess the current state of accessibility in elections and identify where technology has not lived up to its potential.

Work from this multi-site research project included the Anywhere Ballot and other innovative research explorations and product prototypes. 

CCD hosts the archive of this initiative, including all of the reports of its projects. 

Accessible systems for all people

In 2020, Los Angeles County introduced an innovative voter-centered approach developed by the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk.

The final report of this project includes the full history, from the principles that guided the work to the research that engaged voters throughout all stages of the project.

CCD is proud to have been a small part of this project. The Anywhere Ballot was an inspiration for the ballot marking interface. The Open Design Innnovation Challenge was a collaboration with the Accessible Voting Technology Initiative. Whitney Quesenbery was a member of the VSAP Technical Advisory Committee

Report: Voting Solutions for All People. The final report and project archive from Los Angeles County