Accessible Voting 
Technology Initiative

http://elections.itif.org
Whitney Quesenbery
Project Coordinator

April 1, 2013
NIST Accessible Voting Technology Research Workshop
We focus on the user experience, not just the technology.

Project Details

Criteria for Success
•	Usable
•	Supporting all voters in marking their ballot accurately & efficiently
•	Accessible
•	Enabling people with disabilities to participate independently and privately
•	Flexible
•	Fits within election management practices from traditional polling places to vote centers and vote-by-mail
•	Secure and auditable
•	Making it possible to recount and audit elections
•	Affordable and robust
•	Within the means of even a small election district
Phase 1: Defining the problem

	Accessible Voting Technology: Analysis and Recommendations 
Mark Harniss and Deb Cook, University of Washington Center for Technology and Disability Studies
	AVT Workshops and Ethnographic Research
Jon Sanford, Frances Harris, Karen Milchus, Claudia Rebola, Georgia Tech CATEA) and GTRI
	Assistive Technology in the Voting Process – Greg McGrew, University of Colorado Assistive Technology Partners
	Defining the Barriers to Political Participation for People with Disabilities – Thad Hall and Mike Alvarez, University of Utah 
	Open Innovation Challenge: How might we design an accessible election experience for everyone  - OpenIDEO and 825 participants from around the world

Phase 2: Designing a Solution
Voters Guides and Training Materials	
Accessible Voter Information Guide and poll worker manuals – Steven Jacobs, Apps for Android
	Voting Voice - Voter’s guide for people with aphasia – Shaun Kane University of Maryland, Baltimore County
	Vote Your Mind - Interactive voter guide for people with cognitive impairments – Camille Crittendon, Gregg Niemeyer, Faraz Farzin, Dan Gillette, CITRIS	
Election Administration
	Pilot programs for supervised voting by people in group living facilties – Bonnie Glaser and Karin MacDonald, Election Administration Research Center
	Training material for poll workers based on ethnographic interviews – Frances Harris, CATEA

Phase 2: Designing a Solution
Voting Technology
	Usability testing tablet voting system in long-term care facilities – Greg McGrew, Assistive Technology Partners
EZBallot design research – Jon Sanford, CATEA and three intertwined graduate studies
Anywhere Ballot design research – Kathryn Summers, University of Baltmore, with Dana Chisnell, and Drew Davies
Accessible hardware interface for an iPad-based voting system, development of a voting system testbed, and additional research – Brad Fain, Carrie Bell, Andrew Baranak, Linda Harley, GTRI
Engineering capstone projects to develop a joystick control and mounting bracket – Sarah Swierenga, Graham  Pierce, Stephen Blosser, Michigan State University and students in two engineering courses
“Design thinking is a human centered approach to innovation: [it] includes understanding people as inspiration, prototype building to think, using stories, having an inspired and inspiring culture.”
      - Tim Brown, CEO, IDEO
Collaborative approaches to problem solving
Brainstorm many ideas

Build from inspiration to concept to refinement

Encourage inclusive, open collaboration
Focusing on people with personas
Invite new perspectives
Invite new perspectives
Reframe the question

What questions can we ask to suggest new directions?

How can the idea be used by more people with varied abilties?

What changes would new ideas require?

50 Ideas for Accessible Elections
“Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. 

Design is how it works.”

- Steve Jobs
Thank you!
Email: 	accessiblevoting@gmail.com
Web: 		http://elections.itif.org

Election design workshops: 
http://elections.itif.org/projects/design-workshops/
Working papers: 
http://elections.itif.org/resources/working-papers/
50 Ideas for More Accessible Elections
http://www.openideo.com/open/voting/realisation/50-ideas-for-accessible-elections/