Resources

Use our resource library to explore the latest research in the field of election science.

116 Resources

Sharon Laskowski, Shaneé Dawkins, Whitney Quesenbery, Nancy Frishberg, Pam Smith, Keith InstoneCenter for Civic Design2017
Usability & Accessibility Reports

This report proposes principles and guidelines for the design and development of remote ballot marking systems based on a review of current literature and existing standards for voting systems and accessibility and input from experts in the field. The principles support the development of systems that are usable, accessible, and secure, addressing the perceived conflict accessibility and strong election integrity.

Sharon Laskowski, Shaneé Dawkins, Whitney Quesenbery, Nancy Frishberg, Pam Smith, Keith InstoneCenter for Civic Design2017
Usability & Accessibility Reports

This report proposes principles and guidelines for the design and development of remote ballot marking systems, considering them in their entirety. This includes the technical systems that make up a remote ballot marking system, the accessibility features and communications needed to support all voters, and the election administration procedures to deploy a remote ballot marking system.

Ronald L. RivestMIT Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence Laboratory2017
Audits & Validating Elections Academic Papers

In this paper, authors introduces ClipAudit, a simplified risk-limiting post-election audit method intended to make statistical audits more understandable and implementable.

Peter Miller, Sierra PowellUniversity of Pennsylvania2016
Usability & Accessibility Academic Papers

Miller and Powell examine the extent to which people with disabilities vote in person or utilize convenience voting reforms relative to voters without disabilities. They find that voters with a disability are significantly less likely to vote but are more likely to vote by mail ballot. They also examine the efficacy of several additional reforms such as early voting in increasing turnout among voters with disabilities.

Audits & Validating Elections Reports

This report discuss Colorado's risk-limiting audit pilot in Arapahoe County including the audit design, scanner/ballot procedures, and lessons for statewide implementation.

Lisa Schur, Douglas KruseRutgers University2016
Usability & Accessibility Reports

This report summarizes projections of how many people with disabilities would be eligible to vote in the November 2016 elections, using data from the Census Bureau’s 2010-2014 American Community Survey combined with Census Bureau population projections. The report breaks down key demographic characteristics of eligible voters with disabilities.

Kathryn Summers, Whitney Quesenbery, Amy Pointer2016
Usability & Accessibility Reports

This paper describes a two-pronged effort to increase the accessibility and inclusivity of the vote by mail process for voters who are blind, have low vision, or low dexterity and voters who read at Basic or Below Basic levels. These efforts focus on the accessibility and usability of Maryland's online ballot marking tool and revising paper instructions and envelopes in vote-by-mail packages.

Maryland State Board of Elections2016
Audits & Validating Elections Reports

This reports details Maryland's pilot use of ballot-level images to audit tabulated results after adopting a new statewide voting system.

Lisa Schur, Douglas KruseRutgers University2016
Usability & Accessibility Reports

This report highlights key trends in voter turnout among voters with disabilities in the 2016 elections. Authors note continuing gaps in registration and turnout of voters with disabilities compared to that of voters without disabilities. Voters with disabilities were also more likely to vote by mail before election day, reflecting the mobility problems faced by some voters with disabilities.

Whitney Quesenbery, Jennifer SuttonCenter for Civic Design2016
Usability & Accessibility Reports

This white paper reviews the types of personal assistive technology (AT) that voters might use in the polling place. It focuses on technologies that are either currently in common use, or in early stages of development and may be widely available in the future.

Claudia Ziegler Acemyan, Philip KortumRice University2016
Usability & Accessibility Academic Papers

This study sought to examine whether voting equipment layouts impact anticipated voting system usability. Through tests with thirty-five participants, authors found that configurations of voting machines inside a polling station impacted all subjective ratings, suggesting that environmental variables might need to be considered when configuring polling stations to maximize usability.

John B. Holbein, D. Sunshine HilygusDuke University2016
Usability & Accessibility Academic Papers

In this paper, authors examine the effectiveness of preregistration laws in increasing voter turnout. Authors find that preregistration does increases voter turnout, with equal effectiveness for various subgroups in the electorate.