How a Florida Ballot Taught us Not to Over Complicate Design

In the 2000 presidential election a poorly designed ballot in Palm Beach County unintentionally decided the outcome of an election. In the 2000 presidential election in Florida was a deciding state as the race was close, very close, at one time the margin between Gore and Bush, hardly over the one thousand mark. 

While Florida was deciding an election, people were mistakenly mis-voting. The Democrats were listed as the second option on the left hand side, the Reform party, the first on the right side. However, to vote for the democrats you were meant to punch the third hole when inside the poll booth. Because of this awkward design many people unintentionally voted for Pat Bauchman. Oops!

Here is what we learned from this election defining error:

1. People will ask for clarification, but only if they know they are confused. Why would people have asked if they were nearly positive they knew what they were doing? Don’t assume they will be confused enough to ask, and furthermore more don't assume they will ask just because they are confused. 

2. Arrows don't make it obvious. You might ask well why didn they just follow the arrows? It's pretty clear isnt it? Well maybe to you, chances are you are reading this on screen, probably not after you stood in line all day, and chances are you're not a retired 70 year old living out the rest of your days in Florida with declining eye site. Don't assume arrows will make it clear for everyone, think about the circumstances and the diversity your audience may face. 

3. Always get your work reviewed by people both in and out of the design community. Just make sure it is clear to anyone and everyone who may encounter it. In this particular case the ballot was not reviewed by another design professional, perhaps if it had been this could have been avoided. 

4. It's not the voters fault if they didn't read the instructions. Assuming this is just flat out rude. Again think about the audience and the diversity among the people who may interact with this. Do not assume they can or will read how to work it. It's a ballot after all, it shouldn't really require instructions. 

5. Lastly, just don't overcomplicate things that are meant to be simple. Nothing is wrong with a good old fashioned list followed by a fill in the circle.