An interesting new report was recently completed by the Center for Civic Design based on research led by Sean Isamu Johnson, a “civic designer, researcher, and plain language lead” based in New York City. Johnson’s research “explored how applying the principles of plain language to vote-by-mail envelopes can improve readability and simplify content”. Take a look at this excerpt:

2020 was a big year for vote-by-mail. As we worked with states and counties across the country as they scaled up voting by mail for the general election, we set out to learn more about signature forms on ballot envelopes.

We reviewed the information and forms that voters sign on mail-in ballot envelopes from 26 states and conducted a readability and content analysis to understand whether the voter statement—including all the text of the legal statement—is easy enough for voters to read that they are more likely to successfully complete and return their ballot.

Based on previous work as well as our new findings from analyzing materials in the 26 states, we developed a series of steps that election administrators can follow to make their ballot envelopes more accessible to voters. Some strategies can be applied immediately, while others may take longer to implement if they require that election codes be updated.

Some interesting related research was published in the Election Law Journal where authors Quan Li, Michael J. Pomante II, and Scot Schraufnagel outline an innovative voting index system in their report titled “Cost of Voting in the American States”. The index helps reveal amazing data on how voting barriers vary by state.

Also see our section on American Democracy or our articles on  Voter Turnout, the Internet and Voting, Military Voting or just general Voter Access.