As the coronavirus hits heavy in the United States, 20 states have not yet held primary elections. In order to continue with the election process, voting will have to be drastically reconsidered with special attention to preventing the spread of COVID-19 while still being as democratic and accessible as possible.
This project includes a set of proposals addressing issues around voting in an election during a global pandemic and improving overall access to the voting system, which was already critically failing many communities even before the outbreak of coronavirus. The three proposed concepts each address a different set of problems regarding voting in uncertain times.
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At designated polling places, each citizen chooses an individual ballot paper for the candidate they want to vote for, inserts it into an envelope, signs, and drops it into the designated box. Due to corruption, political parties have switched ballot papers of opposing candidates with counterfeit ones to disqualify votes against them.
The Canadian ballot requires one to mark an X within the circle corresponding to the candidate, fold, and drop into the ballot box. Ballots are counted by hand live in front of all candidates.
Nearly 50% on the Gambian population is illiterate. To account for this, the citizens are required to drop a marble into the metal drum depicting the candidate of their preference. This form of voting has been used in Gambia for over 50 years.
India has been using electronic machines for 20 years. The machine can present a maximum of 64 candidates. Once a voter presses the corresponding button for a candidate, the vote is cast and the machine resets.
The voting rate is low in Japan. Citizens write down the name of the party and candidate within a simple box and cast the ballot. The ballot is made from special paper to ensure it is not damaged or counterfeit. The paper also unfolds itself once removed for counting.
The ballot presents the list of candidates with a corresponding icon to indicate the affiliated party. In June 2019, a ballot with two options was presented to exit or remain in the European Union.
Concept 01 aims to simplify the physical ballot, the request process, and the steps to cast and return the ballot.
Contains all necessary elements to complete the ballot.
Outline the steps needed to complete the ballot.
Displays candidates through visuals, color, and language.
Pen and Stamp provided in the package. To mark ballot simply stamp the candidate.
The cherished voting sticker is still included even when voting from home.
Pre-addressed as to be easily sent back and counted.
for ballot security and to ensure each ballot is counted once
displayed on the left hand side so filling out the ballot is easy to follow
allow the voter verification to be removed from the ballot and anonymize during counting
self seals the ballot keeping it secure during the receiving process
provide visuals and language and are simply stamped in the circle to make selections.
clearly displays where to fold and seal
Concept 02 provides an alternative remote voting solution using online voting to reduce the ballots being transferred in the mail system.
Concept 03 provides another voting solution to collect physical ballots in designated booths dispersed within a polling area.
Many are concerned with whether their ballot may be compromised through hacking. A study conducted with the Washington Post looked at if it is possible the 2016 presidential election results may have been impacted by a cyber threat. Through studying statistics from Wisconsin, the journalists noted that tests did not uncover any suspicious activity. However, the variety of techniques used to vote (pictured above) make it very difficult to trace individual votes and determine how they were cast making it challenging to accurately record and analyze.
After completing the ballot online, digital encryption is sent to a mobile device or printed. The website provides the booth locations and availability to print the digital encryption.
When arriving at the booth, scan the digital encryption
or
If you didn’t fill out the ballot prior, scan your voter ID to fill out the ballot.
Follow the automated instruction to process the ballot.
The ballot is printed and take away pen is dispensed.
Verify selections made, sign to approve, and seal by folding.
Feed finished ballot into the machine. the booth will verify it is complete.
A light above the booth indicates if it is being used.
Solar Panels provide the booth with electricity.
Use speech or touch to easily navigate.
To prevent voter fraud, the final ballot is printed, verified, and manually submitted.
Scanner can identify the voter and/or ballot to be processed.
The feeder, much like a bill acceptor, only accepts completed ballots.