app design

Rock the Vote!

Casting a ballot should be simple: the task is key to a working democracy. Rock the Vote! aims to simplify voting for everyone through a simple, secure, and accessible digital platform. 

Student Work

Role: UX Design

Photo by Alice Donovan Rouse, Boston, 2017.

how it works

Vote from Anywhere

Unlike the current paper-based system, which requires traveling to a polling station, Rock the Vote! enables citizens to vote from just about anywhere with a secure connection. 

opportunity

Our antiquated voting system prevents many eligible Americans from voting. Traveling to a polling station presents a huge barrier for the most vulnerable citizens, including disabled and elderly voters. In response, how might we enable virtual voting from any secure location?

approach

I drew inspiration from the Center for Civic Design in creating Rock the Vote! They advocate balancing accessibility and ease with security. Accordingly, my app guides voters through a clear, linear flow through the ballot, with conversational language and a modular structure. 

how it inspires

Voters' Trust 

Using simple, friendly language, the onboarding screens explain why the app is asking for personal information. With the data entered, the voter immediately sees their current voting registration status. To secure future interactions, it then prompts the voter to register for two-factor authentication.  

how it communicates

Integrity

Once a user has created an account, they log in  using both a simple CAPTCHA and two-factor authentication. 

presenting voters with

Clear Choices

At each step of the process, the app's modular structure makes it easy for people to vote intentionally. The app also tracks progress and lets voters change their choices as needed before entering their final selections.

Design Process

I grounded my exploration in a lot of secondary research, knowing the good work that other organizations are already doing in the voting space. I also looked to analogous processes, such as tax filing, for similarly complicated tasks that may seem tedious but matter a lot!

research methods

Empathy mapping

Secondary research

Analogous inspiration

key learnings

Inspiring voters' trust in the system's integrity and security emerged as a key theme.  As our class discussed analogous systems, I realized that the dramatic shift to online banking suggests we could transition to a digital ballot someday. Clearly, we would need immense investment in our technical infrastructure and cyber security to do so.  I feel confident, though, that we could address the human factors needed to succeed. 

next steps

I'd love to interview potential voters, especially now as we confront the pandemic, and remote voting seems an even more compelling idea. I'd be especially interested to understand the needs of elderly voters, who already face challenges in navigating new technologies. 

Contact

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