Democracy is a design problem (Princeton Library)
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Transcript of Democracy is a design problem (Princeton Library)
Democracy is a design problemWhitney QuesenberyCenter for Civic Design@civicdesign | @whitneyq
Princeton Public LibraryHumanities Lecture SeriesOctober 4, 2016
How hard can it be to vote?
“I don’t even know where to go to find out where I’m supposed to vote.”
Silvia, new citizen. Didn’t vote in 2012.
A civic literacy gap between
“What I know” and
“What I need to know”
“I do have one question. What do you actually do when you vote?”
18 year old, Baltimore
A brief history of the last 16 years
It's about the journey
Preparing Planning To the Polls Marking Casting Results
Learn, Do, Use + People, Policy
California Voter Bill of Rights
Read it online: http://civicdesign.org/projects/how-voters-get-information/
provisional ballot
Updated for the 2016 Primary
Solve wicked problemsby thinking beyond the “artifact”
1. How do I register to voteHow might we make this first step in preparing to vote easier
Voter registration forms – old style
Voter registration forms (improved)
Oregon thinks big
Automatic voter registration
Civic design tactic 1
Change the questionand change the process
2. Where and how do I vote?How might we give voters the information they need to plan their participation easily and effectively.
Voter guides
What's in this guide?
Top questions for voters
Pocket guide for voters
Civic design tactic 2
Answer the right questions(in the right format)
3. Where is my polling place?How might we help voters know where to go and get to the right place at the right time?
Answers can be everywhere
Civic design tactic 3
Distribute civic data widely so it can be everywhere
4. What’s on the ballot?How can we engage voters in the decisions they will make on Election Day?
What does this even mean?
This constitutional amendment would provide that the method of selection and appointment of certain municipal court judges would be set by statute, rather than be provided for in the Constitution. These judges may include judges of joint municipal courts and judges of central municipal courts with jurisdiction extending to the territorial boundaries of a county. This constitutional amendment does not preclude the possibility that a statute would continue to provide for nomination by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate, but it does permit a statute to set forth another method of selection and appointment that may not involve the Governor and the Senate.
Do you vote YES or NO?
Shall the California Constitution be changed to eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry providing that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California?A YES vote on this measure means the California Constitution will specify that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.
A NO vote on this measure means: Marriage between individuals of the same sex would continue to be valid or recognized in California.
Could it be this be any clearer?
Meaningful information
Civic design tactic 4
Close civic literacy gapswith plain language and design
5. How do I mark my ballot?
On the voter journey: Marking your ballotandCasting your ballot
So many ways to make mistakes
Why not mark your ballot anywhere?
Los Angeles leads the way
Civic design tactic 5
Make the process easier
Ways to design (better) democracy
Change the question and change the process
Answer the right questionnot every question
Distribute civic data widelymake it easy to enlist allies
Close civic literacy gapsparticipation requires understanding
Make the process easiermeet people where they are
Thank you.