EVENTS
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Lextant Fall Fry 2010 >
Columbus, Ohio
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Our observations of the world around us
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Time to vote
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On Election Day it’s exciting for us at Lextant to be in the “battleground state” of Ohio, regardless of which candidate each of us supports. Even more exciting is knowing that we’ve had a hand in helping Franklin County (home to Columbus, the state capitol) assure that lines at the polls move quickly and smoothly so that everyone can vote. Earlier this year we partnered with Sagata Ltd. in a research effort to reduce the likelihood that record turnout and long ballot initiatives will negatively affect how it takes to residents to vote. As you may know, in 2004 in Franklin County an estimated 20,000-30,000 people were deterred from voting due to long lines. That’s to say nothing of the countless who were disturbed or disappointed by their experience, but still managed to cast a vote.
Our study concluded that the problem is real – from the County’s perspective the expected line lengths will likely be considerably longer than in 2004. From the voter’s perspective, it will be even harder and more frustrating to simply do your civic duty. The good news is that the county has taken action based on our study results. The county established in-person early voting, reallocated voting machines to areas of need, and reduced the amount of space allocated to ballot issues on voting machines. And importantly to the county, their decisions are based on solid data. According to Dennis L. White, director of the Franklin County Board of Elections, “We want voters to know there was some fair, serious method that went into [this year’s allocation of voting machines].” As opposed to previously, when “It was all gut instinct. Now, we’re using fair, defensible information.”
Lextant is certainly proud to have done our civic duty and are thankful for the many other efforts going on nationwide! Speaking of which, it never hurts reinforce that there is clearly ample opportunity to use the same expertise that our profession commonly applies to commercial products, services, and digital interactions to our public, social, and civic institutions. Drop a comment and tell us about other efforts you know of.
Quick update - it seems like help was also needed on ballot design here in Ohio. Voters are misunderstanding instructions for how to vote for the President. Not glitches, but just people behaving like people and doing things that weren’t expected.
http://tinyurl.com/voteohio