Election Design Best Practices: Effective Designs for the Administration of Federal Elections

Election Design Best Practices is a practical guide to making election information clearer, more accessible, and easier to use. Developed from extensive election design work with officials across the country, this book gives election administrators, designers, communicators, vendors, and civic organizations a usable framework for improving the materials voters rely on before, during, and after Election Day.

Across six focused modules, the book covers printed voter information, election websites, polling place materials, ballots, mail voting materials, and post-election communications. Each section translates information design, plain language, accessibility, typography, layout, color, and usability principles into direct, actionable recommendations.

The goal is simple: help voters find what they need, understand what to do, avoid mistakes, and successfully navigate the voting process.

Clearer election design builds confidence, reduces confusion, supports election workers, and helps voters cast their ballots as intended.