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Election Administrators Toolkit Free & low-cost tech solutions 2015 Midwest Election Officials Conference Bridging Today With Tomorrow Kansas City, Missouri | Thursday, October 1 | #MEOC2015 Slide 2 #MEOC2015 Slide 3 Who is in the room? Whitney May whitney@techandciviclife.org @whitneymaybe Tiana Epps-Johnson tiana@techandciviclife.org @tianaej Kurt Sampsel kurt@techandciviclife.org Slide 4 The Center for Technology and Civic Life Using technology to improve how local government and communities interact. @HelloCTCL www.techandciviclife.org Slide 5 ELECTricity A learning community of election officials who believe that technology can improve our democracy. Slide 6 Why reinvent the wheel? Slide 7 TOOLS TO EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATE WITH VOTERS Lets dive in Slide 8 Todays session 1.Using mobile technology 2.Prioritizing content 3.Writing in plain language Slide 9 After this session, you will: Understand why technology is important when communicating election information. Know how to best publish election information online. Have additional tech resources to modernize your offices communication. Slide 10 MAKE YOUR INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON ANY DEVICE Use mobile technology Slide 11 Use mobile technology to share election information 1.Why is mobile important? 2.What are common mobile terms? 3.Breakout exercise 4.Report back to the group 5.Additional mobile tech resources Slide 12 The rise of mobile tech Slide 13 How we use cell phones 81% of owners use their phones to send or receive text messages. 60% of owners use their phones to go online. 50% of owners use their phones to download apps. Slide 14 Common mobile terms Responsive Web Design RWD creates an optimized viewing experience, like easy reading and navigation, across any device. Mobile website A mobile website is developed specifically for a fast and efficient experience on mobile devices. Pages load quickly, content is usually in a list format, and visuals are simplified. Web app A web app is software that runs a task in a web browser. Example: Google Maps on your computer. Native app A native app is built for a certain mobile device. Downloaded directly to the device, usually from an app store. SMS Short Message Service sends text messages to a mobile phone; a smartphone is not required. Slide 15 Breakout #1 What apps or websites do you visit most on your phone? What do you like about them? What frustrates you about them? Slide 16 Report back Slide 17 SMS Slide 18 Mobile website Slide 19 Mobile app Slide 20 Mobile tech resources Google Developers Mobile Guide https://developers.google.com/webmasters/mobile-sites/ Voting Information Project www.votinginfoproject.org/projects/ Slide 21 Mobile tech resources EAC Quick Start Guides Strengthen Voter Education Programs www.eac.gov/election_management_resources/ quick_start_guides.aspx CTCL Website Template & Training www.techandciviclife.org/website-trainings/ Slide 22 WHAT INFORMATION ARE VOTERS LOOKING FOR ONLINE? Prioritize content Slide 23 Prioritize your online content 1.Breakout exercise 2.Report back to the group 3.What research tells us about the types of questions voters are asking online 4.How your online presence can best meet your voters needs 5.Tools to understand what information your voters are looking for Slide 24 Your website should reflect voters questions, rather than how your offices work is organized. Slide 25 Breakout #2 What are voters top 5 questions? Rank them in order of importance to voters. Slide 26 Report back Slide 27 #1 Whats on the ballot? Slide 28 #2 What are my options for where and how to vote? Slide 29 #3 When is the next election? Other key dates? Slide 30 #4 How do I contact my election official? Slide 31 #5 What happens at the polling place? Slide 32 Tools for voter research in your own jurisdiction Slide 33 Community survey http://chicagocompletestreets.org/ Slide 34 Focus group Victoria Lungu / CC BY Slide 35 Web analytics Slide 36 Make a plan Who are you trying to reach? What are their needs? What are their pain points? Are you answering their basic questions? Are you speaking to them in language they can understand? Slide 37 Voter communication resources CTCL Website Template & Training Field Guides from the Center for Civic Design: www.civicdesign.org Google Analytics: www.google.com/analytics Google Forms: https://docs.google.com/forms Slide 38 HELP EVERYONE READ, UNDERSTAND, AND USE YOUR INFORMATION Write in plain language Slide 39 Write election information in plain language 1.What is plain language? 2.Why is it important? 3.Breakout exercise 4.Report back to the group 5.Additional plain language resources Slide 40 Before: If that oval is not marked, your vote cannot be counted for the candidate. Slide 41 After: You must fill in the oval for your vote to count. Source: Center for Civic Design Slide 42 Plain language principles Write in the positive Use the active voice Write directly to the reader Include straightforward, familiar terms Use short words and short sentences List important information separate from paragraph text Slide 43 Plain language edits Instead of: Adopting a collaborative approach to coordinating the utilization of office equipment would be much appreciated by the office staff. Use: Lets work as a team to coordinate the use of office equipment. Source: PEI Literacy Alliance Slide 44 Why is plain language important? Reaches people with low literacy. Avoids misunderstandings. Saves your office time and money. Slide 45 Plain design principles Align text to the left of the page. Use a font that is clear and easy to read. Organize text to create white space on the page. Slide 46 Slide 47 Breakout #3 Write information in plain language Slide 48 If you tear, or deface, or wrongly mark this ballot, return it and obtain another. Do not attempt to correct mistakes on the ballot by making erasures or cross outs. Erasures or cross outs may invalidate all or part of your ballot. Prior to submitting your ballot, if you make a mistake in completing the ballot or wish to change your ballot choices, you may obtain and complete a new ballot. You have a right to a replacement ballot upon return of the original ballot. Slide 49 Report back Slide 50 Plain language edits Instead of: If you tear, or deface, or wrongly mark this ballot, return it and obtain another. Do not attempt to correct mistakes on the ballot by making erasures or cross outs. Erasures or cross outs may invalidate all or part of your ballot. Prior to submitting your ballot, if you make a mistake in completing the ballot or wish to change your ballot choices, you may obtain and complete a new ballot. You have a right to a replacement ballot upon return of the original ballot. Use: If you make a mistake, ask a poll worker for another ballot. Source: Center for Civic Design Slide 51 5 steps for plain writing 1.Identify and describe your target audience. 2.Write the content in plain language. 3.Structure the content to guide the reader through it. 4.Use plain design to help the readers see and understand. 5.Test with your audience. www.centerforplainlanguage.org Slide 52 Plain language resources CTCL training & website template Field Guides from the Center for Civic Design www.civicdesign.org Center for Plain Language checklist www.centerforplainlanguage.org Slide 53 CTCL WEBSITE TRAINING PROGRAM Slide 54 1/3 Slide 55 BeforeAfter www.elections.inyocounty.us Slide 56 Professional development opportunities with CTCL In-person training at your office Online workshop with a small group October 21 October 23 December 2 December 4 January 12 January 14 Self-paced online course Slide 57 www. techandciviclife.org /website-trainings Slide 58 2016 Civic Engagement Toolkit Slide 59 Lets talk shop. Visit our table. Slide 60 hello@techandciviclife.org @HelloCTCL www.techandciviclife.org Thank you & the Johnson County Election Office.