Accessibility and Usability Considerations for UOCAVA Remote Electronic Voting Systems

1
Accessibility and Usability Considerations for
UOCAVA Remote Electronic Voting Systems

• Sharon Laskowski, PhD
• National Institute of Standards and Technology
• http//vote.nist.gov

2
Overview

• Goal Provide guidance on best practices for
  usability and accessibility when designing and
  implementing remote voting systems
• White paper parallels the security considerations
  report
• Scope is electronic remote voting systems

3
Issues and recommendations are organized by
technology

• 35 recommendations
• General accessibility and usability
• Web browsers
• Web ballot repositories
• Online ballot markers and electronic form
  fillers
• E-mail
• Kiosks
• Telephone-based interfaces
• Fax machines

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General Guidance

• Refer to existing standards
• VVSG 1.0, 1.1, 2.0
• Section 508 Electronic and Information Technology
  Accessibility Standards
• W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) guidelines
  and techniques including the Web Content
  Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.0)
• Test with voters, including voters with
  disabilities, in a user-centered design process

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Web-Based Approaches

• Browser compatibility
• WCAG 2.0 guidelines
• Accessible authentication
• e.g., avoid visual CAPTCHAs
• Screen readers need clear focus of attention
• Universal design, e.g, plain language

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Built-in Accessibility vs. PAT

• Web-based systems can achieve some accessibility
  by designing for compatibility with Personal
  Assistive Technology (PAT)
• However, many voters with disabilities
• Do not have access to or experience with PAT
• Vote from a public location
• Accessibility should be built-in where possible
• E.g, magnification, audio
• Kiosk systems if designed to VVSG will have some
  built-in accessibility

7
Ballot Repositories Electronic vs. Paper

• For usability and accessibility, minimize
  handling and marking of paper ballots
• Use on-line ballot marking following best
  practices and standards for electronic
  form-filling
• e.g., check for over- and under-voting
• e.g., use audio or magnification for filling out
  and verifying
• PDF needs to be accessible
• Marks must be understood by a screen reader

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Other issues

• Telephone interfaces should follow best practices
  for interactive voice response systems
• US telecom standards might not apply overseas
• Fax machines, in general, will not be accessible

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Proposed Resolution

• White paper on Accessibility and Usability
  Considerations for UOCAVA Remote Electronic
  Voting Systems
• The TGDC accepts the white paper titled
  Accessibility and Usability Considerations for
  UOCAVA Remote Electronic Voting Systems for
  transmittal to the Election Assistance
  Commission.
• This paper responds to the Technical Guidelines
  Development Committee (TGDC) resolution
  requesting that the National Institute of
  Standards and Technology conduct a short-term
  (several months) research study on accessibility
  and usability considerations for remote
  electronic Uniformed and Overseas Citizens
  Absentee Voting Rights Act (UOCAVA) voting
  similar to the research document on "Security
  Considerations for Remote Electronic UOCAVA
  Voting.