Abstract
We examine the tendency for complex ballots to undermine the ability of voters to cast valid votes. Specifically, we investigate the role of ballot design plays in explaining the high rate of invalid votes in Colombia observed in 2007. We address this question first by looking at data from a study observing the use of alternate ballot designs in a controlled environment, varying the information voters have when attempting to cast the ballot. Our results show that there is an effect of the ballot design on the amount of invalid votes and that this effect varies with socio-demographic characteristics, such as education. We then examine the observed pattern of invalid votes in Colombia before and after the implementation of the ballot redesign. Our results suggest that the introduction of a ballot with improved usability was associated with a significant decline in the number of invalid votes and that a rural-urban difference observed before the new ballot was no longer present.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 98-110 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | Electoral Studies |
| Volume | 48 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Aug 1 2017 |
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All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Political Science and International Relations
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Ballot design and invalid votes : Evidence from Colombia. / Pachón, Mónica; Carroll, Royce; Barragán, Hernando.
In: Electoral Studies, Vol. 48, 01.08.2017, p. 98-110.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Ballot design and invalid votes
T2 - Evidence from Colombia
AU - Pachón, Mónica
AU - Carroll, Royce
AU - Barragán, Hernando
PY - 2017/8/1
Y1 - 2017/8/1
N2 - We examine the tendency for complex ballots to undermine the ability of voters to cast valid votes. Specifically, we investigate the role of ballot design plays in explaining the high rate of invalid votes in Colombia observed in 2007. We address this question first by looking at data from a study observing the use of alternate ballot designs in a controlled environment, varying the information voters have when attempting to cast the ballot. Our results show that there is an effect of the ballot design on the amount of invalid votes and that this effect varies with socio-demographic characteristics, such as education. We then examine the observed pattern of invalid votes in Colombia before and after the implementation of the ballot redesign. Our results suggest that the introduction of a ballot with improved usability was associated with a significant decline in the number of invalid votes and that a rural-urban difference observed before the new ballot was no longer present.
AB - We examine the tendency for complex ballots to undermine the ability of voters to cast valid votes. Specifically, we investigate the role of ballot design plays in explaining the high rate of invalid votes in Colombia observed in 2007. We address this question first by looking at data from a study observing the use of alternate ballot designs in a controlled environment, varying the information voters have when attempting to cast the ballot. Our results show that there is an effect of the ballot design on the amount of invalid votes and that this effect varies with socio-demographic characteristics, such as education. We then examine the observed pattern of invalid votes in Colombia before and after the implementation of the ballot redesign. Our results suggest that the introduction of a ballot with improved usability was associated with a significant decline in the number of invalid votes and that a rural-urban difference observed before the new ballot was no longer present.
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85020281545&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.electstud.2017.05.005
DO - 10.1016/j.electstud.2017.05.005
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85020281545
VL - 48
SP - 98
EP - 110
JO - Electoral Studies
JF - Electoral Studies
SN - 0261-3794
ER -