NY Mayor proposes improvements to voter access, including ballot design

Yesterday, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced proposals calling for changes to state election law including allowing early voting. In addition, one proposal would let New Yorkers fill out their ballots at home and take them to a polling site; another will update the registration process and extend the registration period.

What we're most excited about, though, is that the Mayor is proposing simplifying the ballot design with a focus on plain language instructions.

This action is a direct result of talks that the Brennan Center for Justice's Larry Norden and UPA's Usability in Civic Life Project founder Whitney Quesenbery had with the mayor's office about New York's ballot and voting system design.

From the press release:

"Simplified Ballot Design:
Guaranteeing that ballot instructions are readily visible and in plain language will ensure that voters are better able to understand the process. Streamlining the ballot by eliminating unnecessary and uninformative text will make it easier to read."

Story in the New York Daily News

Press release from the mayor's office


ADDED afternoon 7 December 2010: The New York Times has picked up the story.