Brennan Center for Justice

Through empirical research, the Brennan Center identifies ways to make voting machines more accessible, secure, and easy to use. Voting machine defects should be caught early and fixed nationally. We proposed a national clearinghouse of machine problems that could help catch failures before they happen, better prepare poll workers for Election Day issues, and ensure all votes are counted accurately and fairly.

Poor ballot design and instructions can also contribute to problems at the polls, such as long lines and confusion. It can also lead to lost votes — potentially tens of thousands in nearly every election year. These issues disproportionately affect low-income voters, new voters, and elderly voters. The Brennan Center’s research outlines simple measures election officials can take to cure these design defects and ensure every voter can cast a ballot that counts.

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