Development of tools for people with visual impairments to use to vote

Background

In spring 2022, the government gives Valmyndigheten the assignment, in collaboration with RISE, to develop solutions and produce one or several prototypes of assistive technology for people with visual impairments to use in our elections. The solutions have to make it possible to vote for a party and a candidate. 

To vote with a visual impairment today 

 Currently, to vote with a visual impairment is not easy enough, nor is it possible to cast a vote on a candidate, only party, with preserved electoral secrecy. People with visual impairments can get ballots, in envelopes with braille sent to their homes, but there is no way to confirm the content or cast a vote on a candidate without asking for help from a person with vision. Several steps in the process need to be made accessible for voting to be done with preserved electoral secrecy.

To vote independently means that the person can identify the ballots, get the information on them, cast their vote on a candidate and get their choice confirmed. 

Method 

RISE uses an iterative user-centered design process based on understanding the users' needs, challenges and previous experiences. By including the user group continuously during the process, we can generate ideas and solutions that match their needs. The method gives us the possibility to identify and iteratively test solutions relevant to the target group.