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Designing an Information Technology Based Voting Solution for Persons with Visual Impairment in Sri Lanka

Authors:
Madhuka Thisuri De Silva
Thushani Weerasinghe
Kapila Dias

Keywords: Electronic Voting; Visual Impairment; Accessibility; Privacy; Usability

Abstract:
Sri Lanka currently uses a paper-based voting system for conducting elections. In this system, voters with special needs have to depend on the assistance of another to mark the vote. Addressing this issue, the present study used the design science approach and attempted to create a voting solution for visually impaired voters. First, two focus group interviews were held with a sample group of visually impaired individuals with voting rights and election-related authorities and professionals. Finding of this initial data gathering identified two categories of interactions: (1) interactions for navigating and (2) interactions for selecting. Considering the capabilities and preferences of the sample, a prototype was designed together with the sample of visually impaired voters at a design workshop. The interfaces and design features were based on multimodality and universal design guidelines. Thus, two interfaces were designed using touch interfaces and buttons. A prototype with the interfaces was subjected to user evaluation. Feedback received for the prototype could be interpreted as that the voters with visual impairment prefer to use this multimodal voting solution if it is further improved in terms of layouts in the interfaces and flow of the interactions.

Pages: 91 to 100

Copyright: Copyright (c) IARIA, 2019

Publication date: February 24, 2019

Published in: conference

ISSN: 2308-4138

ISBN: 978-1-61208-686-6

Location: Athens, Greece

Dates: from February 24, 2019 to February 28, 2019