Page History

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Hypothesis #2: Responses to policy questions about voting technology are prone to suggestion and will be easily swayed by the provision of a small amount of information to that might justify a given policy.

A. DRE vs. Optical Scan

Wiki Markup Newkirk (2008) finds that the public is generally confident in both optical scan and DRE technology. In his study (based on a poll), DREs have a trust score of 51 while optical scan has a score of 48. In contrast, AccuPoll (2004) finds much more trepidation about DREs. Forty-four percent do not have confidence in the reliability and integrity of computerized voting systems; 63% say computerized voting systems are not always reliable because of the risk of programming error or fraudulent hacking by insiders who designed the system. Yet another study\[AEI1\] by  the Information Technology Association of America ] by  the Information Technology Association of America (2004) reports that 88 percent of voters using electronic voting machines trust the accuracy of those machines and that seven in ten voters are unconcerned about the security of electronic machines.

 
Pace University (2004) finds the public evenly split. Twenty-six percent trust an electronic ballot more than a paper one; 25% trust a paper ballot more; 43% trust them both equally.

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 Stripped (control) condition

Wiki Markup  As you may know, there is a lot of disagreement about the best way to record votes when voters go to the polls on Election Day.Some people think that voters should make their choices directly on a computer screen and have the computer count the results. Others think that voters should make their choices on paper ballots and then run them through a scanner.\[AEI2\]  How about you? Do you have an opinion on this issue?\[AEI3\]  
As you may know, there is a lot of disagreement about the best way to record votes when voters go to the polls on Election Day.Some people think that voters should make their choices directly on a computer screen and have the computer count the results. Others think that voters should make their choices on paper ballots and then run them through a scanner.[AEI2]  How about you? Do you have an opinion on this issue?[AEI3] 

A)    Yes

B)    No

Wiki Markup(If Yes) Which do you think should be used\[AEI4\]  , an electronic ballot or a paper-based ballot?

A)    I strongly think that electronic ballots should be used instead of paper ballots.

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D)    I strongly think that paper ballots should be used instead of electronic ballots.

Framed to support DRE

Wiki MarkupAs you may know, there is a lot of disagreement about the best way to record votes when voters go to the polls on Election Day.Some people think that voters should make their choices directly on a computer screen and have the computer count the results because computers can be used by people with disabilities, like the blind. Others think that voters should make their choices on paper ballots and then run them through a scanner.\[AEI5\]    How about you? Do you have an opinion on this issue?

(If Yes) Which do you think should be used, an electronic ballot or a paper-based ballot?

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Framed to support Op-scan

Wiki MarkupAs you may know, there is a lot of disagreement about the best way to record votes when voters go to the polls on Election Day. Some people think that voters should make their choices directly on a computer screen and have the computer count the results. Others think that voters should make their choices on paper ballots and then run them through a scanner\[AEI6\]    because computer systems might be prone to fraud. How about you? Do you have an opinion on this issue?

(If Yes) Which do you think should be used, an electronic ballot or a paper-based ballot?

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E)    Strongly disagree that voting machines should produce a paper record of each vote

 unmigrated-wiki-markup

 \[AEI7\]  

Framed to justify paper trails

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C. Voter Identification

Wiki MarkupBackground: Ansolabehere (2007)\[AEI8\]    finds a large majority (75%) supports an ID requirement. There are interesting demographic splits (southerners, Republicans support ID requirements; so do Blacks, although to a substantially smaller degree.)

Pew: On Election Day, should voters be required to show an official photo identification, such as a Drivers' License, or shouldn't they have to do this?

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E) Strong disagree that that voters should have to show a photo identification in order to vote.

 unmigrated-wiki-markup

 \[AEI9\]  

Framed to justify ID requirement

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E)    I strongly oppose allowing people to vote by mail before Election Day.

Framed to support VBM

 unmigrated-wiki-markup

Some states are using an election system in which residents are allowed to cast their vote through mail in the weeks leading up to Election Day because it is more convenient to voters.    How do you feel about allowing people to vote by mail before Election Day instead of in a voting booth on Election Day?\[AEI10\]  

Framed to oppose VBM

Some states are using an election system in which residents are allowed to cast their vote through mail in the weeks leading up to Election Day. But some people are concerned that this could lead to problems, because there is no way to tell who filled out the ballot. How do you feel about allowing people to vote by mail before Election Day instead of in a voting booth on Election Day?

Doubly framed

Wiki MarkupSome states are using an election system in which residents are allowed to cast their vote through mail in the weeks leading up to Election Day so that don't have to go through the hassle of driving to the polls. But some people are concerned that this could lead to problems, like a husband pressuring his wife to vote a certain way. How do you feel about allowing people to vote by mail before Election Day instead of in a voting booth on Election Day?\\
Works Cited\[AEI11\]  

AccuPoll. 2004. National Survey of 780 likely voters, conducted by Public Opinion Strategies, August 3-5.

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Newkirk, M. Glenn. 2008. Trends in American Trust in Voting Technology. Retrieved May 30, 2008 from InfoSENTRY Services, Inc.: http://www.infosentry.com^{Image Removed}

Pace University. 2004. Survey of 662 first-time voters.

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UniversityofGeorgia. 2006. November 2006 General Election Paper Voting Trail Exit Poll Study. Survey of 459 voters. From http://electionupdates.caltech.edu/UGA_Study_VVPAT_Nov_2006.pdf^{Image Removed}

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 AEI1This info is only available from a press release.
 AEI2Some of this wording is borrowed from Glenn Newkirk's InfoSentry survey. Do we need to ask his permission?
 AEI3Asking "Do you have an opinion?" as its own question is a strong filter for non-opinions.
 AEI4Would there be any advantage to saying something more like "Which do you trust more?"
 AEI5In all these questions, perhaps the "some/other" statements should be randomly rotated. I don't think this is necessary, but it is a thought.
 AEI6Some of this wording is borrowed from Glenn Newkirk's InfoSentry survey. Do we need to ask his permission?
 AEI7We can also add an "don't know" option, but I'm not sure we should. I think it would basically mean the same thing as choice C.
 AEI8No info on this question wording yet.
 AEI9Perhaps a "don't know" option.
 AEI10Rather than "so they don't have to go through the hassle," we could say something like "in case they are sick or traveling." That would be a stronger rationale. But I don't think it's the right one because nobody really wants to end that type of absentee voting. This question is more about absentee voting just for the sake of convenience.
 AEI11This was done casually and should be revisited before any sort of publication.