Voter confusion

Voter confusion is when members of the electorate are uninformed or misinformed about the logistics of voting, or the effect on the election of the choices they are to make. Voter confusion can create an incentive for voters to stay away from the polls.[1] When authorities deliberately cause voter confusion, this is sometimes considered a form of voter suppression.[2]

Causes

When rules and policies, such as those concerning voter identification,[3] change shortly before the date of an election, this can be a source of voter confusion. Redistricting[4] or designating new polling sites[5] shortly before elections can also confuse voters. Provisional balloting procedures as well have been cited as a source of voter confusion, due to the obscurity of the rules concerning them. Spreading disinformation about election times and places is another way of sowing voter confusion.[6]

When candidates have similar names, this can be a source of voter confusion as well.[7] Inoperable voting machines and unavailable translators have also been cited as causes of voter confusion.[8]

In 2020, there were concerns about voter confusion after a nonprofit group, the Center for Voter Information, sent out 587,638 absentee ballot applications to Virginia voters that asked them to send the form to the wrong election office.

References
  1. Richard L. Hasen (2018-11-02). "Dodge City, Kansas, ruling: Judge says he's keeping polling location closed". Slate.com. Retrieved 2019-07-21.
  2. "The Powerful Role Confusion Plays In American Elections". Talking Points Memo. December 28, 2018.
  3. "The Supreme Court Just Made It Harder for Native Americans to Vote in North Dakota". Fortune.
  4. Paviour, Ben (May 20, 2019). "Still No Word From Supreme Court as Virginia Primary Nears". Community Idea Stations.
  5. Hanna, John (November 2, 2018). "Judge: Dodge City poll site would bring more voter confusion". AP NEWS.
  6. "Russia Doesn't Need to Change Votes — Just Sow Confusion". pew.org.
  7. Presse, Agence France. "Political Parties In India Put Identical Names On Election Ballots To Confuse Voters". Business Insider.
  8. Turner-Lee, Nicol (December 30, 2018). "Congress in 2019: The need for bipartisan action on voting rights and election integrity".
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