San Francisco’s Department of Elections has become very interested in usability issues of voting quipment. Recently, the department had usability expert Scott Luebking come in to provide the staff some basic training on usability and voting equipment.

The training included an introductory lecture on usability and some simple demonstrations of reviewing various types of voting equipment for usability issues. The powerpoint slides for the lecture are available here (452 kb).

The Department has meanwhile also set up a pilot programme where the public can participate in a mock election (pdf of press release, 148 kb) conducted outside San Francisco’s city hall.