In the weeks leading up to the Nov. 2 elections, Ball State University will attempt to survey several hundred East Central Indiana residents to determine what type of voting method will encourage them to vote.

Researchers at Ball State's Center for Media Design (CMD) are canvassing the community to examine if residents would prefer to use electronic systems to cast their votes or stay with existing mechanical machines and paper ballots.

"We are going to try to determine what type of voting mechanism people would prefer and if that system would encourage them to vote," said Michael Bloxham, CMD's director of testing and assessment. "If people could simply log on to a computer and select a candidate, they might feel the process was easier than having to take time off from work or go out of their way to the nearest polling place.

"Of course, many people may prefer the simple paper ballot that has been around for hundreds of years, or they might not care what system is used," he said. "Since Muncie has been identified as the typical American community through the Middletown studies, we think the results of the surveys could give us a better idea of what could work across the nation."

Bloxham said the survey also is timely because of the well-publicized problems with voting procedures in Florida during the 2000 presidential elections and with recent lawsuits filed by Democrats and Republicans over such issues as touch-screen voting machines.

Florida and 28 other states will use touch-screen machines, but that has prompted lawsuits claiming the ATM-like devices are unreliable because they produce no paper receipts that could be used in a recount.

Ball State's research should determine the popularity of such electronic systems as kiosks, cell phones, interactive television, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and the Internet.

"There is a great deal of consideration and effort being put into electronic alternatives for the voting process," Bloxham said. "Yet while millions of dollars are being poured into these systems, little is known about how voters feel about using them. We want to know if people are inclined or disinclined to use electronic voting systems."

The Center for Media Design is an R&D facility focused on the creation, testing and practical application of digital technologies and content for business, classroom, home and community.

The center is part of Ball State's iCommunication initiative, funded by a $20 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. 

(Note to Editors: For more information, contact Bloxham at mbloxham@bsu.edu  or (765) 285-0127.)