How human-centered design transformed the UK electoral process, ensuring inclusivity and accessibility for all.

Project Overview:

The Electoral Integrity Programme (EIP) within the UK government aimed to modernize and strengthen the integrity of the electoral system. This ambitious project involved designing and delivering a suite of digital services to enhance voter participation and ensure accessible electoral processes for millions of citizens.

The Challenge:

• Modernising Legacy Systems: Legacy systems within the electoral process presented significant challenges in terms of user experience and accessibility.
• Ensuring Inclusivity: The project required designing services that were inclusive and accessible to all citizens, regardless of their digital literacy or physical abilities.
• Delivering a Secure and Reliable System: The electoral process demands a robust and secure system that safeguards voter data and ensures the integrity of the election.

My Role:

As a key member of the Softwire digital team, I played a crucial role in:

• Leading User Research: Conducted extensive user research, including 8-week private beta trials with over 40,000 participants across 12 UK councils.
• Designing User Interfaces (UI): Developed intuitive and user-friendly interfaces for key services, including:
  • Apply for a Voter Authority Certificate
  • Apply for a Postal Vote
  • Apply for a Proxy Vote
• Creating Prototypes: Designed and iterated on prototypes to test user flows and gather feedback.
• Project Management: Managed the delivery of multiple 8-week beta trials, collaborating closely with Electoral Integrity Officers and their support staff.
• Service Design: Contributed to the overall service design, ensuring a seamless and accessible user experience throughout the voter registration journey.
• System Updates: Collaborated with the development team to implement key updates to the Register to Vote service, enhancing its functionality and user experience.