Ballot design error refers to which of the following?

• A. Mistakes in layout or instructions that can cause misvotes or undervotes.
• B. Ballot design error refers to issues with counting ballots after election.
• C. It describes the process of printing ballots.
• D. It is about voter registration deadlines.

Answer: (C)

Ballot design error refers to mistakes in how a ballot is laid out and the instructions it contains that can mislead voters or cause them to undervote. When a ballot is confusing—such as unclear race labels, cramped or overlapping vote targets, ambiguous wording, or instructions that don’t clearly show how to mark a vote—voters may accidentally select the wrong candidate or skip a contest. The core idea is the voter-facing presentation of the ballot, not the counting process, printing mechanics, or registration deadlines.