Usability of Paper Audit Trails in Electronic Voting Machines

Electronic voting machines (EVM) can improve the efficiency of elections. However, due to the possibility of errors in electronic voting machines, user trust in them is an issue. To improve user trust, one mechanism used by EVMs is the inclusion of a paper audit trail, which shows users a paper receipt of their vote for 7-seconds and asks them to verify their vote. While paper audit trails can theoretically improve user trust, their usability has not yet been explored, which can affect user trust. In this paper, we evaluate the usability of paper audit trails by creating two UI prototypes and testing them with users through a user study. The design of the first prototype reflected existing audit trail systems, whereas the second prototype was created using HCI design principles. Results showed that the second prototype improved error recognition rates compared to the first prototype. Post-test interviews showed that the second prototype also reduced users' stress and anxiety of the voting process. Our work highlights the importance of exploring the human aspect in the design of electronic voting machines, and their associated components such as paper audit trails. It also provides insights into users' overall perceptions of electronic voting.