AIGA partners with NY Times…

So, I got an email today from the executive director of the AIGA about a new initiative to photograph polling places during upcoming elections.

Similarly, I got this one last week from MoveOn.org, petitioning for paper ballots to replace the “flawed, insecure, and hackable electronic voting machines.”

Personally, I’m relieved that someone is paying attention to polling places, but a little confused. I think the AIGA should be involved in a different manner. I’d love to see a 100% design overhaul - not only to the ballot, but the polls, the medium, and the people who run these polls at the local level. (I’d like to see a entire electoral system overhaul, but that’s a different post). The AIGA’s email even touches upon the “richness and complexity of voting in America.”

Complex is right. I like the involvement, but I’d be more excited about this partnership if the AIGA could offer a 100% recycled paper ballot solution, design new e-ballots, better solutions for disabled voters and and use the photo blog system to hold people accountable for poorly designed ballots, missing paper trails, and other voting irregularities.

It’s a cool concept, so certainly check it out at http://pollingplaces.nytimes.com/. I will. More importantly, though, be sure to vote!