Voter confusion


Voter confusion is when members of the electorate are uninformed or misinformed about the logistics of voting, or the effect on the election of the choices they are to make. Voter confusion can create an incentive for voters to stay away from the polls. When authorities deliberately cause voter confusion, this is sometimes considered a form of voter suppression.

Causes

When rules and policies, such as those concerning voter identification, change shortly before the date of an election, this can be a source of voter confusion. Redistricting or designating new polling sites shortly before elections can also confuse voters. Provisional balloting procedures as well have been cited as a source of voter confusion, due to the obscurity of the rules concerning them. Spreading disinformation about election times and places is another way of sowing voter confusion.
When candidates have similar names, this can be a source of voter confusion as well. Inoperable voting machines and unavailable translators have also been cited as causes of voter confusion.