How Dutch voters and poll workers experience the new ballot for Dutch parliament votes

The aim of the study was to gain insight into both voters’ experiences and the practical effects for those responsible for the voting process, so that any future improvements could be well-founded.

Research set-up

Markteffect examined the experiences of voters in pilot municipalities such as Tynaarlo, Borne, and Midden-Delfland. The study consisted of questions regarding the ease of use of the new ballot, its readability and format, the information voters received in advance, and how they handled the list of candidates. The data was collected via quantitative questionnaires in various municipalities across the Netherlands.

“Thanks to experienced fieldworkers and a clear approach, we gained a comprehensive understanding of how voters experience the new ballot. We gathered valuable insights, and both our team and the client are very satisfied with the results.” - Joyce van Grinsven, Project Manager

Key Findings

The results show that voters highly value the ease of use of the new ballot. Although they have less experience with the new model, they find voting easier than with the traditional ballot. The format and readability also receive positive ratings; the visual design aligns well with users’ needs.

In addition, it appears that the majority of voters received sufficient information in advance, which underscores how important clear communication is when introducing new voting methods. Younger voters between the ages of 18 and 30 are slightly less likely to report being fully informed, which is a point of focus for future communication. Many voters had already made their choice before entering the voting booth, with the list of candidates playing an important role in their preparation.

Want to know more?

Download the full (Dutch) research report here for all insights. Want to know how we conducted the research? Contact us; we’d be happy to tell you all about it.