Poll worker manual toolkit

We’ve built a template in Microsoft Word that uses best practices for designing manuals that are easy to use in moments of stress. The template is a compilation of 20 different page types across 7 different categories of pages:

• Introductory pages
• Table of contents 
• Numbered steps 
• Checklists 
• Visual Guides
• Form examples
• Optional pages

You can mix and match the page types based on your content.

When creating your own manual, you may run into the Goldilocks problem—what is the line between a manual that is long enough to be complete and short enough not to be intimidating? There’s no single right answer. Maybe the right answer for you is publishing multiple volumes. Maybe it’s one really long volume bound in a binder. 

We’re big believers in white space and starting new topics on new pages. Our research shows that white space and 1 page per topic help people retain information. These formatting choices might increase the page count of your new manual, but we think it’s worth it. You can use the writing tips in Best Practice Guide: Designing Manuals for Poll Workers to reduce word count.

How to use the template pages:

• Use these as inspiration and recreate them in your own document
• Download the Word files and input your content into a new document
• Read the companion PDFs to make sure you are getting all the design tips for the best possible manual.

How to Design Manuals for Poll Workers using Word is the technical companion to the Center for Civic Design’s Poll Worker Manual template and Best Practice Guide. It is an expansive list of tips and tricks for Microsoft Word that will help even the most basic Microsoft user feel confident when putting together materials. 

We chose to publish this how to guide because we recognize that a majority of election offices across the country rely on Microsoft Word for their document creation. Microsoft Word is widely available, easy to use, and has a number of advanced formatting and accessibility features that—if used right—can take your document from good to great. 
If you’re using a program other than Word, or want to learn more about the best practices behind building poll worker manuals, check out Best Practice Guide: Designing Manuals for Poll Workers.

Best Practice Guide: Designing Manuals for Poll Workers is the design tips companion to the Center for Civic Design’s Poll Worker Manual template and How to Guide. It walks you through how to design information on the page, write great instructions, and use images to support understanding. 

Whether you use Microsoft Word, Adobe InDesign, Canva, or another tool to build your manuals, the design principles shared in this guide will help you create a manual that is easier to use.