Size Clearly Matters [PHIL-OSOPHY]

Who was the scholar in Boston who decided on the small size and slim font that made reading the names on the ballot difficult? Was I being paddled for taking a Republican voting slip?

More on that in a moment; however, I want to praise the poll workers at the double precinct, 3D and 3E, located at Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus parish hall, with a rave review.

I'm wondering, did any of you think the print was too small, too? I understand on a ballot sheet that's filled front and back, you'll get tinier print so they can fit everything on one sheet.

But that wasn't the case with the Republican ballot. There was so much dead space going to the bottom of the sheet, the powers on the state level could have easily broadened the size of the print. Of course, it didn't help that I forgot my reading glasses for my presbyopia in the car.

So, there I was trying to read the names when one of the poll workers asked if I wanted to borrow her glasses? I asked if she could tell I was having challenges? She said she figured I couldn't read the ballot very well when I held it an inch and a half away from my eyes.

After I got home, I started looking at past ballots on the internet, and something dawned on me. In years where there were questions with long explanations in very fine print, I bet some  voters who couldn't read the small print could have easily passed on answering it. It's just a presumption.

A ballot is a form that represents perhaps the most important interaction between a government and its citizens. Designing an easy to read and understand ballot is of the utmost importance.

Phil Paleologos is the host of The Phil Paleologos Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Contact him at phil@wbsm.com and follow him on Twitter @PhilPaleologos. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.