Accessibility Special: On the Usability & Accessibility Campaign Trail

In the run up to the British general election last week, User Vision reviewed six political party websites (going three better in their review than Cimex, reported last week in: UK Political Parties fail Accessibility Test, claims Agency. User Vision asked how do they measure up in terms of usability and accessibility? Do these parties seize the opportunity of exploiting this flexible channel to reach out to their voters? They answered: 'Well.. yes and no.'

This review looked at the website of six British political parties (Conservative, Green, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru, and SNP) and assessed them against recognised usability and accessibility standards. The internet is increasingly a resource used to research detailed issues such as political and social policies. Clearly as government in general tries to build bridges to the citizens, an effective web channel is critical.

The way a site is organised, written, and presented can make or break the overall 'user experience'. The clarity with which a party can convey its views to a large degree will determine if site visitors feel frustrated and alienated by a party's site or whether they engage with the site, potentially actively campaigning, recommending others and voting for the party. (Via Usability News)