Ballot Measure Readability Scores, 2019 via Ballotpedia

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Ballot Measure Readability Scores, 2019

Ballotpedia: 12.16.2019

This page provides an overview of the readability scores of the ballot titles and summaries of ballot measures certified to go before voters in 2019.

A readability score is an estimation of the reading difficulty of a text. Measurements used in calculating readability scores include the number of syllables, words, and sentences in a text. Other factors, such as the complexity of an idea in a text, are not reflected in readability scores.

In 2019, 36 statewide ballot measures were certified for ballots in eight states. Voters in states with ballot measures read questions on their ballots asking them whether to approve or reject a measure. As the text of ballot measures is often multiple pages of statute or constitutional law, someone is tasked in each state with writing a shorter title and summary to appear on the ballot for the measures.

2019 highlights

  The average Flesch-Kincaid Grade Levels score for 2019 ballot measure titles was 15 years of formal U.S. education. The range was between 6 and 27. The average FRE score for 2019 ballot measure titles was 26. The range was between -22 and 69.

  The average FKGL for the ballot summaries or explanations of all the 2019 statewide ballot measures that were given a summary or explanation was 15 years of formal U.S. education. The average FRE score for ballot measure summaries was 25.

  The states with the lowest average FKGL scores for ballot titles or questions were Washington, Pennsylvania, and Maine with 9, 10, and 17, respectively.

  The states with the highest average FKGL scores for ballot titles or questions were Colorado, Kansas, and Texas with 27, 23, and 20.

  Average ballot title grades were lowest for language

written by the Washington Attorney General (9) and initiative petitioners (10).

  Average ballot title grades were highest for language written by state legislatures (20).

  The states with the longest ballot titles or questions on average were Kansas, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Colorado; all of these except New Jersey did not feature additional ballot summaries or explanations.

  The states with the shortest ballot titles or questions on average

were Texas, Maine, Louisiana, and Washington.

  Compared to the last odd-year election, the average FKGL for ballot titles for 2019 was lower than 2017, which averaged a FKGL score of 20 years of formal education for 27 statewide ballot measures. The range of scores for 2017 was also wider, ranging from 7 to 42.  

Readability index details

Ballotpedia uses two formulas, the Flesch Reading Ease (FRE) and Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL), to compute scores for the titles and summaries of ballot measures. The FRE formula produces a score between a negative number and 100, with the highest score (100) representing a 5th-grade equivalent reading level and scores at or below zero representing college graduate-equivalent reading level. Therefore, the higher the score, the easier the text is to read. The FKGL formula produces a score equivalent to the estimated number of years of U.S. education required to understand a text. A score of five estimates that a U.S. 5th grade student would be able to read and comprehend a text, while a score of 20 estimates that a person with 20 years of U.S. formal education would be able to read and comprehend a text. Ballotpedia uses Readable.io to calculate the scores.  READ MORE >>

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