{"id":7495,"date":"2026-07-18T01:04:32","date_gmt":"2026-07-18T05:04:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/?page_id=7495"},"modified":"2026-07-19T15:36:03","modified_gmt":"2026-07-19T19:36:03","slug":"vr-in-elections","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/teachers\/vr-in-elections\/","title":{"rendered":"Virtual Reality in Elections"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"cl-wrapper cl-hero-wrapper\"><div class=\"cl-hero fullwidth   cl-has-accessibility-controls\"><div class=\"cl-hero-proper\"><div class=\"overlay\"><div class=\"block\"><h1>For K-12 Teachers<\/h1><\/div><\/div><div class=\"still\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/931\/training-header-3.jpg);\"><\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-controls-container\"><div class=\"cl-accessibility-controls\"><div class=\"cl-accessibility-icon\" title=\"Accessibility controls\">Accessibility controls<\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control cl-accessibility-motion-control cl-accessibility-control-hidden\"><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-default\"><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-button\" title=\"Pause motion\">Pause motion<\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-label\">Motion: <span class=\"cl-accessibility-syntax\">On<\/span><\/div><\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-alternate\"><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-button\" title=\"Play motion\">Play motion<\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-label\">Motion: <span class=\"cl-accessibility-syntax\">Off<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control cl-accessibility-contrast-control\"><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-default\"><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-button\" title=\"Increase text contrast\">Increase text contrast<\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-label\">Contrast: <span class=\"cl-accessibility-syntax\">Standard<\/span><\/div><\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-alternate\"><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-button\" title=\"Reset text contrast\">Reset text contrast<\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-label\">Contrast: <span class=\"cl-accessibility-syntax\">High<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-system-setting\"><div class=\"cl-accessibility-toggle\" title=\"Apply my preferences site-wide\"><\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-toggle-label\">Apply site-wide<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n\n<div class=\"breakout\" style=\"background: #eeeeee\">\n<div class=\"content-width\">\n\n\n<section class=\"cl-wrapper cl-menu-wrapper\"><nav id=\"\" class=\"cl-menu  \" data-name=\"training\" data-show-title=\"0\"><ul id=\"menu-training\" class=\"cl-menu-list cl-menu-list-no-js\"><li id=\"menu-item-7560\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-7560\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/training\/officials\/\">Officials<\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-7559\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-7559\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/training\/teachers\/\">Teachers<\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-7612\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-7612\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/training\/learners\/\">Students<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/nav><\/section>\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"type-intro fullwidth\">At EDI, we are passionate about outreach, especially with local schools and communities, to inspire the next generation about civics and industrial engineering. Elections offer an excellent opportunity to demonstrate how engineering influences daily life, from voter wait times and polling station design to the roles of election officials and workers to the voting experience itself. Our K-12 programs transform these real-world questions into hands-on learning experiences suitable for both STEM and social studies classes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"type-intro fullwidth\">This section features three sets of free, ready-to-use resources, created in collaboration with leading national partners. Collectively, these resources invite curiosity, teamwork, and a deeper appreciation for the engineering that shapes our world and how we vote.<\/p>\n\n\n<section class=\"cl-wrapper cl-menu-wrapper\"><nav id=\"\" class=\"cl-menu  \" data-name=\"teachers\" data-show-title=\"0\"><ul id=\"menu-teachers\" class=\"cl-menu-list cl-menu-list-no-js\"><li id=\"menu-item-7508\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-7508\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/training\/teachers\/\">Civics and ISE<\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-7506\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-7506\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/teachers\/vr-in-elections\/\">Virtual Reality<\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-7507\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-7507\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/teachers\/human-factors\/\">Human Factors<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/nav><\/section>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Practice Voting in Virtual Reality<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Practice Voting in Virtual Reality invites students and teachers to explore a polling place. Participants can experience the models EDI uses to support voting in communities nationwide, transitioning from basic 2D and 3D overviews to fully immersive VR experiences with a headset. This journey offers a firsthand perspective on casting a ballot at a URI gymnasium in Rhode Island.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Created in collaboration with the Center for Civic Design, this K-12 program makes voting mechanics tangible and approachable, giving students a memorable introduction to election processes and the thoughtful design behind every polling place.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"cl-wrapper cl-card-wrapper\"><a class=\"cl-card  \" href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/research\/voting-in-vr\/\" title=\"\"><div class=\"cl-card-container media\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/931\/IMG_7977-scaled-e1784489737353.jpg\" srcset=\"\" alt=\"Person in chair using VR headset with a screen in front of them with a person looking on\"><\/div><div class=\"cl-card-container text\"><div class=\"cl-card-text\"><h2>Activity Details<\/h2><p><strong>Purpose:<\/strong> To understand how the voting process works across the United States.<br><strong><br>Target Grades:<\/strong> K-12<br><br><strong>Activity:<\/strong> Students and teachers will be able to view various simulation models that were used to help people vote across the country. In addition to a 2D\/3D overview, participants will enjoy a fully immersive experience with a virtual reality headset, seeing what it\u2019s like to vote in Rhode Island and other states across the country.<br><br><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"cl-card-container button\">LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS RESEARCH<\/div><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Don&#8217;t have access to a VR headset? Try this walk-through video \ud83d\udd3d <\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"oembed oembed-youtu-be\" style=\"\" data-url=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/LkPl1MHlFfQ?si=hKF9qZdyvCNplVSo\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"EDI - Election Signage in VR - Sample Video\" width=\"1000\" height=\"563\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/LkPl1MHlFfQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Partner<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"cl-wrapper cl-card-wrapper\"><a class=\"cl-card  \" href=\"https:\/\/civicdesign.org\/reports\/voting-in-vr\/\" title=\"\"><div class=\"cl-card-container media\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/931\/EDI-CARD-Template-1.jpg\" srcset=\"\" alt=\"Center for Civic Design\"><\/div><div class=\"cl-card-container text\"><\/div><div class=\"cl-card-container button\">PROJECT DETAILS ON CCD WEBSITE<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"breakout\" style=\"background: #eee\">\n<div class=\"content-width\">\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1400\" height=\"567\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/931\/EDI-CheckMark-Full-sgc-cyc-b.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6280\" style=\"width:336px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/931\/EDI-CheckMark-Full-sgc-cyc-b.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/931\/EDI-CheckMark-Full-sgc-cyc-b-300x122.jpg 300w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/931\/EDI-CheckMark-Full-sgc-cyc-b-1024x415.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/931\/EDI-CheckMark-Full-sgc-cyc-b-768x311.jpg 768w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/931\/EDI-CheckMark-Full-sgc-cyc-b-364x147.jpg 364w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/931\/EDI-CheckMark-Full-sgc-cyc-b-500x203.jpg 500w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/931\/EDI-CheckMark-Full-sgc-cyc-b-1000x405.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/931\/EDI-CheckMark-Full-sgc-cyc-b-1280x518.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Engineering for Democracy Institute<\/strong><br><br>University of Rhode Island <br>College of Engineering<br>Fascitelli Center for Advanced Engineering<br>2 East Alumni Avenue, Kingston, RI 02881<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:12px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<a class=\"cl-button  \" href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/about\/contact-us\/\" title=\"\">Connect<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-not-stacked-on-mobile is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/about\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"4356\"><strong>ABOUT<\/strong><\/a><\/h6>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/about\/team\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"6510\">Team<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/tools-2\/pocket-guide-project\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"5191\"><br><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/about\/funders\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"463\">Funders<\/a><br><br><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/about\/our-partners\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"6001\">Partners<\/a><\/h6>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/tools\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/tools\">TOOLS<\/a><\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/planning-for-elections\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/planning-for-elections\/\">Planning<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/tools-2\/pocket-guide-project\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"5191\"><br><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/in-person\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"7632\">In-Person<br><\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/tools\/vote-by-mail\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"7725\">Vote-by-Mail<\/a><\/h6>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-not-stacked-on-mobile is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/training\/officials\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/training\/officials\/\">TRAINING<\/a><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/training\/officials\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/training\/officials\/\">Officials<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/tools-2\/pocket-guide-project\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"5191\"><br><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/training\/teachers\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/training\/teachers\/\">Teachers<\/a><br><br><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/training\/learners\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/training\/learners\/\">Students<\/a><\/h6>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/research\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"5061\">RESEARCH<\/a><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Projects<br><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/tools-2\/pocket-guide-project\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"5191\"><br><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/conference-papers\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"5998\">Papers<\/a><br><br>Data<\/h6>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>The Engineering for Democracy Institute may work with, and may accept funding from, individuals and organizations on all sides of the political spectrum. EDI\u2019s work is not and will not be influenced in any way by an individual\u2019s or organization\u2019s party affiliation or political perspective and it does not advocate for, nor work towards, the election or defeat of any individual candidates or the members of any specific political party or affiliation.<\/em><\/h6>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<section class=\"cl-wrapper cl-promo-wrapper\"><div class=\"cl-promo   micro\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/givetoday\/\" class=\"cl-promo-micro-content-wrapper\"><div class=\"cl-promo-micro-content\"><h1>Support Engineering for Democracy Institute<\/h1><span class=\"cl-promo-micro-text-link\">Give Today<\/span><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>At EDI, we are passionate about outreach, especially with local schools and communities, to inspire the next generation about civics and industrial engineering. Elections offer an excellent opportunity to demonstrate how engineering influences daily life, from voter wait times and polling station design to the roles of election officials and workers to the voting experience [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1568,"featured_media":0,"parent":7503,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-7495","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7495","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1568"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7495"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7495\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7666,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7495\/revisions\/7666"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7503"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/edi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7495"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}