Citizens were asked to indicate choice for some candidates on the right side of their name but choice for other candidates on the left side of their name. To format a survey to maximize response, integrate a few simple formatting principles that give visual signals that the survey is easy to complete. Think of yourself as an architect and create a sense of space in a survey. To do this, Eliminate lines. Don't use lines as a separator between survey sections place to check next to an answer answer grid as seen below A grid for answers like the one above can evoke two other negative response patterns that can decrease the reliability of answers.
Respondents tend to put checks in the wrong box.
Persons coding or loading the data on the computer tend to make eye errors as well. Avoid an answer grid. Use words in small caps. Where lines are needed under an open-ended answer, shorten and center the line. Long lines across a page under questions conjure up visions of work for respondents, making them less likely to answer.