Project Overview
​Form 24 is a crucial component of the FECFile system, used for reporting independent expenditures that meet itemization thresholds.
My UX research aimed to identify pain points and opportunities for improvement in how users create, manage, and differentiate multiple Form 24s.
My Role
In my role, I led the research and design strategy to improve the Form 24 filing process.
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By analyzing user pain points through surveys, I identified key challenges and translated insights into actionable solutions, such as clearer workflows and improved sorting methods.
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To ensure a user-centered design that enhanced efficiency and reduced errors, I developed high-fidelity wireframes that aligned with both user needs and compliance standards. My leadership was instrumental in driving these improvements.
Methodology
A survey was conducted among active FECFile users to collect qualitative and quantitative feedback.
Key questions included:​​​
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Do you recall a time when you created more than one Form 24 in a day?
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Have you had multiple Form 24s open at the same time?
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How do you currently differentiate between multiple Form 24s?
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What improvements would you like to see in identifying and managing Form 24s?
Key Findings
1. Frequent Use of Multiple Forms
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Every participant reported having multiple Form 24s open at the same time.
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All users recalled instances of creating more than one Form 24 in a single day.
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2. Primary Reasons for Multiple Form 24s
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Reporting independent expenditures for different candidates in different districts.
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Transactions crossing itemization thresholds on different dates.
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Additional information requirements within the 48-hour reporting window.
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Transitioning from 48-hour to 24-hour reporting.
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3. Current Differentiation Methods
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Some users rely on NGP’s naming system (e.g., "10/1/24 48 Hr Report").
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Others differentiate by candidate/district or dissemination date.
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A few users rely on familiarity with their workflow rather than labels.
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4. Challenges & Pain Points
The current FECFile workflow is inefficient, requiring users to create a transaction, then create Form 24, and manually link the transaction.
Users expressed frustration with the lack of automation and the manual effort required to track necessary filings.
Managing Form 24s during the shift from 48-hour to 24-hour reporting proved to be a challenge.
User Suggestions for Improvement
Automation: Users strongly preferred that creating an independent expenditure should automatically trigger the creation of a required Form 24 and link the transaction.
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Warnings & Alerts: A notification system to alert users when a transaction requires a Form 24 would improve compliance and reduce errors.
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Better Sorting & Identification: Users suggested organizing Form 24s by dissemination date, candidate/district, or user-created names.
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Improved Reporting Tools: A dedicated report to check if Form 24 is required would streamline the workflow.
Design Solutions
Based on the research findings, the design team implemented the following changes:
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Added the ability for users to create names for their form 24s.
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Introduced a dropdown menu and confirmation modal for easy selection and assignment of Form 24s. Users can now see all active Form 24s as it relates to their filing needs.
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Enhanced sorting and filtering options to organize forms by user-created names giving the user power over how they label their Forms.
Wireframes
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Before Improvements
The previous interface required the user to remember which form 24 they were looking for. This led to user frustration and inefficiencies.
No editable fields for user name preferences
Dropdown with no safe guards to prevent user error
Lack of clear order in display
After Improvements
The new design incorporates a place for users to rename their Form 24s whenever they'd like, with clear dropdown selections and error prevention to stop duplicate names in the application.
Added a section for users to name their forms based on personal preference
Included user-friendly error messages to prevent name duplicates
Changed the drop-down list to reflect the user name changes,
Conclusion & Next Steps
The findings highlight a significant need for improved organization and efficiency in the Form 24 filing process. Implementing the ability for users to edit their form names to be whatever they like and proactive error messages should reduce manual effort and enhance user experience. Future steps include working towards automation, while conducting usability testing, and refining features based on iterative feedback.