6.0 Introduction
Long lines of voters are a common sight in American elections. In one election, voters in Florida waited, on average, almost 40 minutes to cast votes, while voters in Vermont waited less than two minutes (Ansolabehere & Shaw, 2016). Why the difference? The time it takes to vote is a function of several factors, including the number of voting locations and the complexity of the ballot. In this section, we will examine the process of casting votes and the different procedures and technologies that are used in the process.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you should be able to:
- Describe the process of casting a vote
- Consider the strengths and weaknesses of different voting technologies
- Explain how voter turnout might be increased by making voting more convenient
Things we need to know
In this chapter, you can expect to encounter the following terms/concepts.
- Ballot Marking Device (BMD)
- Direct Recording Electronic (DRE) systems
- Convenience voting
- Provisional ballots
