Touchscreen Voting Machines Cause Long Lines and Disenfranchise Voters

TL;DR

The paper analyzes how touchscreen voting machines cause long lines and disenfranchisement, suggesting that increasing DREs is costly while paper ballots offer a scalable, economical solution.

Contribution

It applies queuing simulation to voting processes, demonstrating that paper ballots are a more scalable and cost-effective alternative to DREs for preventing long lines.

Findings

DRE voting systems lead to long wait times and voter disenfranchisement.

Significantly increasing DREs is costly and impractical.

Paper ballot-optical scan systems are scalable and economical.

Abstract

Computerized touchscreen "Direct Recording Electronic" DRE voting systems have been used by over 1/3 of American voters in recent elections. In many places, insufficient DRE numbers in combination with lengthy ballots and high voter traffic have caused long lines and disenfranchised voters who left without voting. We have applied computer queuing simulation to the voting process and conclude that far more DREs, at great expense, would be needed to keep waiting times low. Alternatively, paper ballot-optical scan systems can be easily and economically scaled to prevent long lines and meet unexpected contingencies.