[EL] time at the polling booth

[David Becker]

Rick,

Likely the largest variable in this will be the length of the ballot, but in states that use ballot marking devices as the primary method of voting, it should be possible to obtain analytics which document the exact amount of time each voter spends on the device, from the moment they activate it (perhaps with a smart card) to the moment they print the ballot. Georgia, South Carolina, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, are all examples of jurisdictions where it’s likely possible to get this data, post-election. Of course, it may need to be aggregated to protect voter anonymity.

David

David J. Becker
Executive Director and Founder
Center for Election Innovation & Research
1120 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 1040
Washington, DC, 20036
(202) 550-3470 (mobile) | dbecker at electioninnovation.org
www.electioninnovation.org | @beckerdavidj
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From: Law-election <law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu> on behalf of Pildes, Rick <rick.pildes at nyu.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, July 8, 2020 8:00:40 AM
To: Election Law Listserv <law-election at uci.edu>
Subject: [EL] time at the polling booth


Does anyone know of data about how much time voters typically spend casting their ballots in the actual polling booth?  I’m sure this varies depending on how many races/issues are on the ballot, particularly in states that have a number of ballot initiatives to vote on in certain years.  I’m aware of the good piece by Dan Smith and Michael Herron in Electoral Studies, but that’s based on one polling place in a low turnout election in NH.



I assume most voters spend less than five minutes, but I’d appreciate any information that might be out there, whether empirical studies or even good anecdotal reporting.



Thanks.



Best,

Rick



Richard H. Pildes

Sudler Family Professor of Constitutional Law

NYU School of Law

40 Washington Square So.

NYC, NY 10014

212 998-6377


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