Waiting in Line to Vote

Abstract

Waiting in line to vote is the most visible sign of the administrative friction of managing elections. The visibility of long lines makes them a convenient symbol for those who seek to improve election administration. However, absent comprehensive, reliable information about lines — where they appear, who endures them, and strategies to mitigate them — it is easy to flail at the problem without making much progress. The purpose of this white paper is to lay the groundwork with some evidence about where long lines occur and what is thought to cause them.