Method to allocate voting resources with unequal ballots and/or education

Area of Science:

• Operations Research
• Political Science
• Computer Science

Background:

• Election resource apportionment and allocation are complex challenges for officials.
• Variability in voter turnout, ballot length, and voter demographics complicates resource planning.
• Accurate prediction of maximum voter wait times often necessitates discrete event simulation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop rigorous methods for election resource apportionment and allocation.
• To guarantee acceptable voter wait times with bounded probability.
• To provide a practical tool for election officials.

Main Methods:

• Utilized rigorous mathematical methods to guarantee wait time probabilities.
• Developed techniques applicable to single and multiple resource types (e.g., voting machines, poll workers).
• Implemented the methods in a user-friendly Excel software program.

Main Results:

• Ensured all voters experience wait times below a prescribed limit with a high probability (e.g., >95% chance of <30 min wait).
• Successfully handled scenarios with diverse precinct-level variations in expected voters and resource needs.
• Provided a scalable solution for both single and multiple resource provisioning.

Conclusions:

• The developed methods offer a robust solution for election resource management.
• The Excel tool provides an accessible and effective means for election officials to optimize resource allocation.
• These advancements contribute to improving the electoral process by reducing voter wait times and ensuring equitable access to voting resources.