What is this calculator for?
The Voting Location Resource Calculator is designed to help election officials estimate voter wait times and identify potential bottlenecks in the voting process. This tool automatically simulates voter wait times based on information entered about a specific voting location, including the steps required to vote, how the location is set up, and the voting equipment used. Election officials can enter data about existing voting locations to learn about potential bottlenecks under current conditions or adjust resource quantities to identify changes that could minimize voter wait times in the future.
How does this calculator work?
This calculator uses simulation modeling to create a digital representation of a voting location and study how it performs under different conditions. The model used in this calculator is based on observational data collected during real U.S. elections. Like any simulation model, however, it is a simplified representation of reality and may not align precisely with the process in any given jurisdiction. Results from this calculator should be treated as informed estimates rather than definitive conclusions. Replacing the “default” timing data with a jurisdiction’s specific timing data can help improve the accuracy of the results.
To use the tool, you will need:
- Information about the voting location(s) you would like to model, and
- An idea of the question you want to answer. You can use the calculator to:
- Simulate the voting process as it exists now. Using the calculator this way can help you anticipate whether bottlenecks may occur if no changes are made to the voting location.
- Simulate what the process could look like, perhaps with different resources (for example, a different number of check-in stations) or a new voting process flow. Using the calculator this way can help you determine whether and how these changes could affect voter wait times.
Ready to get started?
- Read the User Guide for detailed instructions
- Go to the Voting Location Resource Calculator to try it yourself
Have feedback for us? We want to hear from you! Email [email protected] to share your thoughts on this tool or other EAC resources.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How should I interpret the results I see?
Once data about a voting location is entered by the user, the tool runs hundreds of simulations and displays the aggregated results. Each simulation is slightly different to account for the many variations of what might happen at a voting location. When combined, the results provide a reasonable estimate of what could happen under a variety of conditions. The results you see in the tool are averages based on all the simulations run. Three types of data are shown in the results:
- The total time that voters spent at the voting location, and the amount of that time spent waiting (rather than actively checking in, voting, or casting a ballot)
- A graph showing the average voter wait times across the day
- A table listing the average wait times at different points in the voting process (check-in, voting, and casting a ballot)
Why do I get different results when running the same data multiple times?
Since each simulation is slightly different, the aggregated results of all the simulations may change slightly each time, even if the input data stays the same.
Where does the “default” timing data come from?
The “default” timing data was collected during observations at real U.S. voting locations during elections from 2018 to 2024. The voting locations featured many different types of equipment and voting processes.