Why does voting take so long?

[Freyja]

Why does the voting process in the US seem so complicated and take so long?
I´m just curious.
When I vote here, I just show my ID, put an X by the right candidates name and off I go. I usually wait in line for 5-10 minutes if I come at a busy time but the voting doesn´t take more than 20 seconds.

 

[DVCLiz]

Why does the voting process in the US seem so complicated and take so long?
I´m just curious.
When I vote here, I just show my ID, put an X by the right candidates name and off I go. I usually wait in line for 5-10 minutes if I come at a busy time but the voting doesn´t take more than 20 seconds.

We don't just have one choice. We are also voting for state and local offices as well. I voted for President, Senator, and several judges and local offices, as well as bond issues to raise money for road repairs, housing, etc. If you add the time in line to the ballot, it can be a pretty long time.

 

[Galahad]

Why does the voting process in the US seem so complicated and take so long?
I´m just curious.
When I vote here, I just show my ID, put an X by the right candidates name and off I go. I usually wait in line for 5-10 minutes if I come at a busy time but the voting doesn´t take more than 20 seconds.

That's pretty much how it works here too. We have a lot of races on a single ballot, so there is more than just one "x" to put on the ballot. What seems complicated about it? We are a nation of 50 States and each State may run their elections slightly differently. That may be what makes it seem complicated.

 

[Freyja]

Interesting. Thanks for clarifying

 

[Freyja]

That's pretty much how it works here too. We have a lot of races on a single ballot, so there is more than just one "x" to put on the ballot. What seems complicated about it? We are a nation of 50 States and each State may run their elections slightly differently. That may be what makes it seem complicated.

Nothing complicated about it. I just thought originally that you were just voting for president today and therefore I didn´t understand why it had to take so long.

 

[wehavesix]

Why does the voting process in the US seem so complicated and take so long?
I´m just curious.
When I vote here, I just show my ID, put an X by the right candidates name and off I go. I usually wait in line for 5-10 minutes if I come at a busy time but the voting doesn´t take more than 20 seconds.

Well, in my state, we have a whole long list of other things to vote on too. Things like tax renewals, state amendments, and a senate race are also on our ballot. If a voter isn't prepared ahead of time and needs to read over that stuff, it might take a while. I saved the sample ballot from our newspaper so I could have my choices made in advance so I won't take forever but I know a lot of people won't be prepared.

 

[JARNJ3]

Took me only 5 minutes.

We had three "questions" to vote on - I read about them ahead of today.

And not every polling place needs ID - in my polling place they compare signatures - if they don't match - then they challenge.......

I was there once when they challenged someone - but the man had proper ID.

 

[clarabelle]

There are about 15 items on my ballot. I printed out a sample one off the internet -so hopefully I will be prepared.
Some people are trying to squeeze voting in before or after work -so there will be peak times with long lines.
But -Long lines will not be everywhere.
Also -some of our biggest voters are elderly -and many of them take more time.
This year there was a lot of buzz on the news and internet about what a big turnout we were going to have on election day so many more people than usual voted early.
I think that caused some long lines in early voting.

 

[Jockaroo]

My ballot was huge this year and it did take a while to fill it out. We had a 2-sided ballot and had to completely blacken in each circle with a ball-point pen (also time consuming.) Although everyone is talking about the Presidential election, I also had to vote for:
Senate
Congress
Governor
State Senate
State Congress
State Attorney General
State Lieutenant Gov.
State Sec of Labor
State Sec of Commerce
State Sec of Agriculture
4-6 judge positions
City Council
School Board
--I'm sure I'm leaving a couple out of my list.

It can take time. It isn't just "I want 'X' as President". You have to research the candidates and take in a list with your choices. This was the longest ballot I have ever seen. We do have an option to vote a straight party ticket which cuts down on the number of "bubbles" you need to blacken, but for me it isn't one-party-fits-all. I don't think our system is perfect, but it does work pretty well.

Added: I noticed you said you thought the election was only for President. You are right; that would not take so much time. Just getting in line and checking in. And someone else said that some folks in line have never seen the ballot and don't know the issues. That can take them much longer. That is why I take a list, to try to keep my choices at hand and also to not hold up the lines. It is interesting to see how things are done in different countries. Thanks for asking!

 

[Allison]

I got my ballot at 7:00 and was out the door by 7:03. It didn't take long at all.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

That's pretty much how it works here too. We have a lot of races on a single ballot, so there is more than just one "x" to put on the ballot. What seems complicated about it? We are a nation of 50 States and each State may run their elections slightly differently. That may be what makes it seem complicated.

[emphasis mine]

Actually its a bit deeper that than - in Illinois, there are 102 counties. Each county has different voter laws and requirements and different machines that don't "talk" to each other.

In Cook County, where Chicago is located - we have about 75 judges we have to elect/retain. Some are running against each other, others just need a yes/no vote.

Also, Jockaroo - what state do you live in? In Illinois the Labor, Ag and Commerce spots are appointed by the Governor....very interesting that you elect them. Good choice because those seem to be the agencies that seem to get the most press and NOT in a good way.

So getting tallies is difficult too.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My ballot was huge this year and it did take a while to fill it out. We had a 2-sided ballot and had to completely blacken in each circle with a ball-point pen (also time consuming.)

We got to use a black felt tip marker. We also had around 20ish things to vote for.

 

[bicker]

Black felt-tip here too. I'd prefer something else; felt-tip on paper makes my teeth hurt.

 

[joviroxx]

Well, in my state, we have a whole long list of other things to vote on too. Things like tax renewals, state amendments, and a senate race are also on our ballot. If a voter isn't prepared ahead of time and needs to read over that stuff, it might take a while. I saved the sample ballot from our newspaper so I could have my choices made in advance so I won't take forever but I know a lot of people won't be prepared.

That's exactly what was happening at my precinct. It amazes me the number of people that 1) didn't even know there was more to vote on and 2) those that did, didn't even bother to be prepared.

 

[zulaya]

My ballot was similar to a PP. 2 sided. We also have optical scanning machines so you have to use the special pen they give you at the polling place and completely darken in the circle for each thing you are voting for.

My ballot had:
President
Senator
Congressperson
State Representative
County Commissioner
5 School Board openings
An Amendment to the State Constitution
Mayor
Councilmember
3 openings in the Soil & Conservation District
1 opening on a hospital board
10-12 judicial seats...seriously...not kidding. And all but 3 were running unopposed

And I'm probably forgetting a bit.

 

[RadioNate]

My sample ballot is sitting here

President (1 choice)
Congressional Representative (1 choice)
County Commissioner (1 choice)
Supreme Court Justice (1 choice)
District Count of Appeal (yes or no on 5 different judges)
School Board Member (1 choice)
City Council (1 choices)
Soil and Water Supervisor (1 choice)
6 amendments

So I had to make 18 different choices. Took me about 10 minutes to get though the ballot.

When I lived in Chicago we often had pages of judges to get though, in addition to all the other neighborhood, city, county, state and national things you need to vote on.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Here is suburban Cook, we had the President, Senator, House, all federal. Then we had the state senate and house, a half dozen or so county positions, three referendum votes, and then the usual list of judges to retain or toss. My vote, in the major elections every four years, takes me generally about 15 minutes, and I know who and what I am voting for for each before I go in.

 

[Chicago526]

Here is suburban Cook, we had the President, Senator, House, all federal. Then we had the state senate and house, a half dozen or so county positions, three referendum votes, and then the usual list of judges to retain or toss. My vote, in the major elections every four years, takes me generally about 15 minutes, and I know who and what I am voting for for each before I go in.

I'm in Kane and it doesn't sound like mine was as long as your. Prez, Senator, US Rep, IL Rep, county clerk and reporter, States Attorney, County Auditor, County Board, 8 judges, and the IL constitutional convention. I was prepared and it took less than 5 minutes.

I waited an hour and 45 minutes though, the machines were down and then they only got two up and running (out of seven). Had they all been working it would have been much faster.

 

[Freyja]

My sample ballot is sitting here

President (1 choice)
Congressional Representative (1 choice)
County Commissioner (1 choice)
Supreme Court Justice (1 choice)
District Count of Appeal (yes or no on 5 different judges)
School Board Member (1 choice)
City Council (1 choices)
Soil and Water Supervisor (1 choice)
6 amendments

So I had to make 18 different choices. Took me about 10 minutes to get though the ballot.

When I lived in Chicago we often had pages of judges to get though, in addition to all the other neighborhood, city, county, state and national things you need to vote on.

Wow. I can´t help but wonder how well educated people are about the choices they´re making when there are so many. Do people really have the time to do the research needed to know what each person stands for, all at one time?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Wow. I can´t help but wonder how well educated people are about the choices they´re making when there are so many. Do people really have the time to do the research needed to know what each person stands for, all at one time?

no