Stephanie, Jason, Ryan, Dustin

Lines in Our Lives

Background
Voting line wrapped around a city block in NYC in recent election. (2)

Voters waiting until 1 am Wednesday morning to cast

their vote in Florida in 2012

As long as you were in line when polls closed, you can still

vote. President Obama tweeted

Lines deterred 11% from voting in 2008 general election 2.6 million stayed home 10 hour lines reported in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida

in Presidential election of 2004

Problem
Long lines in polling places cause scheduling conflicts

and voter disinterest.

Brooklyn, NY (2)

Los Angeles, Ca (2)

Ohio Examples Kenyon College had 2 voting

machines for 1300 voters
some students waited 10 hours

In Columbus voters waited as

long as 4 hours in 2004

15000 left without voting

In Youngstown possible 8000

Columbus, Oh (5)

didnt vote due to machine shortage

Causes

How long will I be waiting?

Slow check-in progress Administrative problems Lack of poll workers

Shortage of equipment Malfunctions with voting machines

Attempted Solutions

Early Voting Absentee Ballots

More poll workers

More Machines Digital Machines

So Whats The Problem?

Why havent these solutions worked? Early Voting

Yearly Law Changes More lines!

Absentee Ballots Snail Mail Can be confusing to get in certain areas More poll workers Poll jobs cant be performed by more than one person More Machines Expensive Areas who can afford them, dont need them Digital Machines Actually slower than paper ballots

Line Tracking App

The line tracking app has two purposes. Raise awareness

In Ohio and many other states, it is illegal to terminate someone for exercising a political right such as voting and it is illegal to keep them from doing such. That doesnt meant that you and your employer cannot find a way to make it easier for you to vote. The line tracking app helps accomplish this by letting you and your boss know how long you will be gone and allowing you to plan accordingly. It also helps your average mom or family man by letting them know what theyre getting into. Its much easier to stand in a three hour line when you know youre going to stand in a three hour line.

Line Tracking App

Find a time thats convenient for you.

If you arent able to fit a three hour line into your day, but you can fit an hour long line into your day, the line tracking app will help you find the time of day when the line is shortest, so you can attempt to fulfill your civic duty.

Select Your State Ohio Enter Your Zip Code

Enter Your Polling location address (ex. 123 main st. )

Enter Your Home address (ex. 1134 warbler ct.)

Submit

Your current expected wait time is:

1 hour 23 minutes

Refresh

Choose another location

http://www.vote.caltech.edu/sites/default/files/Lines%20at%20Polling%20Stations.pdf http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/008973.html http://dougspencer.org/publications/Spencer-Markovits-ELJ.pdf http://www.hartic.com/files/LongLinesWhitePaper.pdf http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/02/early.voting/ http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/mayor/news/mayor-mallory-to-attend-early-voting-event/ http://www.kasichforohio.com/video-gov-kasich-reminds-ohioans-how-to-request-an-absentee-ballot/ http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/26/opinion/26tue4.html?_r=1 http://ir.stthomas.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1209&context=ustlj

References

http://thinkprogress.org/election/2012/11/04/1136371/south-florida-county-extends-early-voting-butonly-in-one-gop-stronghold/?mobile=nc http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/07/us-usa-campaign-voting-idUSBRE8A60UZ20121107