How To Find Where Your Polling Place Is

Place where voters bandage their ballots in elections

A polling place ^[i] is where voters cast their ballots in elections. The phrase polling station is also used in American English^[one] and in British English,^[2] although polling identify is the building^[three] and polling station is the specific room^[3] (or role of a room) where voters cast their votes. A polling identify can contain one or more polling stations.^[3]

Since elections by and large accept place over a 1- or two-24-hour interval span on a periodic basis, often annual or longer, polling places are usually located in facilities used for other purposes, such as schools, churches, sports halls, local government offices, or even private homes, and may each serve a like number of people. The surface area may be known as a ward, precinct, polling commune or constituency. The polling place is staffed by officials (who may be called election judges, returning officers or other titles) who monitor the voting procedures and help voters with the election process. Scrutineers (or poll-watchers) are independent or partisan observers who attend the poll to ensure the impartiality of the process.

The facility will be open betwixt specified hours depending on the type of election, and political action by or on behalf of those continuing in the ballot is usually prohibited within the venue and immediately surrounding surface area.

Inside the polling identify will be an area (usually a voting booth) where the voter may select the candidate or party of their choice in secret. If a ballot newspaper is used this volition be placed into a ballot box in front of witnesses who cannot run across for whom the vote has been cast. Voting machines may exist employed instead.

Some polling places are temporary structures. A portable cabin may be specially sited for an election and removed afterwards.

There are five types of voting technologies that are currently being used in the United states of america polling locations. These incorporate manus-counted paper ballots, mechanical lever machines, dial cards, optically readable paper ballots, and electronic voting machines.^[iv] One of the reasons for a tendency toward witnessed final posting or transacting physical systems nonetheless retaining the underground ballot is to reduce electoral fraud.^[4]

History [edit]

The discussion "poll" ways "scalp" or "head". When votes were taken by gathering people together and counting heads, the place where this was done (sometimes an open field) was called the "polls".^[5] ^{[half dozen]}

Polling places used to gather and count ballots in elections have changed significantly over the past 250 years.^[7] Advances in technology take played a major role in irresolute the polling places because every bit the type of ballot changed, the venue in which the ballots are counted too inverse.^[7] One of the main reasons for advancement was to exist able to access the results quicker. Get-go was the word ballot, then came the dissimilar types of paper ballots, and today we take the electronic balloting systems.

Before in that location were paper ballots, people would merely call out their selection at the polling identify. This polling identify was typically the county courthouse or town hall.^[vii] Sometimes these polls were taken outside of the venue in a more informal fashion. When the voters came to the town hall to announce their choice, they would arrive line to see the judge and swear in.^[7] Voters would swear an adjuration to the estimate on a Bible and be immune to cast one ballot per election.^[7] The approximate acted every bit the simply form of voter identification and it was up to them to be able to identify individuals that had already voted and exclude them from voting again.^[7]

The use of paper and electronic ballots have been the virtually widely used form of capturing votes in recent history.^[7] When newspaper or electronic ballots are used, the polling identify must be professionally organized in order to ensure that the ballots are not tampered with and are accounted for accurately.^[vii] These polls are held inside a building that has been prepare up in stations to assist voters. When the voter arrives he or she will be asked to show a grade of voter identification (Photograph ID is required in most European countries and in some U.S. states).^[7] ^[8] Properly identified votes would go to a voting booth where the votes are captured. Afterward all votes were captured, voters could examine the voting ticket before submitting the election to the poll worker, in a ballot box, or on the computerized ballot.^[7]

Polling location effects [edit]

The building where the polling location is sited tin can have a significant event on the results of the poll.^[9] Inquiry that polling location may influence how a voter casts his or her election.^[10] This subtle unknown factor can be pregnant and can sway a close election.^[10] Individuals may be influenced to behave in a sure way based on environmental cues,^[x] i.eastward. an object or identify that can influence a voter's beliefs,^[10] for case the condition of the building, the name of the edifice, the ordinary apply of the building, or the edifice decor.^[10] Researchers have spent much fourth dimension considering what makes people vote the way they do; they have found that the smallest of changes tin can have large effects.

Waiting times at polling places have as well been a trouble in the The states.^[xi] This has become such a controversial topic that even President Obama in his State of the Union address on February 12, 2013 mentioned the need to subtract waiting times.^[11] He went on to say that information technology is the duty of Americans to make sure that everyone has not simply the right to vote, only the opportunity to vote, without having to look several hours in line.^[xi]

Building usage [edit]

The edifice used equally the polling identify has a significant effect on how an individual votes. For example, voting inside a schoolhouse building, a citizen might exist more likely to vote for those in favor of school systems and education.^[10] This is peculiarly true if the school building y'all are voting in is in need of general comeback and/or renovation.^[10] This environmental cue may give a voter firsthand knowledge of what needs there may exist in a particular setting.^[x] Similarly, voting in a church or parish hall, a citizen might be less likely to vote in favor of stalk cell research.^[10] These cues give a person a sense of satisfaction for voting one style or some other in the moment, regardless if that was the manner they intended to vote in the showtime identify.^[x]

Distance to voting location [edit]

The cost of voting influences whether or not a person will vote. Research shows that the more expensive voting gets, the less probable a person is to vote.^[12] Distance to the polling location is one of the main reasons cost can get an issue for voters.^[12] Minor changes in distance from voters' homes to polling place can change the turnout of voters, which may change the outcome of a close ballot.^[13] Altitude to the polling identify is an issue if not every voter has access to vehicle transportation.^[12] According to the research on distance to the polling location by Haspel and Knotts, "To illustrate the range of the result of distance, nosotros plot our predicted probabilities at the lower and upper bounds of our continuous vehicle bachelor variable. When no one owns a machine (vehicle available = 0), the likelihood of voting drops from .664 at a distance of .01 miles to .418 at the median distance of .69 miles. When automobiles are universally available (vehicle bachelor = one), voters are much less sensitive to changes in distance: the likelihood of voting drops from .444 to .392 over the same altitude range".^[12] Voters ultimately value the convenience of polling locations. If a poll is attainable to the citizen they volition make an endeavor, if the citizen has to travel a long distance then voter turnout decreases dramatically".^[12]

Redistricting [edit]

If a voter changes precincts due to redistricting then the chances of their continuing to vote in future elections decreases.^[12] The confusion that redistricting causes volition deter the voter from looking into the new precinct where he or she should now vote.^[12] In addition, the informational costs associated with alerting voters of their new polling location will besides touch the voter turnout because it is highly unlikely that funds volition be available to classify to ensure that every voter knows where to vote.^[12] Redistricting can be beneficial in gild to provide a convenient location, but careful consideration should be taken before such a decision is fabricated.

Openness and centralization [edit]

If voters are allowed to vote at whatever of a number of different locations in the county or district etc., this volition increment voter turnout.^[iv] Sometimes a voter's most convenient voting location is well-nigh his or her workplace, non necessarily the closest to their residence.^[iv] Having a more open policy of allowing multiple possible locations for a person to vote would encourage those individuals who cannot feasibly commute dorsum and along from work to vote, assuming the day of ballot is non a mandatory day off.^[4] Having a big conspicuous polling location will ensure that the voters know where they are supposed to vote.^[4] This volition cut down on unnecessary signage and eliminate clutter and confusion.^[4]

Polling identify in a multi functional facility in Silvolde, a village in the East of kingdom of the netherlands

References [edit]

^ ^a ^b "polling identify - definition of polling booth in English". Oxford Dictionaries . Retrieved 29 October 2014.
^ "polling station - definition of polling station in English". Oxford Dictionaries . Retrieved 9 June 2017.
^ ^a ^b ^c Handbook for polling station staff, Accessed xiv September 2014
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^east ^f ^g Stein, Robert; Vonnahme, Greg (September 2012). "When, Where, and How We Vote: Does it Matter?". 93 (3). Houston, TX: Southwestern Social Science Association: 692–712.
^ "Polling & Democracy: An Uneasy Relationship | On the Media". WNYC.
^ Lepore, Jill (November ix, 2015). "Are Polls Ruining Commonwealth?" – via www.newyorker.com.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^{due east} ^f ^k ^h ⁱ ^j Douglas W. Jones (2003). "A Cursory Illustrated History of Voting". Retrieved February 20, 2013.
^ "Voter Identification Requirements | Voter ID Laws". world wide web.ncsl.org . Retrieved 2019-06-07 .
^ Jack Penland (June 23, 2008). "Voting Influence". Retrieved Feb eighteen, 2013.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^chiliad ^h ⁱ ^j Jonah Berger; Marc Meredith (June ane, 2008). "Can Polling Location Influence How Voters Vote?". Retrieved February 18, 2013.
^ ^a ^b ^c Scott Leiendecker (February 14, 2013). "Respond President Obama'southward call for shorter lines at the Polling Place". Archived from the original on August 26, 2014. Retrieved March three, 2013.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^chiliad ^h Haspel, Moshe; Knotts, Gibbs (May 2005). "Location, Location, Location: Precinct Placement and the Costs of Voting". 67 (ii). The states of America: Southern Political Science Clan: 560–573.
^ Tom Jacobs; Miller-McCune (August 19, 2010). "How Polling Places Tin Affect Your Vote". Archived from the original on July v, 2013. Retrieved February twenty, 2013.