People On Twitter Explain How American Voting Works And People From Other Countries Can’t Believe It
Voting is done differently around the world. There are different systems of voting whereby either the popular vote wins or voters decide on reps who decide on the winner and whatnot.
But then there’s also the process of voting—where do people go, how do they cast their vote, and, most importantly, how long will it take. Well, the last one, turns out, is in HUGE contrast when it comes to the US and the rest of the world.
Apparently, Americans spend countless hours queuing and waiting for their turn to enter the voting booth and to cast their vote, whereas the rest of the world spends around as much time voting as one would spend waiting for the barista to make and deliver their coffee at Starbucks.
The internet is left surprised with how long Americans have to wait in line just so that they could vote
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So, since it’s voting season in the US, a lot of Americans are sharing their considerably extreme voting experiences on Twitter. And then there’s Europeans and everyone else sharing their complete opposite experiences.
Turns out, people in the US often stand in line for hours, and I do mean literally hours
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A number of US citizens shared how they stood in line for two hours at the very least to a whopping eleven hours just so that they could vote. Talk about dedication to your country!
While some stand in line for about 2 hours, Johnta Austin had to do so for a whopping 11 hours!
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Here’s what a typical voting line looks like as shown by one Twitter user
And it doesn’t matter what weather it is either—people are committed
This prompted a response from people from other countries around the world: Canada, France, Germany, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, and others. It turned out, the amount of time citizens of these countries spent partaking in the voting process was around three minutes. At worst, it was fifteen minutes. See the stark contrast here?
More specifically, in Sweden, it was three minutes because there was a senior in a wheelchair in the queue; in France, hardly no waiting time and no more than 10-people queues; in Canada, no more than two minutes; in Australia, where voting is mandatory, no more than three minutes. The list goes on and on.
It wasn’t long until someone asked the question—how long does voting take outside of the US?
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Many internauts from Europe, Australia, Canada, Mexico and other places responded with the opposite of what US voters experience
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So, why are Americans practically breaking records with their queuing to vote? The short answer seems to be the lack of resources (polling locations, voting station employees, etc.) to deal with the huge demand.
The longer answer, though, is “it’s complicated.” Besides the fact that too many people show up and there aren’t enough polling stations and people managing them, there’s also the long voting process within the ballots, technical problems, lack of polling station staff training, underfunding of election administrations, and a number of other small problems that make up one huge issue.
For the most part, the average voter outside the US spends around 2–3 minutes and no more than 20 voting
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Though, interesting to think, but some say that the long lines aren’t all that bad. It is said to be a celebration by those who endure them—it is a sign of patriotic enthusiasm. Others do think it’s more a form of sadism rather than a celebration, but nobody’s judging if it works for people.
What are your thoughts on this? Tell us your voting experience in your country in the comment section below!
Anyone would think that someone was trying to make it difficult to vote. And, as this is not a new thing, just a made much worse by Corona and Trump's bully boy tactics thing, it seems to be endemic in the system. So someone must be benefitting from it.
It's sad that my relatives live in a country where owning firearms is a right, voting is a privilege and health care is a luxury.
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The pictures of people lining up for hours to vote in the USA always shock me. I am hugely impressed with their determination, but appalled at what the have to endure. I'm a dual citizen and have voted in both Canada and in the UK and have never waited more than 5 minutes to vote.
Yeah, they’re between a rock (queuing for hours) and a hard place (another 4 years of this regime and possibly losing democracy, according to people who have survived autocracies). F**k voter suppression so incredibly hard.
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Unfortunately, voter suppression is alive and doing very well in the US. Texas has limited drop boxes for ballots to 1 per county regardless of population. Some counties have over a million people. Georgia was so badly gerrymandered (re-arranging voting boundaries to favor one party) at one point, it wasn't considered a Democracy. Also, the Secretary of State was in charge of an election that he was participating in. The manipulation of voters is to discourage them from voting. This year it's backfired. That's why these long lines exist. People are determined to show their power and not let this obvious voter suppression fly. GO JOE!
1 ballot box for a million people? that is not democracy. I live in a small town, we had 4 ballot boxes for 1,200 people, and we didn't que at all. I walked in, got my voting paper, they gave me a pen (mine to keep) and I voted. I didn't even bring anything with me, it's all provided. No ques, no cops, no problems.
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So is this about number of and location of polling booths? In the UK they are everywhere (local primary schools seem to be a favourite location) and you can often have up to 4 people voting at a time. So you can get tens of thousands of votes done in lots of smaller locations. I've tried, and I can't make the maths work. Even allowing for the 6 foot social distancing rules.
Yeah, in Spain the usual voting locations are also primary schools. Voters are assigned a school depending on where they live. The one my husband goes to usually has it set up so that two people can vote at the same time, and it's never taken him more than ten minutes. Lines usually get longer in the afternoon as people leave work, so the trick is to either vote first thing in the morning or at lunchtime when everyone's eating. In Spain there's about a two-hour gap (from 1 to 3) that you could consider "lunchtime".
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I'm 50 yrs old and I live in Canada. I've voted in 10 federal elections and I can't tell you how many provincial and municipal elections in 3 different provinces. I don't think I've ever had to wait more than 30 minutes to cast a ballot. As far as I'm concerned, the tactics used by political parties in the US amount to willful voter suppression. In Canada, conspiring to prevent people from voting is a crime and I've seen party members face criminal charges when they try to mess with the voting process. I don't understand how American citizens can allow political parties to impede their RIGHT to vote. I'm sorry but that's not democracy. You don't live in a free country.
This is primarily happening in states that support 45, and is a voter suppression tactic. In Biden-blue Colorado, I got my ballot in the mail, dropped it off with no wait in a collection box near my neighborhood, and got a text the other day letting me know it had been received and would be counted. This should be how it works everywhere. Go Joe! Take our country back!
But isn't that illogical? If red state does this, the people trying to vote Republican would also be standing in line for ages and might give up... Or do they only do this strategically in areas with a higher percentage of blue voters then?
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In South Africa it's pretty normal to wait in line for 2-4 hours, in some areas much longer. The fact that in this regard USA resembles one of Trump's African 'shitholes' is kind of funny...
New Zealand here. We recently had an election, and when I voted I timed how long it took. From the moment I got out of my car, walked into the voting station, got my papers, cast my vote, and returned to my car it was four minutes and thirty seven seconds. It took longer to get an ice cream afterwards.
Mine took about 5 minutes and that’s only because I have generalised anxiety that manifests as what people casually call “OCD” and I checked and rechecked my ballot about half a dozen times. Also, the NZer who was in the main post is the person who made the #NZHellhole hashtag!
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So much for the flagship of democracy, eh? EDIT: Let me amend that, 'cos it diminishes those who stand in line for hours and hours and hours to cast their vote. Those people are persevering for their right to vote. It's a shame they have to go through this is the so-called leading country of the free world, the flagship of democracy. Well, that flagship has sprung a LOT of leaks, and bless these people for bailing away and trying to keep it afloat.
That flagship of democracy is 25th in the Democracy Index and officially classed as a Flawed Democracy not a full one. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy_Index
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It isnt like this everywhere...it really is dependent on your state and local governments and how they pass laws/provide access. I live in a city of about 250K in the Midwest and the longest I ever waited was 20 minutes when I went during a busy time the first election you needed voter ID....so things were a bit slower. My city had all 270+ parks as early voting sites for several weeks, libraries are early voting sites, etc. I also called to volunteer at the polls beginning of September and they were not taking anymore poll workers anywhere in the entire county. I do admit I live in a predominantly white city with higher education and income so more people have the resources to miss a day of work to work the polls. But some places where people wait for hours and hours is by design.... Republicans have spent the past 2 decades eroding the value of Democratic votes while trying to suppress POC from voting. It's mostly by design.
My state (Washington) has mail-in voting. I got my ballot 2 weeks before election date, so I just filled it out, dropped it off at the city hall drop box (could have mailed it, but chose to drop it off myself). 2 days later I checked on line and they confirmed that they received and counted my ballot.
Yes, I think it’s important to note that this is a state-by-state issue. I’m also in Washington where mail-in voting is the only option (which includes drop-off boxes, and postage is now free), so voting is very painless here. I am sad for states that make voting so difficult, but it doesn’t have to be that way in the US.
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To be fair not everywhere in the US is that bad. I've voted every presidential election and most midterms for the last 20 years and I've never waited more than 10 minutes. This year I requested an absentee ballot by mail and dropped it off at city hall which took less than a minute.
Yep! I've never voted in person, so I never had to wait (other than waiting for my ballot).
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Back in "normal times" sans Covid & Trump, it really didn't take very long to show up at the polls and vote. Then mail-in votes were implemented. I've been voting that way for a number of years in the Pacific Northwest. Don't believe the negative BS Trump says about it. Just another one of his numerous lies. Truly so sad that Trump, Covid, and fear of violence have changed all that. I wish more states would have mail-in voting!
Annie is right, in some states, voting is easy and quick. But Katrina is also right - there were huge voter suppression tactics in Texas and Georgia recently (I'm sure plenty of other places, but those are the ones I remember) that have nothing to do with covid.
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Good article but it doesn't explain why this happens. Republicans have passed laws that allow local governments to base the number polling locations on prior turnout. There's always local elections before presidential and local elections have very low turn out. Because of this, state legislators will argue to close polling stations citing low turnout at prior elections. Other tactics are also used in strong favor of Republicans. For example, Governor Abbott of Texas has passed a law allowing only one drop off location for mail in ballots per county. Counties in rual areas are primarily Republican and have low population density but since Texas is so large, there are many rual areas. Counties like Harris (with the city of Houston and others) have a population of 8 MILLION with one location. More than 2/3rds of all Texans live in a city with a Democratic mayor. But Republicans keep power at the state level because of favorable voting conditions for rual cities.
I worked a polling place three tines in CA. Long hours starting at 6 am. I was the boss one year. Who ever was in charge delivered a foot locker full of paper. Good thing my son was home. He helped me get it to the polling place. Never had a crowd except right before closing. Loved doing it. Low pay. No one stood in line for hours. That states make voters do that is to discourage voting period. I now live in AZ and voted and mailed my ballot last week, USPS. It was received. This BS revolving around the post office has been created by republicans and 45 and again is to discourage voting. Shame on them.
Last time I voted in México I was in line for about 2 hours, and just because there was a looong line of people ready to vote :)
Omg.... This is crazy. I am from India, which has much much higher population. Avg waiting time is 15-30 minutes. I don't think people would vote if they had to wait 6-12 hours.
Wow! I had no idea people had to wait so long! Those poor people! I must say, I truly admire their perseverance. It makes me value how easy it is for me living overseas: I just have to send in my overseas ballot. I sent it yesterday through email and today I received a notification saying that it was being processed. I live in Spain. Elections here are usually held on a Sunday, the law says people must have time off work in order to vote (if necessary because they have a long commute, etc.), and the voting stations are open from 8 am to 8 pm. I usually accompany my husband when he goes to vote and it has never taken more than ten minutes.
It is ridiculous to have to stand that long in a line to vote, but it's also heartening to see so many doing just that. I remember years when voter counts were amazingly low and MTV had to do its bit just to get young people to even register. Not to mention, a lot of us are and will be standing in line, with perfect strangers, in the middle of a damn pandemic and we'll stay in line despite the risk.
It's all such an obvious ploy to keep voters home. Especially POC and seniors. It's backfired grandly on 45* and the other repubs. People are so angry that they consider it a badge of honor to stand in line for outrageous hours and cast their vote (hopefully against lumpy yam* and the rest of the crooks).
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And to think that in my country it is a crime NOT to vote. You cannot tell me America is a democracy when they do not having voting equity?
Well, it isn't considered a full democracy anymore - it's officially classed as a Flawed Democracy. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy_Index
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I literally live 10 minutes away from one of these places and drove by, thinking the line looked crazily long. Thankfully, where I live, voting is fairly quick.
So not only do you have to wait AND take time out from work, but no one gives you lamingtons or a sausage in bread?!
No! They can't even keep the pen. I was a poll worker in 2016 (sob) and 2018, and we were told to chase people down to get the pens back!
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I live in a suburban, mostly white neighborhood of Los Angeles. I have never had to wait more than 5 minutes, including this year. But every year I watch the local news on election night, and there are stories of people in non-white Los Angeles neighborhoods waiting hours to vote. My husband has had employees who said they stood on line for hours and eventually had to leave without voting because they had to come to work. So the access to convenient voting varies widely along racial and socioeconomic lines. even in a Democratic party stronghold like Los Angeles.
Very true. That’s a sad reality for many. It shouldn’t be this way. Everyone should be equal in regards to voting.
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In Indonesia.. Took about 30 minutes.. Each person only spend like 3 minutes.. So I queue behind 10 person.. And yes.. Voting day is always a mandatory day-off..
In Brasil it's usually very easy to vote , there's an effort to make it acessible even in remote areas such as the amazon rainforest. This is appaling...
While the UK has many faults, this isn't one of them. There are more than enough polling stations. All of them are open 7am-10pm on the day. No ID is required. Walk up to your polling station. Go inside. Tell them your name and get given your ballot slip (which are very simple, just a few names standing as local MP, and put a cross next to the one you want - nothing else to vote on). Vote. I am 55 and I have never had to queue. Perhaps wait for a few seconds for a booth to be free. I am so sorry that Americans are being told they live in 'the land of the free' and yet are treated worse than some really struggling countries when it comes to trying to vote. You deserve better!
Why do they have to wait in lines like that? Is stupid!!! I live in Colombia, South America! Third world country! And the only thing I have to do is check online the number of my table and go where my "ID" is registered and vote. It doesn't take more than 5 minutes!!
I didn't know this. It must've been heart breaking for people who queued 10 hrs or so four years ago, only to find out the following day that Trump had won. Let's hope it's worth it this time.
It usually doesn’t take as long as it’s taking this year, because the pandemic is making lines longer and slower. You have to stand six feet apart, and they take your temperature before even letting you check in. Plus, it’s always longer if you go to the polling place during the busier hours. That’s why I use the option to vote early. In and out this year, even with the social distancing and temperature taking, in about 20 minutes—-and I wasn’t the first person in line.
I did the early voting and didn't have to wait very long, but I also live in a small town where no one is that particularly interested in suppressing anyone. I imagine that this is not the case in the bigger cities in Texas like Dallas or Houston. However, even if I had to stand in line for hours, I would do it just to get Trump out.
France here....the polling stationused to be only 50 m from my home, now they changed it to another place.... 200 m from my home. Waiting time: 0 hour, 0 minute because we are almost among the first to vote.
I'm in Baltimore Maryland in the US, I got there 15 min before the polling place opened and was done about 15 after they opened.
Canadian here. I've never had to wait at all for a Federal or Provincial election. I may have had to wait 10 minutes for a municipal election. 11 hours is unacceptable.
Last election in Québec I waited around 20 minutes, but that’s because I made the mistake of going directly after work so it was rush hour.
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What is causing the hold up in the USA voting system? It only takes a few seconds in the UK and you almost never have to wait in line. Are there many forms to fill in or are you searched for weapons, ID checked, etc. What is exactly involved?
The US electoral system is a complete mess: different voting methods (machines, physical votes), different IDs to vote across states, different criterias to register to vote, voters expunged from voting registers, gerrymandering, different limit dates to count absentees votes, excessive weight to less populated states, etc. etc.
This may be anecdotal more than anything, but I'm under the impression that the long lines are in less favourable districts. I'd be curious to see/hear what someone who lives in an upscale part of town has to say about their waiting lines. And of course this is done on purpose...
I absolutely admire the dedication of the US voters. Those are some tough cookies! How does that even work? Election day is during the week when most people have to work. So they not only sacrifice 10 hours of their life but one of their precious and few vacation days as well? And how do you even stand in line for so long without collapsing? Do you wear diapers? Do you bring chairs and food with you? This is absolutely insane. The more I learn about the American voting system, the more confused I get. Btw I'm from Europe, Austria, and I've waited maybe 3min? The voting process itself (showing your ID, getting the ballot, and actually voting) normally takes longer than waiting in line.
For all the bragging the US does, it seems to lack in many areas, voting one of them. I have never waited to vote and it is always just in our area, a block or so from home. Canada ROCKS!!!
This just doesn't make sense I'm from a third world country & longest i have ever waited for voting is 15min which was due to the fact it was only polling station in our area & also very crowded one
Unfortunately each state has its own rules regarding how we can vote. I can see that almost all of these are east coast states that tend to have the most outdated laws. In Colorado most of us vote by mail / drop off our mail ballots in secure drop off points that are usually within 5 mins of where you live.
In Brazil, like a miracle, voting is the only thing that really works, we spend no more than 5 minutes in line and the results are known in the same day. Unless the fact that we have Bolsonaro as president, we should be an example for you, fellow Americans.
It's not typically like this in the US. We're having record early turnout for many reasons, including a very contentious election, in some states the early voting laws changed just this year to make early voting easier and available to more people, and there's a lack of trust in the postal service for the mail-in ballots.
What is the reason for this situation? Do they have too few polling stations or what?
Longest I "had" to wait was about 51 seconds and that was because I chose to let some people out the door before I entered (plenty of space , mind you, to enter/exit at the same time, just common courtesy) It took me about 2 minutes to walk from my house, about 4 minutes to enter, get checked, cast my vote and exit the building, another 2 minutes to walk back home This was at a "busy" location, as I live downtown/city center
They should send the American electoral staff to anywhere else, to see how it’s done. I’m horrified at the long waits.
It’s apparently intentional. Horrible, evil politicians.
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I'm lucky in that I live in a smaller city and it only took me about 5 minutes to advance vote. I firmly believe these long lines are on purpose make it more difficult for the working class hoi polloi to vote. I also think the hoi polloi is getting wise to this crap and hopefully will demand some changes.
Slightly stupid question sorry but what in particular makes it so hard to vote. UK teen here so I don't really know how the process works
It's a combination of things. But in most cases it's due to gerrymandering and redlining (I HIGHLY recommend listening to Stuff You Missed in History class's episodes titled: A Brief History of Redlining). It some places, it's because there's a lack of places to accommodate the larger turnout (the turnout this time around is unprecedented).
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In the 24 years since I registered to vote, I have never had to wait in a line to vote. So my answer is 0 seconds. I’ve never had a queue. In the more than 10 elections I’ve voted in, I have always just stepped out of the car and walked straight into the room. There is often no more than 3 people already voting inside when I go in, though there are over 20 booths. And this is in Australia where voting is mandatory.
they make it hard to vote because they made a system that puts people of color in lower class, and the lower the class you're in, the harder it is to vote.
i just voted last Thursday, it literally took me and my wife 15 minutes. that sucks for these people having to wait that long.
So I'm from Romania (yeah, yeah, were Dracula is from and what Trump would call a shithole country) and had to wait a maximum of 15 minutes to vote. Sure, it's worse for those voting abroad because there are a lot of people and few places to vote, but that is the exception. It amazes me that in 'Murica, the land of the free and home of democracy you have to o through this. And don't even get me started on the electoral vote, that system makes absolutely no sense...
Waiting 11 hours to vote is weird. Last time I voted it took maybe 1 minute, I remember thinking I barely had to lock my bike because I was inside the building for such a short time. The process of locking my bicycle up with two locks probably took longer time than it took me to vote.
This is often a state by state thing. I have never waited in line to vote. You can vote practically everywhere around her. My first votes were in my neighbors garage. Yes, she hosted a polling center in her garage. That was a few years. I've voted at community centers, churches, schools.....I thought there might be a line this year, so I went to the registrar of voters weeks ago. I waited about 5 minutes. I'm glad to live in a state that is more friendly to voters than others.
I've never had to wait longer than 10 mins (in the US) in the past, but I seriously wonder if the lack of waiting lines was because most people just weren't voting...
In Australia voting's mandatory and on the day itself (if you haven't done an early or postal vote) the queues CAN be long (i.e. like 20-30 mins) but it's really well organized and there's food and drink being sold for charity (usually benefits the school where the polling station is, or St John Ambo or something). And yes, there's dogs sometimes which makes it all worth it.
The fledgling dictatorship is at it again... Do people not see the red flags!?
from the first look, it seems bad... however, I truly believe that no Karen will wait that long to vote for Trump. No Trump voter would wait that long. Almost no. If you came, you came for democracy to put all the political bullshit back into rightful place. Although it won't change a lot - the biggest problem in the USA is still curriculum and you can't change it in just one cadence.
The last time I voted it took me 15 minutes of waiting. You know why? The woman that was responsible for me had to use the bathroom which took like 10 minutes. I'm really impressed you people have so much patience. Respect.
In the good old USA the conservatives make voting more difficult in order to suppress persons of color voting for Democrats. They reduce the number of voting places (Georgia, Texas) and reduce the early voting access (Florida, where I live) and reduce the number of absentee ballot drop off places (Texas, particularly Houston has one drop off box for a population in Harris county of over 5 million!). Racism and conservatism is the cause, intertwined.
Laughs in Estonian... Voting can be done over a smartphone here.. with a digital signature.. along with all other bureaucracy
Laughs in Estonian... Voting can be done on a smartphone here.. with a digital signature
Most of this is nonsense. In Midtown NYC it took me less time to vote than to walk to the polling place (Madison Square Garden) from my apartment: 10 minutes. It was raining and people stayed home. Next day it was only cloudy but my wife managed tovote in even less time. She said the poilling staffers looked LONELY. A lot of this complaint-storm is generated to build support for online voting. I admit that it would be easy--but too easy, tending to encourage thoughtless voting. And of course--no one wants to admit this--it's infinitely hackable. Mail-in voting is also easily corrupted. In-person voting is the best way, althought there's no need, I think to do it all on one day. Two days, alphabetically divided (A-M, N-Z or something like that) would make it more efficient, and everyone would be able to take the whole day off to vote.
I'm from the UK (Scotland if you want to be specific), been voting since I was 18, and to the best of my recollection I have never - NEVER - had to queue for more than a couple of minutes before casting my vote.
There has been a problem with not enough volunteers, but that certainly can't explain all of this. I remember the vote in 2012. I lived in Minneapolis (home of G. Floyd) - one of the poorest parts. My son and I had learned that my former informal foster son had died the day before. (I hadn't seen him in 4 years, but my son talked to him frequently on FB.) We were in shock, but I especially wanted to go, because I had taken him to vote for his first time, and it was a good memory. He thought it was very important and so do I. So, standing there in rainy weather for about two hours with nothing to do but think about his death was super fun, let me tell you. I never had to wait when I was out in the suburbs, but live in a poorer neighborhood and it's a whole different ballgame.
Here is my problem with this - the STATES are responsible for the administration of elections. If you are having to wait this long that is a failure of your state, but in no way is indicative of the way it is everywhere. I have lived in multiple states and not once have I ever had to wait more then 10 minutes. I wait in line far longer then that at the grocery store all the time. At the end of the day it comes down to mismanagement - not because of Trump. If you are waiting this long speak to your elected representatives about the need for more polling spots or better staffing to make the lines move faster. Inquire about becoming a poll worker to help.... Instead of complaining and finger pointing because things are broken where you are, be the change you wish to see.
Hmmm... I live in a heavily populated suburb of Washington DC and voted today. Took *maybe* five minutes.
I live in Miami Fla. It took me 5 minutes to vote. Don't believe everything you read.
Once I voted on my way from night shift. It took me five extra minutes, one and half minute to get to voting place from my normal route, one minute to find my ID (couldn't open the zipper to get out my wallet) one minute to put the paper in bin and one and half minute to return to my path. But I live in country where even something like presidental election can bring in only 60% of people, so I guess if we would have to wait 8 hours for it, only 0,5% would vote...
These long lines are clearly only for 2020 voting. 2016= average wait: 8 minutes 2014 midterms= average wait: 4 minutes 2012= average wait: 12 minutes 2008= average wait: 14 minutes Source: https://medium.com/mit-election-lab/insights-into-voting-wait-time-from-the-2016-elections-performance-index-6693576e9b99 I, personally, waited about a week to fill out my mail-in ballot 🗳 Filling it out and walking it down to the post box took literally about 5 minutes. 📫
In india 5 mins. Easy. Only difficult thing was to get myself registered
I live in India, I am 38, have been voting since I turned 18 so that is almost 20 years. Never I have waited more than 15 max. My mother who used to work as government school teacher has worked as polling official in almost all elections since 70s she too says it has not crossed 20 mins in the past too. So unable to fathom what happens in US which slows them to this extent.
I'm actually curious about the mandatory vote thing. The last time we had an election (UK), I was so sick on the day that I could barely lift my head, and it was contagious because my partner had it the next day. I wouldn't want that passing around a building of elderly people but I was fine until the day of, was absolutely planning to go vote, and it was the first one I have missed. What would happen in that situation with mandatory voting? This is a genuine question, I never thought about it until I read just then that Australia has mandatory voting.
I'm both a kiwi and an Australian. Both systems are different but both governments make it as easy as possible to vote. The NZ govt makes it soooo easy to vote even when I'm living in Australia for a while. The Australian government bends over backwards to make it quick and easy. And there is sausages and dogs...
In the Netherlands I once waited a full 6 minutes to vote. But usually it's maybe 2, or none at all...
I live and vote here in Ireland. I just drive up to the polling station, walk straight into the building, show my ID and get my voting card where I tick the name of the person I am voting for, drop the folded card into the ballot box and leave and go home. The whole process takes about 10 minutes if that.
I work the state and federal elections here in Australia, longest people wait is 5 mins if its a busy polling place, we have heaps of staff, well organised and efficient. I can still vote in New Zealand...did and overseas vote this year...received email...printing voting papers, voted scanned and emailed back...5 mins and done.
To be fair, people are voting early here in record numbers, and many of them were so jazzed to vote they went on the very first day of early voting which made for the ridiculous lines. I voted by mail, but since I'm from Texas I was only allowed to because of "disability" (you can only vote by mail in Texas if you're over 65, disabled, out of your area during the voting period, or in jail). My son and husband voted early, but it took less than 20 minutes for each one. In Texas we had three weeks of early voting, and the lines were much more manageable after week one. So some of these images may be because of Day 1 early voting eager beavers. Also, because of COVID it has been difficult to find poll workers (they're usually seniors, who this year are wisely staying home and safe). Still -- it IS ridiculously hard to vote in the US., particularly in Texas (we just got ranked hardest in the nation). Mail-in should be a thing everywhere, for everyone who wants to. I do think voter suppression tactics are a huge thing here.
My brother had to wait about 45 min, a friend took about 1.75 hours to vote, but the most I've ever had to take was about 15 min.
I had no idea till this election. I’m in Scotland and the polling stations are numerous in each area of the city I live in then which box you use at the station is allocated by the street you live in. I’ve never queued and usually pop in after work. My polling station is two streets from my home!
I took me like 10 mins... We had like 2 weeks and many voting locations for each county.. I don't understand how people manage to find 10 hr lines...
Never took more than 5 mins to get in and out to vote, jeez this is crazy.
voted on the 27th in glendale arizona I had longer wait for a parking spot than to vote. in out 30min max.
I have not voted yet, casting my early vote this Saturday. But i have never waited longer then 10 minutes. I also never worried about being intimidated by armed malice based on my vote. But it just shows now more then ever it is important to get out there and make our voices heard.
This is awful! I've seen this in third world countries - usually when democracy is restored, but nowhere else. I have never had to queue to vote, ever! You go in, get your ballot, go to the booth and put your X then put it in the box and that's it. This must put off SO many people and those are probably all of the working people who don't have the time to take from work or get childcare. This must benefit the right wing HUGELY!
I was in and out within 7 minutes. I imagine these are very large cities. I mean we have like 5 voting places within a short drive where I am. Early voting means you can vote anywhere. If the lines are long drive to the next place.
In the Netherlands, if it's really busy, you might have to wait for like 5 to 10 minutes to have your ID checked but in general I'm out the door in like 5 minutes.
Ok, hours is crazy, but less than five mins??? Never had that happen
Because this is EARLY VOTING, which is selected polling stations, not all of them, plus this year the lines are longer because they have to keep social distancing. On election day in a normal year there are not lines. This is fauxrage by political partisian people and morons.
In 2016, in the suburbs, I waited for 2.5 hours to vote on Election Day. You are either misinformed or being deliberately misleading. Not everyone can vote in minutes, and it has nothing to do with early voting or the pandemic.
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Yup, Canadian here and I have never spent more than ten minutes waiting.
May an American explain to me, WHY exactly it takes so long and people have to wait in line? What do you do or not do that makes it so timeconsuming?
There are many reasons. 1. Not enough poll workers 2. The ballots can be (purposefully) complicated. 3. Doors locked at polling stations. 4. Power cords not supplied for voting machines. 5. Changing ID requirements/changes to voting laws that people didn't know 6. Not enough voting machines for the population. I'm sure there are other reasons, but those are the ones that I can think of.
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I have never had to wait in line to vote. These sweeping generalizations about the US are annoying.
It never used to be that bad. I vote every 2 year (off cycle congress) First president election it took me 10 min. In 2016 I moved and had to re register and that took 1 hour and that was because of me . 2018 I moved and had to re register took 3 hr. only difference- more need checks less workers. the powers that be are making it harder for no real reason.
58% of volunteers and workers in the polling places are in the COVID high risk category https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/04/06/older-people-account-for-large-shares-of-poll-workers-and-voters-in-u-s-general-elections/
I signed up to volunteer 3 months ago at my polling place, or ones near me. I was never contacted to be a poll worker. I think they don't want new help on purpose.
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Weird. Only people claiming to vote for Biden complained about the wait time. I have no idea what is going on in Georgia, but just 55 miles south I voted yesterday and from parking my car, to check in, getting my ballot, filling it out, turning it in, and pulling out of the parking lot took less than 11 minutes (yep timed it). The weather was fine here, we dont have CV 19 cases causing our governor to shut the city down. In May of 2019, I was in Austria the day they were voting in a new EU president. There were lines that wrapped around an entire city block. I thought it was some cool club or restaurant. I took a photo and when I came out to get a cab, they were still lined up (dinner time by then). So dont pretend for a single second that people in Europe are unfamiliar with standing in line to vote. It is a straight up lie.
Some information about what is required to work at a polling station https://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/election-poll-workers637018267.aspx
And how do you call the fake ballot boxes that were put up by Republicans? Or the threats from the Proud Boys, condoned by your president? Or that Trump says he will not accept the vote anyways? Is that democratic behavior to you?
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That’s not necessarily true - we have local council elections , referendum on constitutional changes and national election on the same election day. Voting since 18 and never waited minutes never mind hours! Ireland calling
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Um it is about the voting process. The only ppl on comments I've seen making it partisan have been mostly ppl like yourself. Except the statement that republicans are attempting vote suppression by cutting funding to postal services, limiting collection boxes and having the American president constantly complaining about voter fraud whilst never once offering proof. He also seems resistant to the idea that if he loses the election, he should step aside. It is obvious as hell to those of us watching from outside the usa, and honestly jm genujnely concerned you guys could ge headed for a civil war. I really hope not. No one should die for trumps false statements
Load More Replies... Anyone would think that someone was trying to make it difficult to vote. And, as this is not a new thing, just a made much worse by Corona and Trump's bully boy tactics thing, it seems to be endemic in the system. So someone must be benefitting from it.
It's sad that my relatives live in a country where owning firearms is a right, voting is a privilege and health care is a luxury.
Load More Replies... The pictures of people lining up for hours to vote in the USA always shock me. I am hugely impressed with their determination, but appalled at what the have to endure. I'm a dual citizen and have voted in both Canada and in the UK and have never waited more than 5 minutes to vote.
Yeah, they’re between a rock (queuing for hours) and a hard place (another 4 years of this regime and possibly losing democracy, according to people who have survived autocracies). F**k voter suppression so incredibly hard.
Load More Replies... Unfortunately, voter suppression is alive and doing very well in the US. Texas has limited drop boxes for ballots to 1 per county regardless of population. Some counties have over a million people. Georgia was so badly gerrymandered (re-arranging voting boundaries to favor one party) at one point, it wasn't considered a Democracy. Also, the Secretary of State was in charge of an election that he was participating in. The manipulation of voters is to discourage them from voting. This year it's backfired. That's why these long lines exist. People are determined to show their power and not let this obvious voter suppression fly. GO JOE!
1 ballot box for a million people? that is not democracy. I live in a small town, we had 4 ballot boxes for 1,200 people, and we didn't que at all. I walked in, got my voting paper, they gave me a pen (mine to keep) and I voted. I didn't even bring anything with me, it's all provided. No ques, no cops, no problems.
Load More Replies... So is this about number of and location of polling booths? In the UK they are everywhere (local primary schools seem to be a favourite location) and you can often have up to 4 people voting at a time. So you can get tens of thousands of votes done in lots of smaller locations. I've tried, and I can't make the maths work. Even allowing for the 6 foot social distancing rules.
Yeah, in Spain the usual voting locations are also primary schools. Voters are assigned a school depending on where they live. The one my husband goes to usually has it set up so that two people can vote at the same time, and it's never taken him more than ten minutes. Lines usually get longer in the afternoon as people leave work, so the trick is to either vote first thing in the morning or at lunchtime when everyone's eating. In Spain there's about a two-hour gap (from 1 to 3) that you could consider "lunchtime".
Load More Replies... I'm 50 yrs old and I live in Canada. I've voted in 10 federal elections and I can't tell you how many provincial and municipal elections in 3 different provinces. I don't think I've ever had to wait more than 30 minutes to cast a ballot. As far as I'm concerned, the tactics used by political parties in the US amount to willful voter suppression. In Canada, conspiring to prevent people from voting is a crime and I've seen party members face criminal charges when they try to mess with the voting process. I don't understand how American citizens can allow political parties to impede their RIGHT to vote. I'm sorry but that's not democracy. You don't live in a free country.
This is primarily happening in states that support 45, and is a voter suppression tactic. In Biden-blue Colorado, I got my ballot in the mail, dropped it off with no wait in a collection box near my neighborhood, and got a text the other day letting me know it had been received and would be counted. This should be how it works everywhere. Go Joe! Take our country back!
But isn't that illogical? If red state does this, the people trying to vote Republican would also be standing in line for ages and might give up... Or do they only do this strategically in areas with a higher percentage of blue voters then?
Load More Replies... In South Africa it's pretty normal to wait in line for 2-4 hours, in some areas much longer. The fact that in this regard USA resembles one of Trump's African 'shitholes' is kind of funny...
New Zealand here. We recently had an election, and when I voted I timed how long it took. From the moment I got out of my car, walked into the voting station, got my papers, cast my vote, and returned to my car it was four minutes and thirty seven seconds. It took longer to get an ice cream afterwards.
Mine took about 5 minutes and that’s only because I have generalised anxiety that manifests as what people casually call “OCD” and I checked and rechecked my ballot about half a dozen times. Also, the NZer who was in the main post is the person who made the #NZHellhole hashtag!
Load More Replies... So much for the flagship of democracy, eh? EDIT: Let me amend that, 'cos it diminishes those who stand in line for hours and hours and hours to cast their vote. Those people are persevering for their right to vote. It's a shame they have to go through this is the so-called leading country of the free world, the flagship of democracy. Well, that flagship has sprung a LOT of leaks, and bless these people for bailing away and trying to keep it afloat.
That flagship of democracy is 25th in the Democracy Index and officially classed as a Flawed Democracy not a full one. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy_Index
Load More Replies... It isnt like this everywhere...it really is dependent on your state and local governments and how they pass laws/provide access. I live in a city of about 250K in the Midwest and the longest I ever waited was 20 minutes when I went during a busy time the first election you needed voter ID....so things were a bit slower. My city had all 270+ parks as early voting sites for several weeks, libraries are early voting sites, etc. I also called to volunteer at the polls beginning of September and they were not taking anymore poll workers anywhere in the entire county. I do admit I live in a predominantly white city with higher education and income so more people have the resources to miss a day of work to work the polls. But some places where people wait for hours and hours is by design.... Republicans have spent the past 2 decades eroding the value of Democratic votes while trying to suppress POC from voting. It's mostly by design.
My state (Washington) has mail-in voting. I got my ballot 2 weeks before election date, so I just filled it out, dropped it off at the city hall drop box (could have mailed it, but chose to drop it off myself). 2 days later I checked on line and they confirmed that they received and counted my ballot.
Yes, I think it’s important to note that this is a state-by-state issue. I’m also in Washington where mail-in voting is the only option (which includes drop-off boxes, and postage is now free), so voting is very painless here. I am sad for states that make voting so difficult, but it doesn’t have to be that way in the US.
Load More Replies... To be fair not everywhere in the US is that bad. I've voted every presidential election and most midterms for the last 20 years and I've never waited more than 10 minutes. This year I requested an absentee ballot by mail and dropped it off at city hall which took less than a minute.
Yep! I've never voted in person, so I never had to wait (other than waiting for my ballot).
Load More Replies... Back in "normal times" sans Covid & Trump, it really didn't take very long to show up at the polls and vote. Then mail-in votes were implemented. I've been voting that way for a number of years in the Pacific Northwest. Don't believe the negative BS Trump says about it. Just another one of his numerous lies. Truly so sad that Trump, Covid, and fear of violence have changed all that. I wish more states would have mail-in voting!
Annie is right, in some states, voting is easy and quick. But Katrina is also right - there were huge voter suppression tactics in Texas and Georgia recently (I'm sure plenty of other places, but those are the ones I remember) that have nothing to do with covid.
Load More Replies... Good article but it doesn't explain why this happens. Republicans have passed laws that allow local governments to base the number polling locations on prior turnout. There's always local elections before presidential and local elections have very low turn out. Because of this, state legislators will argue to close polling stations citing low turnout at prior elections. Other tactics are also used in strong favor of Republicans. For example, Governor Abbott of Texas has passed a law allowing only one drop off location for mail in ballots per county. Counties in rual areas are primarily Republican and have low population density but since Texas is so large, there are many rual areas. Counties like Harris (with the city of Houston and others) have a population of 8 MILLION with one location. More than 2/3rds of all Texans live in a city with a Democratic mayor. But Republicans keep power at the state level because of favorable voting conditions for rual cities.
I worked a polling place three tines in CA. Long hours starting at 6 am. I was the boss one year. Who ever was in charge delivered a foot locker full of paper. Good thing my son was home. He helped me get it to the polling place. Never had a crowd except right before closing. Loved doing it. Low pay. No one stood in line for hours. That states make voters do that is to discourage voting period. I now live in AZ and voted and mailed my ballot last week, USPS. It was received. This BS revolving around the post office has been created by republicans and 45 and again is to discourage voting. Shame on them.
Last time I voted in México I was in line for about 2 hours, and just because there was a looong line of people ready to vote :)
Omg.... This is crazy. I am from India, which has much much higher population. Avg waiting time is 15-30 minutes. I don't think people would vote if they had to wait 6-12 hours.
Wow! I had no idea people had to wait so long! Those poor people! I must say, I truly admire their perseverance. It makes me value how easy it is for me living overseas: I just have to send in my overseas ballot. I sent it yesterday through email and today I received a notification saying that it was being processed. I live in Spain. Elections here are usually held on a Sunday, the law says people must have time off work in order to vote (if necessary because they have a long commute, etc.), and the voting stations are open from 8 am to 8 pm. I usually accompany my husband when he goes to vote and it has never taken more than ten minutes.
It is ridiculous to have to stand that long in a line to vote, but it's also heartening to see so many doing just that. I remember years when voter counts were amazingly low and MTV had to do its bit just to get young people to even register. Not to mention, a lot of us are and will be standing in line, with perfect strangers, in the middle of a damn pandemic and we'll stay in line despite the risk.
It's all such an obvious ploy to keep voters home. Especially POC and seniors. It's backfired grandly on 45* and the other repubs. People are so angry that they consider it a badge of honor to stand in line for outrageous hours and cast their vote (hopefully against lumpy yam* and the rest of the crooks).
Load More Replies... And to think that in my country it is a crime NOT to vote. You cannot tell me America is a democracy when they do not having voting equity?
Well, it isn't considered a full democracy anymore - it's officially classed as a Flawed Democracy. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy_Index
Load More Replies... I literally live 10 minutes away from one of these places and drove by, thinking the line looked crazily long. Thankfully, where I live, voting is fairly quick.
So not only do you have to wait AND take time out from work, but no one gives you lamingtons or a sausage in bread?!
No! They can't even keep the pen. I was a poll worker in 2016 (sob) and 2018, and we were told to chase people down to get the pens back!
Load More Replies... I live in a suburban, mostly white neighborhood of Los Angeles. I have never had to wait more than 5 minutes, including this year. But every year I watch the local news on election night, and there are stories of people in non-white Los Angeles neighborhoods waiting hours to vote. My husband has had employees who said they stood on line for hours and eventually had to leave without voting because they had to come to work. So the access to convenient voting varies widely along racial and socioeconomic lines. even in a Democratic party stronghold like Los Angeles.
Very true. That’s a sad reality for many. It shouldn’t be this way. Everyone should be equal in regards to voting.
Load More Replies... In Indonesia.. Took about 30 minutes.. Each person only spend like 3 minutes.. So I queue behind 10 person.. And yes.. Voting day is always a mandatory day-off..
In Brasil it's usually very easy to vote , there's an effort to make it acessible even in remote areas such as the amazon rainforest. This is appaling...
While the UK has many faults, this isn't one of them. There are more than enough polling stations. All of them are open 7am-10pm on the day. No ID is required. Walk up to your polling station. Go inside. Tell them your name and get given your ballot slip (which are very simple, just a few names standing as local MP, and put a cross next to the one you want - nothing else to vote on). Vote. I am 55 and I have never had to queue. Perhaps wait for a few seconds for a booth to be free. I am so sorry that Americans are being told they live in 'the land of the free' and yet are treated worse than some really struggling countries when it comes to trying to vote. You deserve better!
Why do they have to wait in lines like that? Is stupid!!! I live in Colombia, South America! Third world country! And the only thing I have to do is check online the number of my table and go where my "ID" is registered and vote. It doesn't take more than 5 minutes!!
I didn't know this. It must've been heart breaking for people who queued 10 hrs or so four years ago, only to find out the following day that Trump had won. Let's hope it's worth it this time.
It usually doesn’t take as long as it’s taking this year, because the pandemic is making lines longer and slower. You have to stand six feet apart, and they take your temperature before even letting you check in. Plus, it’s always longer if you go to the polling place during the busier hours. That’s why I use the option to vote early. In and out this year, even with the social distancing and temperature taking, in about 20 minutes—-and I wasn’t the first person in line.
I did the early voting and didn't have to wait very long, but I also live in a small town where no one is that particularly interested in suppressing anyone. I imagine that this is not the case in the bigger cities in Texas like Dallas or Houston. However, even if I had to stand in line for hours, I would do it just to get Trump out.
France here....the polling stationused to be only 50 m from my home, now they changed it to another place.... 200 m from my home. Waiting time: 0 hour, 0 minute because we are almost among the first to vote.
I'm in Baltimore Maryland in the US, I got there 15 min before the polling place opened and was done about 15 after they opened.
Canadian here. I've never had to wait at all for a Federal or Provincial election. I may have had to wait 10 minutes for a municipal election. 11 hours is unacceptable.
Last election in Québec I waited around 20 minutes, but that’s because I made the mistake of going directly after work so it was rush hour.
Load More Replies... What is causing the hold up in the USA voting system? It only takes a few seconds in the UK and you almost never have to wait in line. Are there many forms to fill in or are you searched for weapons, ID checked, etc. What is exactly involved?
The US electoral system is a complete mess: different voting methods (machines, physical votes), different IDs to vote across states, different criterias to register to vote, voters expunged from voting registers, gerrymandering, different limit dates to count absentees votes, excessive weight to less populated states, etc. etc.
This may be anecdotal more than anything, but I'm under the impression that the long lines are in less favourable districts. I'd be curious to see/hear what someone who lives in an upscale part of town has to say about their waiting lines. And of course this is done on purpose...
I absolutely admire the dedication of the US voters. Those are some tough cookies! How does that even work? Election day is during the week when most people have to work. So they not only sacrifice 10 hours of their life but one of their precious and few vacation days as well? And how do you even stand in line for so long without collapsing? Do you wear diapers? Do you bring chairs and food with you? This is absolutely insane. The more I learn about the American voting system, the more confused I get. Btw I'm from Europe, Austria, and I've waited maybe 3min? The voting process itself (showing your ID, getting the ballot, and actually voting) normally takes longer than waiting in line.
For all the bragging the US does, it seems to lack in many areas, voting one of them. I have never waited to vote and it is always just in our area, a block or so from home. Canada ROCKS!!!
This just doesn't make sense I'm from a third world country & longest i have ever waited for voting is 15min which was due to the fact it was only polling station in our area & also very crowded one
Unfortunately each state has its own rules regarding how we can vote. I can see that almost all of these are east coast states that tend to have the most outdated laws. In Colorado most of us vote by mail / drop off our mail ballots in secure drop off points that are usually within 5 mins of where you live.
In Brazil, like a miracle, voting is the only thing that really works, we spend no more than 5 minutes in line and the results are known in the same day. Unless the fact that we have Bolsonaro as president, we should be an example for you, fellow Americans.
It's not typically like this in the US. We're having record early turnout for many reasons, including a very contentious election, in some states the early voting laws changed just this year to make early voting easier and available to more people, and there's a lack of trust in the postal service for the mail-in ballots.
What is the reason for this situation? Do they have too few polling stations or what?
Longest I "had" to wait was about 51 seconds and that was because I chose to let some people out the door before I entered (plenty of space , mind you, to enter/exit at the same time, just common courtesy) It took me about 2 minutes to walk from my house, about 4 minutes to enter, get checked, cast my vote and exit the building, another 2 minutes to walk back home This was at a "busy" location, as I live downtown/city center
They should send the American electoral staff to anywhere else, to see how it’s done. I’m horrified at the long waits.
It’s apparently intentional. Horrible, evil politicians.
Load More Replies... I'm lucky in that I live in a smaller city and it only took me about 5 minutes to advance vote. I firmly believe these long lines are on purpose make it more difficult for the working class hoi polloi to vote. I also think the hoi polloi is getting wise to this crap and hopefully will demand some changes.
Slightly stupid question sorry but what in particular makes it so hard to vote. UK teen here so I don't really know how the process works
It's a combination of things. But in most cases it's due to gerrymandering and redlining (I HIGHLY recommend listening to Stuff You Missed in History class's episodes titled: A Brief History of Redlining). It some places, it's because there's a lack of places to accommodate the larger turnout (the turnout this time around is unprecedented).
Load More Replies... In the 24 years since I registered to vote, I have never had to wait in a line to vote. So my answer is 0 seconds. I’ve never had a queue. In the more than 10 elections I’ve voted in, I have always just stepped out of the car and walked straight into the room. There is often no more than 3 people already voting inside when I go in, though there are over 20 booths. And this is in Australia where voting is mandatory.
they make it hard to vote because they made a system that puts people of color in lower class, and the lower the class you're in, the harder it is to vote.
i just voted last Thursday, it literally took me and my wife 15 minutes. that sucks for these people having to wait that long.
So I'm from Romania (yeah, yeah, were Dracula is from and what Trump would call a shithole country) and had to wait a maximum of 15 minutes to vote. Sure, it's worse for those voting abroad because there are a lot of people and few places to vote, but that is the exception. It amazes me that in 'Murica, the land of the free and home of democracy you have to o through this. And don't even get me started on the electoral vote, that system makes absolutely no sense...
Waiting 11 hours to vote is weird. Last time I voted it took maybe 1 minute, I remember thinking I barely had to lock my bike because I was inside the building for such a short time. The process of locking my bicycle up with two locks probably took longer time than it took me to vote.
This is often a state by state thing. I have never waited in line to vote. You can vote practically everywhere around her. My first votes were in my neighbors garage. Yes, she hosted a polling center in her garage. That was a few years. I've voted at community centers, churches, schools.....I thought there might be a line this year, so I went to the registrar of voters weeks ago. I waited about 5 minutes. I'm glad to live in a state that is more friendly to voters than others.
I've never had to wait longer than 10 mins (in the US) in the past, but I seriously wonder if the lack of waiting lines was because most people just weren't voting...
In Australia voting's mandatory and on the day itself (if you haven't done an early or postal vote) the queues CAN be long (i.e. like 20-30 mins) but it's really well organized and there's food and drink being sold for charity (usually benefits the school where the polling station is, or St John Ambo or something). And yes, there's dogs sometimes which makes it all worth it.
The fledgling dictatorship is at it again... Do people not see the red flags!?
from the first look, it seems bad... however, I truly believe that no Karen will wait that long to vote for Trump. No Trump voter would wait that long. Almost no. If you came, you came for democracy to put all the political bullshit back into rightful place. Although it won't change a lot - the biggest problem in the USA is still curriculum and you can't change it in just one cadence.
The last time I voted it took me 15 minutes of waiting. You know why? The woman that was responsible for me had to use the bathroom which took like 10 minutes. I'm really impressed you people have so much patience. Respect.
In the good old USA the conservatives make voting more difficult in order to suppress persons of color voting for Democrats. They reduce the number of voting places (Georgia, Texas) and reduce the early voting access (Florida, where I live) and reduce the number of absentee ballot drop off places (Texas, particularly Houston has one drop off box for a population in Harris county of over 5 million!). Racism and conservatism is the cause, intertwined.
Laughs in Estonian... Voting can be done over a smartphone here.. with a digital signature.. along with all other bureaucracy
Laughs in Estonian... Voting can be done on a smartphone here.. with a digital signature
Most of this is nonsense. In Midtown NYC it took me less time to vote than to walk to the polling place (Madison Square Garden) from my apartment: 10 minutes. It was raining and people stayed home. Next day it was only cloudy but my wife managed tovote in even less time. She said the poilling staffers looked LONELY. A lot of this complaint-storm is generated to build support for online voting. I admit that it would be easy--but too easy, tending to encourage thoughtless voting. And of course--no one wants to admit this--it's infinitely hackable. Mail-in voting is also easily corrupted. In-person voting is the best way, althought there's no need, I think to do it all on one day. Two days, alphabetically divided (A-M, N-Z or something like that) would make it more efficient, and everyone would be able to take the whole day off to vote.
I'm from the UK (Scotland if you want to be specific), been voting since I was 18, and to the best of my recollection I have never - NEVER - had to queue for more than a couple of minutes before casting my vote.
There has been a problem with not enough volunteers, but that certainly can't explain all of this. I remember the vote in 2012. I lived in Minneapolis (home of G. Floyd) - one of the poorest parts. My son and I had learned that my former informal foster son had died the day before. (I hadn't seen him in 4 years, but my son talked to him frequently on FB.) We were in shock, but I especially wanted to go, because I had taken him to vote for his first time, and it was a good memory. He thought it was very important and so do I. So, standing there in rainy weather for about two hours with nothing to do but think about his death was super fun, let me tell you. I never had to wait when I was out in the suburbs, but live in a poorer neighborhood and it's a whole different ballgame.
Here is my problem with this - the STATES are responsible for the administration of elections. If you are having to wait this long that is a failure of your state, but in no way is indicative of the way it is everywhere. I have lived in multiple states and not once have I ever had to wait more then 10 minutes. I wait in line far longer then that at the grocery store all the time. At the end of the day it comes down to mismanagement - not because of Trump. If you are waiting this long speak to your elected representatives about the need for more polling spots or better staffing to make the lines move faster. Inquire about becoming a poll worker to help.... Instead of complaining and finger pointing because things are broken where you are, be the change you wish to see.
Hmmm... I live in a heavily populated suburb of Washington DC and voted today. Took *maybe* five minutes.
I live in Miami Fla. It took me 5 minutes to vote. Don't believe everything you read.
Once I voted on my way from night shift. It took me five extra minutes, one and half minute to get to voting place from my normal route, one minute to find my ID (couldn't open the zipper to get out my wallet) one minute to put the paper in bin and one and half minute to return to my path. But I live in country where even something like presidental election can bring in only 60% of people, so I guess if we would have to wait 8 hours for it, only 0,5% would vote...
These long lines are clearly only for 2020 voting. 2016= average wait: 8 minutes 2014 midterms= average wait: 4 minutes 2012= average wait: 12 minutes 2008= average wait: 14 minutes Source: https://medium.com/mit-election-lab/insights-into-voting-wait-time-from-the-2016-elections-performance-index-6693576e9b99 I, personally, waited about a week to fill out my mail-in ballot 🗳 Filling it out and walking it down to the post box took literally about 5 minutes. 📫
In india 5 mins. Easy. Only difficult thing was to get myself registered
I live in India, I am 38, have been voting since I turned 18 so that is almost 20 years. Never I have waited more than 15 max. My mother who used to work as government school teacher has worked as polling official in almost all elections since 70s she too says it has not crossed 20 mins in the past too. So unable to fathom what happens in US which slows them to this extent.
I'm actually curious about the mandatory vote thing. The last time we had an election (UK), I was so sick on the day that I could barely lift my head, and it was contagious because my partner had it the next day. I wouldn't want that passing around a building of elderly people but I was fine until the day of, was absolutely planning to go vote, and it was the first one I have missed. What would happen in that situation with mandatory voting? This is a genuine question, I never thought about it until I read just then that Australia has mandatory voting.
I'm both a kiwi and an Australian. Both systems are different but both governments make it as easy as possible to vote. The NZ govt makes it soooo easy to vote even when I'm living in Australia for a while. The Australian government bends over backwards to make it quick and easy. And there is sausages and dogs...
In the Netherlands I once waited a full 6 minutes to vote. But usually it's maybe 2, or none at all...
I live and vote here in Ireland. I just drive up to the polling station, walk straight into the building, show my ID and get my voting card where I tick the name of the person I am voting for, drop the folded card into the ballot box and leave and go home. The whole process takes about 10 minutes if that.
I work the state and federal elections here in Australia, longest people wait is 5 mins if its a busy polling place, we have heaps of staff, well organised and efficient. I can still vote in New Zealand...did and overseas vote this year...received email...printing voting papers, voted scanned and emailed back...5 mins and done.
To be fair, people are voting early here in record numbers, and many of them were so jazzed to vote they went on the very first day of early voting which made for the ridiculous lines. I voted by mail, but since I'm from Texas I was only allowed to because of "disability" (you can only vote by mail in Texas if you're over 65, disabled, out of your area during the voting period, or in jail). My son and husband voted early, but it took less than 20 minutes for each one. In Texas we had three weeks of early voting, and the lines were much more manageable after week one. So some of these images may be because of Day 1 early voting eager beavers. Also, because of COVID it has been difficult to find poll workers (they're usually seniors, who this year are wisely staying home and safe). Still -- it IS ridiculously hard to vote in the US., particularly in Texas (we just got ranked hardest in the nation). Mail-in should be a thing everywhere, for everyone who wants to. I do think voter suppression tactics are a huge thing here.
My brother had to wait about 45 min, a friend took about 1.75 hours to vote, but the most I've ever had to take was about 15 min.
I had no idea till this election. I’m in Scotland and the polling stations are numerous in each area of the city I live in then which box you use at the station is allocated by the street you live in. I’ve never queued and usually pop in after work. My polling station is two streets from my home!
I took me like 10 mins... We had like 2 weeks and many voting locations for each county.. I don't understand how people manage to find 10 hr lines...
Never took more than 5 mins to get in and out to vote, jeez this is crazy.
voted on the 27th in glendale arizona I had longer wait for a parking spot than to vote. in out 30min max.
I have not voted yet, casting my early vote this Saturday. But i have never waited longer then 10 minutes. I also never worried about being intimidated by armed malice based on my vote. But it just shows now more then ever it is important to get out there and make our voices heard.
This is awful! I've seen this in third world countries - usually when democracy is restored, but nowhere else. I have never had to queue to vote, ever! You go in, get your ballot, go to the booth and put your X then put it in the box and that's it. This must put off SO many people and those are probably all of the working people who don't have the time to take from work or get childcare. This must benefit the right wing HUGELY!
I was in and out within 7 minutes. I imagine these are very large cities. I mean we have like 5 voting places within a short drive where I am. Early voting means you can vote anywhere. If the lines are long drive to the next place.
In the Netherlands, if it's really busy, you might have to wait for like 5 to 10 minutes to have your ID checked but in general I'm out the door in like 5 minutes.
Ok, hours is crazy, but less than five mins??? Never had that happen
Because this is EARLY VOTING, which is selected polling stations, not all of them, plus this year the lines are longer because they have to keep social distancing. On election day in a normal year there are not lines. This is fauxrage by political partisian people and morons.
In 2016, in the suburbs, I waited for 2.5 hours to vote on Election Day. You are either misinformed or being deliberately misleading. Not everyone can vote in minutes, and it has nothing to do with early voting or the pandemic.
Load More Replies... Yup, Canadian here and I have never spent more than ten minutes waiting.
May an American explain to me, WHY exactly it takes so long and people have to wait in line? What do you do or not do that makes it so timeconsuming?
There are many reasons. 1. Not enough poll workers 2. The ballots can be (purposefully) complicated. 3. Doors locked at polling stations. 4. Power cords not supplied for voting machines. 5. Changing ID requirements/changes to voting laws that people didn't know 6. Not enough voting machines for the population. I'm sure there are other reasons, but those are the ones that I can think of.
Load More Replies... I have never had to wait in line to vote. These sweeping generalizations about the US are annoying.
It never used to be that bad. I vote every 2 year (off cycle congress) First president election it took me 10 min. In 2016 I moved and had to re register and that took 1 hour and that was because of me . 2018 I moved and had to re register took 3 hr. only difference- more need checks less workers. the powers that be are making it harder for no real reason.
58% of volunteers and workers in the polling places are in the COVID high risk category https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/04/06/older-people-account-for-large-shares-of-poll-workers-and-voters-in-u-s-general-elections/
I signed up to volunteer 3 months ago at my polling place, or ones near me. I was never contacted to be a poll worker. I think they don't want new help on purpose.
Load More Replies... Weird. Only people claiming to vote for Biden complained about the wait time. I have no idea what is going on in Georgia, but just 55 miles south I voted yesterday and from parking my car, to check in, getting my ballot, filling it out, turning it in, and pulling out of the parking lot took less than 11 minutes (yep timed it). The weather was fine here, we dont have CV 19 cases causing our governor to shut the city down. In May of 2019, I was in Austria the day they were voting in a new EU president. There were lines that wrapped around an entire city block. I thought it was some cool club or restaurant. I took a photo and when I came out to get a cab, they were still lined up (dinner time by then). So dont pretend for a single second that people in Europe are unfamiliar with standing in line to vote. It is a straight up lie.
Some information about what is required to work at a polling station https://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/election-poll-workers637018267.aspx
And how do you call the fake ballot boxes that were put up by Republicans? Or the threats from the Proud Boys, condoned by your president? Or that Trump says he will not accept the vote anyways? Is that democratic behavior to you?
Load More Replies... That’s not necessarily true - we have local council elections , referendum on constitutional changes and national election on the same election day. Voting since 18 and never waited minutes never mind hours! Ireland calling
Load More Replies... Um it is about the voting process. The only ppl on comments I've seen making it partisan have been mostly ppl like yourself. Except the statement that republicans are attempting vote suppression by cutting funding to postal services, limiting collection boxes and having the American president constantly complaining about voter fraud whilst never once offering proof. He also seems resistant to the idea that if he loses the election, he should step aside. It is obvious as hell to those of us watching from outside the usa, and honestly jm genujnely concerned you guys could ge headed for a civil war. I really hope not. No one should die for trumps false statements
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