From:Board of Election Commissioners

To:Robert W. Healy, City Manager

From:Board of Election Commissioners

Date:December 16, 2004

Subj:Response to Council Order #3, re: Average waiting times at the polling places on Election Day

In order to respond fully and accurately to Council Order #3, the Election Commissioners and staff conducted a telephone survey of wardens or clerks from all thirty-three precincts to gather information on waiting times for voters to cast ballots at the polls on November 2. Each of the wardens and clerks gave us their best estimates of the duration of waiting lines to the check in table throughout the day. (See attached report.)

Although experiences varied widely, some generalizations can be made. While voter turnout was steady throughout the day, twenty of thirty-three precincts reported that after 9 a.m. there were no lines for the rest of the day. An additional five precincts reported waiting times of less than five minutes.

Long lines of voters had formed at some precincts by the time poll workers arrived at 6:30 a.m. Most precincts had long waiting lines at 7 a.m. when the polls opened. The first hour of voting was by far the heaviest of the day as those already in line before the 7 a.m. opening were accommodated. Estimates of the waiting time to vote in all thirty-three precincts from 7 to 8 a.m. ranged from 0 to 30 minutes, with an average wait of twelve minutes. (See attached report.)

In anticipation of a historically high turnout, the Commissioners had increased the number of poll workers from 6 to 7 in most polling places. Staffing in precincts with higher number of voters had even more additional workers assigned, as many as 9 full-time equivalents. Each precinct was allocated a minimum of 10 polling booths. As many as 15 were installed in larger precincts.

The Commission, of course, wants to minimize waiting times if, in fact, they cannot be completely eliminated at the opening of the polling place. One of the innovations in this election - having a worker stationed outside the polling place in some double precincts to guide voters to their precinct inside - worked well and could be tried more extensively in future high turn-out elections in all precincts with high registration numbers. Such a worker could also be tasked with measuring wait times. The Commission also intends to conduct a focus group with wardens and clerks to formulate other creative ideas for minimizing wait times and enhancing the voting experience.

Attachments (2)

STATE ELECTION – NOVEMBER 2, 2004 – REPORT ON WAITING TIMES AT POLLS

Wd/Pct / Warden or Clerk Contacted / Comments
1-1 / O’Connell Branch Library
Beverly Kucera / Long line of about 30 people at 6:30 a.m.; longest wait between 7-8am was 10 minutes; from 8-9 a.m., wait was 5 minutes; from 11 a.m. to noon, wait was 5 minutes.
1-2 / Truman Apartments
Cathy Baldasaro / Busy in first hour, longest wait was 10 minutes; from 5-6 p.m. there was a 2 minute wait.
1-3 / Miller River Apartments
Debbie Aruda / No lines all day.
2-1 / Pisani Center
Barbara Hayes / Steady all day; longest wait was 4 minutes between 5-6 p.m.
2-2 / MIT
Phyllis Rawlins / Morning was busy; longest wait from 7-9 a.m. was 5 minutes.
2-3 / MIT
Jackie Sealey / From 7-9 a.m., a 2 minute wait; rest of the day, no wait time.
3-1 / King Open (Harrington)
Patricia Witham / Opening busy; steady all day; longest wait 7-9 a.m. was 5 minutes.
3-2 / DPW Headquarters
George Goverman / Busy at beginning of day; wait from 7-8a.m., longest was 10 minutes; 3 minute wait, rest of day.
3-3 / Salvation Army
Starr Noble / Heaviest from 7-9:00am; longest wait was 10 minutes; busy all day; voters moved right through.
4-1 / Putnam Gardens
Marian Phillips / Heaviest from 7-10am, then from 4 p.m. on; longest wait time during heavy part of day, 20 minutes.
4-2 / City Hall
Jackie Tynes / Line out to Bigelow St.; line formed at 6:30am; heavy
from 7am-1pm; then from3:30-8 pm.
4-3 / 2 Mount Auburn Street
Marie Guzell / Line at opening; for first 20minutes, wait time10 minutes at most; after 8 am, no lines.
5-1 / LBJ Apartments
Debra Montout / Line at 6:45am; then to 9am; heavy all day; lines from 5-7:30pm; longest wait 15 minutes.
5-2 / Woodrow Wilson Court
Barbara Vass / Lines from 7-9am, then from 7-8pm; steady all day.
5-3 / Morse School
Yvonne Gittens / Lines from 7-9am and 5-6pm; steady all day.
6-1 / City Hall Annex
Livingston Jones / Heavy from 7-11am; light from 6-8pm.
6-2 / Vernon Hall
Sharon Edey / Heavy from 7-10am. Due to medical emergency at the precinct, there was a wait of 30-45 minutes at one period of time. Voters were informed of reason.
6-3 / Youville Hospital
Nellie Edey / Line at 6:20am; heavy from 7-9:30am; steady all day; no lines at night.
7-1 / Baldwin School
Raymond Ausrotas / Lines from 7-8am; wait 20-30 minutes maximum; from 8-9am, lines, about 5 minute wait; no lines rest of day.
7-2 / Baldwin School
Evelyn High / Lines early morning; 5-10 minute wait at most; no lines after 8am.
7-3 / Gund Hall
William Willard / No waiting time all day long.
8-1 / Graham & Parks
Frank Kramer / Waiting lines only during first hour; waiting time 10 minutes; never more than 15 minutes.
8-2 / Friends’ Meeting House
William Jenczyk / Line at opening, but no more than a dozen at any time; wait time 7-11am, 5minutes; no lines after 11am.
8-3 / Quincy House
Matthew Peters / No waiting time all day long.
9-1 / Lexington Ave. Firehouse
Ann Holmes / Between 7-8 a.m., wait was 10-15 minutes; steady pace with 5 minute wait till noon; not much of a line rest of day.
9-2 / National Guard Armory
Peter Gesell / Line out to front entrance 7-8 a.m.; wait may have been as long as 30 minutes.
9-3 / Haggerty School
John Sullivan / Long line by 6:45 a.m.; from 7-8 a.m., 15 minute wait; 8-9 a.m. 10 minute wait; rest of day, wait was about 3 minutes.
10-1 / 2050 Mass. Ave.
Margot Hull / Line at 7am around Kentucky Fried Chicken; all voted within 45minute; slowed down at 10a.m.
10-2 / Graham & Parks
Dean Johnson / Line from 7-8am; wait 5-10minutes maximum.
10-3 / Cadbury Commons
Peg Callahan / Lines in morning, around 3 p.m. and at night. Wait was 10 minutes at busy times; 3-5 minutes the rest of the time.
11-1 / Jefferson Park Community Ctr. / 7-9:30 a.m. busiest period with 30 minute wait; the rest of the day, wait was 10-15 minutes.
11-2 / Gately Shelter
Anita Reed / First hour was 30 minute wait; 5 minute wait the rest of the day.
11-3 / Burns Apartments
Linda Rumrill / Line at 6:45 a.m.; 7-9 a.m., heavy; 15-20 minute wait; 9-11 a.m. 10-15 minute wait; 11a.m. -3 p.m., 10 minute wait; 3-5 p.m. no wait; 5-6p.m., 5 minute wait; 6-8 p.m., no wait
STATE ELECTION - NOVEMBER 2, 2004 - REPORT BY HOUR ON WAITING TIMES AT POLLS
Wd/Pct / 7-8am / 8-9am / 9-10am / 10-11am / 11-noon / 12-1pm / 1-2pm / 2-3pm / 3-4pm / 4-5pm / 5-6pm / 6-7pm / 7-8pm
1-1* / 10 / 5 / 0 / 0 / 5 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
1-2 / 10 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 2 / 0 / 0
1-3 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
2-1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 4 / 0 / 0
2-2 / 5 / 5 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
2-3 / 2 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
3-1 / 5 / 5 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
3-2 / 10 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3
3-3 / 10 / 10 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
4-1 / 20 / 20 / 20 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 20 / 20 / 20 / 20
4-2 / 20 / 20 / 10 / 10 / 10 / 10 / 0 / 0 / 10 / 10 / 10 / 10 / 10
4-3 / 10 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
5-1 / 15 / 15 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 15 / 15 / 15
5-2 / 15 / 15 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 10
5-3 / 15 / 15 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 5 / 0 / 0
6-1 / 15 / 15 / 15 / 15 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
6-2 / 10 / 10 / 10 / 45 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
6-3 / 15 / 15 / 15 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
7-1 / 25 / 5 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
7-2 / 10 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
7-3 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
8-1 / 10 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
8-2 / 5 / 5 / 5 / 5 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
8-3 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
9-1 / 15 / 5 / 5 / 5 / 5 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
9-2 / 15 / 15 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
9-3 / 15 / 15 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3
10-1 / 30 / 10 / 10 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
10-2 / 10 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
10-3 / 10 / 10 / 10 / 4 / 4 / 4 / 4 / 4 / 10 / 5 / 5 / 10 / 10
11-1 / 30 / 30 / 15 / 15 / 15 / 15 / 15 / 15 / 15 / 15 / 15 / 15 / 15
11-2 / 30 / 5 / 5 / 5 / 5 / 5 / 5 / 5 / 5 / 5 / 5 / 5 / 5
11-3 / 20 / 15 / 10 / 10 / 10 / 10 / 10 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 5 / 0 / 0
Avg.time / 12 / 8 / 4 / 4 / 2 / 2 / 1 / 3 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 2 / 3
* new polling location