Using or to Overcome Challenges in Implementing New Voting Technologies

Abstract

Abstract In this article, we describe several operational challenges posed by the recent introduction of new voting technologies such as direct‐recording electronic and optical‐scan voting machines. These new voting technologies significantly complicate the operational and logistical complexity of administering elections. Poor management of the operations associated with these new technologies can negatively impact the voting process by leading to delays in voting, inequitable treatment of voters, and even voter disenfranchisement. Operations‐research (OR) methods have proven extremely effective at meeting these operational and logistical challenges. We explain how OR methods can be used to improve the overall voting process when utilizing new voting technologies to increase social welfare.