Using Simulation to Address Inequality and Variability in Elections

In 2022, the State of Georgia experienced significant voter wait-time issues throughout the election season. Since then, Georgia has been front and center in the national conversation about election integrity, as legislators try to adapt voting systems to ever-changing technologies and cultural norms. Georgia law generally allocates election resources based on the number of registered voters a precinct serves, but size is only one differentiating factor among precincts. Voters across the state behave differently, so different precincts of similar sizes might require different resources depending on when voters arrive. Using simulation optimization based on voter arrival data obtained from the Georgia Secretary of State, we have found more efficient and equitable allocation methods, compared to simply considering registered voters. By considering the variation between precincts, election administrators can better safeguard the integrity and equality of elections without sacrificing efficiency.