This semester, I had the opportunity to work with the Engineering for Democracy Institute (EDI) on a research project focused on improving voter experience and election system efficiency. Our team simulated various voting scenarios to analyze how the introduction of ballot-marking devices (BMDs) and the option to choose between BMDs and hand-marked paper ballots could impact wait times at polling places. We wanted to investigate the impacts of choice rate and resource allocation on voter wait time against the 30-minute threshold of voter wait times as determined by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC). Using discrete event simulation in SIMIO, we modeled voter flow, analyzed statistical outcome, and gained valuable insights into how industrial and systems engineering principles can apply to real-world public service challenges. Through this project, I deepened my understanding of operations research, simulation modeling, and the broader role engineers can play in supporting democracy.

Written by Melany Tabares