For Election Officials

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Operational + Data Training for Election Officials

Running an election well requires countless operational decisions—how to staff a polling place, where to allocate equipment, how to keep wait times short, and how to respond when the unexpected happens. At the Engineering for Democracy Institute, we build tools and trainings that help election officials make those decisions with greater confidence.

The two resources featured here bring that technology directly to election offices. Both are publicly available, nonpartisan, and designed to be put to work in real jurisdictions of any size.

Together, they reflect our mission: putting rigorous engineering and research to work for a better voting experience for officials and voters alike, one informed decision at a time.

Election Processes Simulations

Election administration faces numerous logistical hurdles, and officials make planning decisions to address them and enhance the voting process.

Purpose: To determine and demonstrate trade-offs for cost-effective resource strategies that keep wait times under 30 minutes.

Activity: The SMILE video series illustrates insights from over 8,000 simulations, showing how various strategies—such as consolidating polling places, reducing lines, handling disruptions, adopting new voting tools, troubleshooting breakdowns, and managing poll worker shortages—play out in real-world voting environments.

Partner: US Election Assistance Commission (EAC)

EXPLORE THESE SIMULATIONS

Data Empowerment

Election offices generate a wealth of operational data, but turning that data into better decisions requires some skills.

Purpose: To train election officials to build practical data analyst skills from scratch in RStudio, utilizing the proven Carpentries approach.

Activity: Hands-on R exercises guide election officials in organizing and analyzing their data to translate it into actionable steps. This approach strengthens their ability to make informed decisions for Election Day(s), including staffing, resource planning, reducing wait times, and enhancing the voting experience. The module is adaptable, fostering lasting in-house expertise that can be used in every election cycle.

Partner: Partnership for Large Election Jurisdictions (PLEJ)

ACCESS FREE TRAINING