Voter Experience with Election Day Vote Centers in the 2008 Lubbock, Texas Presidential Election Robert M. Stein Greg Vonnahme Rice University University of Alabama Prepared for the Lubbock County Commissioners Court March 23, 2009 Support for this research was provided by the Pew Charitable Trusts and the JHET Foundation

Study Topics Voter experience with, and evaluation of, Election Day vote centers. Effect of vote centers on voting experience of infrequent voters. Effect of voting place characteristics on voter experience. Effect of vote centers on voting experience of racial and ethnic minority voters.

Study Design Exit poll of 1,189 Election Day voters in Lubbock, Randall and Potter Counties, Texas Field work conducted by Earl Survey Research Laboratory, Texas Tech University Sampling units and method – 3 Counties (1 EDVC, 2 Precinct)‏ – 23 Election Day polling places (12 EDVC, 11 Precinct)‏ – Exit polls conducted during morning, afternoon and late afternoon periods.

Voter turnout

Usability of Voting Systems (5-point scale, Strongly Agree to Strongly Disagree)‏ I thought the voting system was easy to use. I think that I would like to use this system again. I found the voting system unnecessarily complex. I think that I would need the support of a technical person to use the system. I felt confident using the system. I needed to learn a lot of things before I could get going with the system.

Voting Experience ( 5-point scale, where applicable, Strongly Agree to Strongly Disagree) I am confident that my vote will be counted accurately. How long did you wait in line to vote? It is important to me that there is a paper record of my vote.

Voting place was close to: Shopping Residence Schools Major roadway Workplace

Rating of Voting Place ( 5-point scale, Strongly Agree to Strongly Disagree) The location was easy for me to find. I had to go far out of my way to vote. It was easy for me to find a place to park. The poll workers were helpful.

System Was Easy to Use

Would Use System Again

System Unnecessarily Complex

Need Technical Support

Confident Using the System

Need To Learn More About System

Confident My Vote Will Be Counted Accurately

Important To Have Paper Record of Vote

Time To Vote

Location easy to find

Parking hard to find

Voting place proximity

Voting place attributes

The experience of non-habitual voters- voting place easy to find

The experience of non-habitual voters- need to go far out of my way to vote

The experience of non-habitual voters- parking was hard to find

The experience of non-habitual voters- poll workers were helpful

Voting experience by race and ethnicity

Conclusions Vote centers receive high positive ratings from voters in the 2008 Lubbock County, Texas Presidential election. Voters rated their experiences at vote centers higher than precincts on: – Accessibility of the voting place – Time to vote – Parking – Poll work assistance

Conclusions, continued Non-habitual voters report a more positive voting experience at EDVCs over precinct voting places. Hispanic voters report a more positive voting experience at vote centers over precincts