Complex but easier - Voting in Cork compared to voting in Florida

And so we have arrived. The US Presidential Election is upon us and the eyes of the world will be on the US.

Whether you are a supporter of Donald Trump or Kamala Harris, or no one at all, how does the election system work in America?

Contrary to what the rest of the world may think, voting in the election begins a lot sooner than the first Tuesday in November. Early voting actually started in many areas as early as October 21.

How was the experience of voting in Palm Beach County compared to voting in Cork South Central?

In many ways, it is more complex, while at the same time, it is arguably easier.

I can remember going into the polling booth in Cork and ranking various candidates from 1 through 21, and marking them off with a pencil, or placing a check in the box in a referendum I voted on.

The election system in the US is largely electronic to ensure for speed of results.

Polling booths open early in the weeks before the election, while many people can also choose to post in their ballot.

The electronic system largely allows for results to be announced as soon as polling stations close, and as a result, winners are typically known on the night of the election. Postal votes cannot be counted until after polls close and if results are very close, the early calling of a winner of each state will be delayed until all have been processed.

Before the electronic system, candidates would essentially punch holes in a piece of cardstock that was then counted in a processing machine. This was what lead to much of the debate in the Florida election of 2000 where the election was decided by under 500 votes. With that election being so close, many ballots were individually analysed to determine if the holes were fully pushed through, or just indented and what was the intent of the voter.

For the election here in Florida's Palm Beach County, you check in at the first welcoming station and once your identity is confirmed, you are presented with a 4x12 inch piece of cardstock with a barcode on top. You are also provided with a folded plastic sheet, so that the long card can be placed inside.

From the welcoming station, you are guided to the polling booth itself, which is similar in appearance to an ATM station with two partitions extending out from a computer terminal for privacy. You are then to insert the card into a slot at the side of the terminal.

From there, you are asked a series of questions that you answer on the touch screen.

Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, or a 'third party' nominee? You touch the name of the candidate of your choice before you are asked to confirm your selection with a yes or no question.

This process continues for all issues being voted upon that day. This includes voting for your selection for a Congressperson in the House of Representatives, and also a Senator for the Senate.

There are always candidates for local government positions, sheriff’s office, and judiciary positions, in addition to amendments for state and local government.

Once you finally answer all of the questions, the card that you inserted into the terminal comes back to you. The card now has additional barcodes printed as well as a list of all of the candidates and referenda that you have selected. You place the card into the plastic sheet for privacy purposes, and you then walk over to another machine at another station. It is at this station that you take the card with the barcode and all of the data printed and insert the card into the machine. The machine retains the card and reads all of the data. This is where your vote is actually counted.

Will my selected candidate win? Only time will tell. 

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