Local News
Local News

Election results take time despite electronic voting

Once you push the “cast ballot” button on your voting machine, your choices are copied to a memory card inside the machine. Then what? (Erica A. Hernandez/AJC)
By
Nov 3, 2016

Why does it seem to take so long to count votes, even with Georgia’s electronic voting machines?

Sure, electronic votes are easier to count than old-fashioned paper ballots, but final results often don't come out until late at night.

There are a few reasons for delays: paper absentee ballots, rush-hour traffic and security procedures.

ExplorePlease read more about vote-counting on MyAJC.com.
Merle King, executive director for The Center for Election Systems at Kennesaw State University, explains how a touchscreen machine voters works on Oct. 20. BRANDEN CAMP/SPECIAL
icon to expand image

About the Author

Mark Niesse is an enterprise reporter and covers elections and Georgia government for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and is considered an expert on elections and voting. Before joining the AJC, he worked for The Associated Press in Atlanta, Honolulu and Montgomery, Alabama. He also reported for The Daily Report and The Santiago Times in Chile.

Follow Mark Niesse on twitter
More Stories

The Latest

In video from Brookhaven PD's Instagram account, street racers shut down the intersection of Ashford Dunwoody Road and Harts Mill Road on the night of Aug. 31, 2025. (Courtesy of Brookhaven Police Department)

Credit: Brookhaven PD Instagram

Gridlock Guy: Brookhaven street racing another ugly COVID throwback

Monthlong sewer repairs to block lanes on 10th in Midtown

Cobb elections director departing after less than 2 years

Featured

Delta employees are under investigation because of content “related to the recent murder of activist Charlie Kirk” that “went well beyond healthy, respectful debate,” CEO Ed Bastian wrote in a companywide memo Friday. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez

Delta suspends employees for social posts related to Charlie Kirk’s killing

Delta joins a list of employers, including an NFL team and news network MSNBC, that have punished employees for posting inflammatory comments about Kirk’s death.

As Tech, UGA celebrate, a historic first for state’s Division I teams

All seven of the state's FBS and FBC teams — Georgia, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Georgia Tech, Kennesaw State, Mercer and West Georgia — prevailed Saturday.

Suspect arrested after North Georgia officer shot in line of duty

Capt. Brantley Worley remains in critical condition after incident in McCaysville, which is near the Georgia-Tennessee border.