Editing Polling station (section)

==Polling location effects==
The building where the polling location is sited can have a significant effect on the results of the poll.<ref name="Voting Influence"/> Research shows that polling location may influence how a voter casts their ballot.<ref name="Stanford"/> This subtle unknown factor can be significant and can sway a close election.<ref name="Stanford"/> Individuals may be influenced to behave in a certain way based on environmental cues,<ref name="Stanford"/> i.e., an object or place that can influence a voter's behavior;<ref name="Stanford"/> for example, the condition of the building, the name of the building, the ordinary use of the building, or the building decor.<ref name="Stanford"/> Researchers have spent much time considering what makes people vote the way they do; they have found that the smallest of changes can have large effects.

Waiting times at polling places have also been a problem in the US.<ref name="president"/> This has become such a controversial topic that even President [[Obama]] in his [[State of the Union Address]] on 12 February 2013 mentioned the need to decrease waiting times.<ref name="president"/> He went on to say that it is the duty of Americans to make sure that everyone has not only the right to vote but the opportunity to vote without having to wait several hours in line.<ref name="president"/>

===Building usage===
The building used as the polling place has a significant effect on how an individual votes. For example, voting inside a school building, a citizen might be more likely to vote for those in favour of school systems and education.<ref name="Stanford"/> This is especially true if the school building you are voting in is in need of general improvement and/or renovation.<ref name="Stanford"/> This environmental cue may give a voter firsthand knowledge of what needs there may be in a particular setting.<ref name="Stanford"/> Similarly, voting in a church or parish hall, a citizen might be less likely to vote in favor of stem cell research.<ref name="Stanford"/> These cues give a person a sense of satisfaction for voting one way or another in the moment, regardless if that was the way they intended to vote in the first place.<ref name="Stanford"/>

===Distance to voting location===
The cost of voting influences whether or not a person will vote. Research shows that the more expensive voting gets, the less likely a person is to vote.<ref name="Location"/> Distance to the polling location is one of the main reasons cost can become an issue for voters.<ref name="Location"/> Minor changes in distance from voters' homes to polling place can change the turnout of voters, which may change the outcome of a close election.<ref name="Can Affect"/> Distance to the polling place is an issue if not every voter has access to vehicle transportation.<ref name="Location"/> According to the research on distance to the polling location by Haspel and Knotts, "To illustrate the range of the effect of distance, we plot our predicted probabilities at the lower and upper bounds of our continuous vehicle available variable. When no one owns a car (vehicle available = 0), the likelihood of voting drops from .664 at a distance of {{Convert|.01|mi|m|disp=sqbr}} to .418 at the median distance of {{Convert|.69|mi|m|disp=sqbr}}. When automobiles are universally available (vehicle available = 1), voters are much less sensitive to changes in distance: the likelihood of voting drops from .444 to .392 over the same distance range".<ref name="Location"/> Voters ultimately value the convenience of polling locations. If a poll is accessible to the citizen they will make an effort, if the citizen has to travel a long distance then voter turnout decreases dramatically".<ref name="Location"/>

===Redistricting===
If a voter changes precincts due to redistricting, then the chances of their continuing to vote in future elections decreases.<ref name="Location"/> The confusion that redistricting causes will deter the voter from looking into the new precinct where he or she should now vote.<ref name="Location"/> In addition, the informational costs associated with alerting voters of their new polling location will also affect the voter turnout because it is highly unlikely that funds will be available to allocate to ensure that every voter knows where to vote.<ref name="Location"/> Redistricting can be beneficial in order to provide a convenient location, but careful consideration should be taken before such a decision is made.

===Openness and centralisation===
If voters are allowed to vote at any of a number of different locations in the county or district etc., this will increase voter turnout.<ref name="Matter"/> Sometimes, a voter's most convenient voting location is near his or her workplace, not necessarily the closest to their residence.<ref name="Matter"/> Having a more open policy of allowing multiple possible locations for a person to vote would encourage those individuals who cannot feasibly commute back and forth from work to vote, assuming the day of election is not a mandatory day off.<ref name="Matter"/> Having a large conspicuous polling location will ensure that the voters know where they are supposed to vote.<ref name="Matter"/> This will cut down on unnecessary signage and eliminate clutter and confusion.<ref name="Matter"/>

<gallery>
File:Newport St James' Street 2010 general election polling station.JPG|A polling station at a school for the [[2010 United Kingdom general election]]
File:Polling Station 2008.jpg|A polling station sign in the [[2008 Jersey general election]]
File:NewJerseyPollingPlace2008.JPG|A polling place in [[New Jersey]] during the [[2008 United States presidential election]]
File:Thai general election 2007 02.jpg|A polling station in [[Ban Khung Taphao]], Khung Taphao subdistrict, [[Mueang Uttaradit District|Mueang Uttaradit district]], [[Uttaradit Province|Uttaradit province]], Thailand, for the [[2007 Thai general election]]
File:2012-13 tk verkiezingen.JPG|Polling place in a ''multi functional facility'' in [[Silvolde]], a village in the East of the Netherlands
File:WyboryPrezydenckie2005-2.tura.jpg|Interior of a polling station in [[Wrocław]] during the [[2005 Polish presidential election]]
File:Election Day of 2024 Indonesian general elections.jpg|Polling station in rural area of [[Samarinda]] during the [[2024 Indonesian general election]]
</gallery>