Too few places to vote
If there aren't enough polling places for the people who live in an area, the result is long lines and long travel — which quietly stops some people from voting, without anyone ever being formally turned away.
Explainer video coming soon
A 60-second, plain-language walkthrough of this gap.
What actually happened
After the 2013 Shelby County v. Holder decision removed federal pre-clearance of voting changes, Georgia closed 331 voting locations between 2012 and 2020 — about 214 fewer polling places — with the heaviest closures in counties with large Black populations. A 2015 memo from the state's office encouraged counties to consolidate, noting they no longer needed federal approval. The effect shows up as hours-long lines, not a formal denial.
Where it stands today
The gap is current: most places set no required minimum density of polling places per voter, so closures and under-provisioning remain possible. The figure above reflects today's law.
No one's turned away — they just give up
You don't have to deny anyone the vote to suppress it. Just give an area too few places to vote. The result is hours-long lines and long travel, and some people simply can't wait or can't get there. It reads as a logistics problem, not disenfranchisement — but the votes are lost either way.
What it looks like when it breaks
After the 2013 Shelby County v. Holder decision ended federal pre-clearance of voting changes, Georgia closed 331 voting locations between 2012 and 2020 — roughly 214 fewer polling places — with the deepest cuts in counties with large Black populations. A 2015 state memo encouraged counties to consolidate, noting federal approval was no longer required.
How TrustVoting closes it
A minimum density of polling places is ultimately a legal choice. But TrustVoting removes the usual cost excuse: at about $10k per precinct vs. $15–40k for legacy systems, opening more polling places — not closing them — becomes affordable.
How TrustVoting closes it
A polling-place floor is ultimately a legal choice — but TrustVoting removes the usual excuse for closures: at roughly $10k per precinct versus $15–40k for legacy systems, it's economically feasible to run more polling places, not fewer.