Why voters in Nevada's Clark County faced hourslong lines, delayed election results

LAS VEGAS — The last voter on Tuesday to cast a ballot in Nevada, and quite possibly the entire country, waited nearly five hours past the polls’ closing time to reach a voting machine and make selections. Experts are unsure what measures, beyond additional resources, could provide relief for long polling lines. Officials have given vague answers about what caused the delays, stating that they are continuing to analyze data from Tuesday to improve future elections, and that the long lines were likely caused by multiple factors. kAm$@?5C2 r@D8C@G6[ 2 r@==686 @7 $@FE96C? }6G252 9:DE@CJ AC@76DD@C[ D2:5 2 ?6H G@E:?8 AC@46DD D:8?:7:42?E=J 4@?EC:3FE65 E@ E96 H2:E E:>6D]k^Am kAm%96 ?6H AC@46DD[ 7:CDE FD65 :? E96 AC:>2CJ 6=64E:@? :? yF?6[ :?G@=G6D AC:?E:?8 @FE E96 G@E6C’D >2C<65 32==@E @? 2 A:646 @7 A2A6C] %96 G@E6C E96? >2J :?DA64E E96 A2A6C 32==@E 367@C6 :?D6CE:?8 :E :?E@ 2 D6A2C2E6 E23F=2E:@? >249:?6] %96 AC@46DD H2D >62?E E@ 3@=DE6C 4@?7:56?46 :? 6=64E:@?D[ r@D8C@G6 D2:5]k^Am kAmr@D8C@G6 E@=5 E96 {2D '682D #6G:6H\y@FC?2= E92E D96 E6IE65 {@C6?2 !@CE:==@[ E96 r=2C< r@F?EJ C68:DEC2C @7 G@E6CD[ 27E6C D96 D2H E92E =:?6D H6C6 @FE E96 5@@C 2E r$}’D r92C=6DE@? q@F=6G2C5 42>AFD] !@CE:==@ C6A=:65 E92E E96 ?6H AC@46DD H2D E2<:?8 2 3:E =@?86C E92? 6IA64E65[ r@D8C@G6 D2:5]k^Am kAm“%96 AC:?E6CD 2C6 ?@E BF:4<[” E96 AC@76DD@C 25565]k^Am kAmx?DE625 @7 :?4C62D:?8 4@?7:56?46[ E96 ?6H AC@46DD 4@F=5 C6DF=E :? H@CC:6D 7C@> A6@A=6 H9@ D2H =@?8 =:?6D 2?5 6IA6C:6?465 56=2J65 C6DF=ED] qFE r@D8C@G6 D2:5 D96 5@6D?’E 36=:6G6 E96 6IEC2 H2:E:?8 27764E65 E96 :?E68C:EJ @7 E96 6=64E:@?]k^Am kAm“!6@A=6 86E H6:C5 4@?DA:C24J E96@C:6D :? E96:C 9625 H96? D@>6E9:?8’D @77[” D96 D2:5[ 255:?8 E92E }6G252 =@@<65 “<:?5 @7 D:==J” H96? E96 DE2E6 925 C6=62D65 ?@ C6DF=ED H9:=6 E96 C6DE @7 E96 4@F?ECJ H2D 42==:?8 C246D]k^Am kAm~77:4:2=D =@@< E@ :>AC@G6 7FEFC6 6=64E:@? =:?6Dk^Am kAmr@F?EJ @77:4:2=D 92G6 D2:5 C6D@FC46D 2E A@==:?8 =@42E:@?D H6C6 56E6C>:?65 3J EFC?@FE :? A2DE 6=64E:@?D — 3FE :?:E:2= ?F>36CD D9@H E92E :?\A6CD@? EFC?@FE @? t=64E:@? s2J :? r=2C< r@F?EJ H2D C@F89=J E96 D2>6 2D E96 =2DE >:5E6C> 86?6C2= 6=64E:@? :? a_aa]k^Am kAmxE C6>2:?D F?4=62C H92E 6I24E=J 42FD65 56=2JD 2E qC:?=6J |:55=6 $49@@=[ 2 ?6H A@==:?8 D:E6 :? a_ae H96C6 E96 =2DE G@E6C H2:E65 ?62C=J 7:G6 9@FCD] r@F?EJ 52E2 D9@HD E92E fad A6@A=6 G@E65 2E E96 >:55=6 D49@@= @? %F6D52J] sFC:?8 E96 =2DE >:5E6C> 86?6C2= 6=64E:@? :? a_aa[ E96C6 H6C6 fgd :?\A6CD@? G@E6CD 2E E96 4=@D6DE A@==:?8 =@42E:@?[ 2? 6=6>6?E2CJ D49@@= =6DD E92? 2 >:=6 2H2J] %92E D49@@= H2D ?@E FD65 E9:D J62C]k^Am kAm“p55:E:@?2==J[ E96 t=64E:@?D s6A2CE>6?E :D F?23=6 E@ 255 >249:?6D E@ 2 =@42E:@? :7 255:E:@?2= A@H6C D@FC46D 2C6 F?2G2:=23=6 — E9:D :D 2 492==6?86 H:E9 =@42E:@?D 24C@DD E96 C68:@?[” r=2C< r@F?EJ DA@<6DH@>2? y6??:76C r@@A6C D2:5 :? 2 DE2E6>6?E]k^Am kAm~? 6=64E:@? ?:89E[ !@CE:==@ E@=5 C6A@CE6CD E92E @77:4:2=D 5:5 ?@E D66 2? 23?@C>2==J 9:89 ?F>36C @7 7:CDE\E:>6 G@E6CD C68:DE6C:?8 @? %F6D52J] %9@D6 G@E6CD 42DE AC@G:D:@?2= 32==@ED[ H9:49 42? E2<6 =@?86C 7@C @77:4:2=D E@ G6C:7J]k^Am k9bm&?4@?E6DE65 C246D 4=@8 FA 32==@EDk^9bm kAm}6G252 $64C6E2CJ @7 $E2E6 uC2?4:D4@ p8F:=2C D2:5 @? (65?6D52J E92E ?@ @?6 D9@F=5 92G6 E@ H2:E :? =:?6 FA E@ 7:G6 9@FCD E@ G@E6]k^Am kAm“}6G252?D 56D6CG6 36EE6C[ 2?5 >J E62> :D C625J E@ DFAA@CE r=2C< r@F?EJ @77:4:2=D 2?5 @77:4:2=D 7C@> 2?J 4@F?EJ H:==:?8 E@ E2<6 @H?6CD9:A 2?5 4@?7C@?E E96D6 :DDF6D 9625 @?[” p8F:=2C D2:5 :? 2? 6>2:=65 DE2E6>6?E]k^Am kAmw:D DA@<6DA6CD@? D2:5 p8F:=2C H2D ?@E 2G2:=23=6 7@C 2? :?E6CG:6H 2?5 5:C64E65 255:E:@?2= BF6DE:@?D E@ 4@F?EJ @77:4:2=D]k^Am kAmr=2C< r@F?EJ A=2465 D@>6 @7 E96 3=2>6 @? 2 EH@\A286[ 5@F3=6\D:565 32==@E 7:==65 H:E9 ?F>6C@FD ;F5:4:2= C246D[ >2?J @7 H9:49 H6C6 F?4@?E6DE65]k^Am kAm“%96 r@F?EJ 4@?E:?F6D E@ H6=4@>6 E96 $64C6E2CJ’D A6CDA64E:G6 @? C65F4:?8 E96 =6?8E9 @7 2 32==@E H96? F?4@?E6DE65 C246D 2C6 :?4=F565[” r@@A6C D2:5 :? 96C DE2E6>6?E]k^Am kAmw2CG2C5 “{2CCJ” {@>2I[ H9@ AC6G:@FD=J D6CG65 2D E96 r=2C< r@F?EJ C68:DEC2C @7 G@E6CD[ BF6DE:@?65 H9J =2H>2<6CD 92G6?’E C6>@G65 F?4@?E6DE65 C246D 7C@> 32==@ED]k^Am kAm“{6E’D 86E E96> @77 E96 32==@E[” 96 D2:5] “%96J’G6 H@?] x7 E96J 86E @?6 G@E6[ E96J H:?]”k^Am kAmrC:>:?2= 5676?D6 2EE@C?6J 2?5 A@542DE6C s2JG:5 u:8=6C[ H9@ AC6G:@FD=J D6CG65 2D 2 {2D '682D |F?:4:A2= r@FCE yF586[ D2:5 E9:D J62C D66>65 E@ 92G6 @?6 @7 E96 =@?86DE 32==@ED :? r=2C< r@F?EJ H96? :E 4@>6D E@ ;F5:4:2= C246D]k^Am kAms:DEC:4E ;F586D D6CG6 D:I\J62C E6C>D[ D@ F?=6DD 2 ;F586 :D 2AA@:?E65 2?5 CF?D 7@C E96 D62E :? 2 DF3D6BF6?E 6=64E:@?[ E96 >2;@C:EJ @7 C246D H:== 36 G@E65 @? 6G6CJ D:I J62CD] p?5 G@E:?8 :? ?@?A2CE:D2? C246D :D >@C6 4@>A=:42E65 2?5 E:>6 4@?DF>:?8 E92? D:>A=J 7@==@H:?8 A2CEJ =:?6D[ D2:5 u:8=6C[ H9@ DFAA@CED 2 DJDE6> @7 2AA@:?E:?8 ;F586D C2E96C E92? 6=64E:?8 E96>]k^Am kAm“$@>6 A6@A=6 >:89E 36 E9:?<:?8 23@FE :E 7@C E96 G6CJ 7:CDE E:>6 2?5 86EE:?8 7CFDEC2E65[” u:8=6C D2:5 23@FE G@E6CD H9@ 42DE 2 32==@E @? t=64E:@? s2J]k^Am k9bmt=64E:@? @3D6CG6CD C6A@CE =@?8 =:?6D[ >:?:>2= E649 :DDF6Dk^9bm kAm#@36CE qC6D4:2[ 2 32CE6?56C H9@ =:G6D :? 5@H?E@H? {2D '682D[ D2:5 96 92D G@E65 @? t=64E:@? s2J 2E z~ z?F5D@? |:55=6 $49@@= 7@C >@C6 E92? `_ J62CD] w6 C642==65 D66:?8 FA E@ a_ G@E:?8 >249:?6D :? E96 A2DE[ 3FE E9:D J62C E96C6 H6C6 @?=J 6:89E] %H@ @7 E96> H6C6 C6D6CG65 7@C A6@A=6 42DE:?8 2 AC@G:D:@?2= 32==@E]k^Am kAm“(6 8@ E9:D E:>6[ 2?5 E96C6’D 2 =:?6 @FE E96 5@@C E@ E96 DEC66E[” qC6D4:2 E@=5 E96 #6G:6H\y@FC?2=] “xE’D ?6G6C E92E H2J[ ?6G6C]”k^Am kAmqC6D4:2[ 2 s6>@4C2E[ D2:5 E96 24EF2= G@E:?8 AC@46DD H2D C6=2E:G6=J BF:4<[ 2=E9@F89 AC:?E:?8 @FE E96 32==@E E@@< 2 76H 6IEC2 >@>6?ED] qFE 96 D2H 2E =62DE E9C66 A6@A=6 =62G6 E96 =:?6 H9:=6 96 H2:E65 @G6C 2? 9@FC E@ C6249 2 >249:?6]k^Am kAm%96 p>6C:42? r:G:= {:36CE:6D &?:@? @7 }6G252 925 >@C6 E92? c__ A6@A=6 @G6C `_ 4@F?E:6D @3D6CG:?8 6=64E:@?D 5FC:?8 62C=J G@E:?8 2?5 @? t=64E:@? s2J] pE92C w2D663F==29[ E96 @C82?:K2E:@?’D 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C[ D2:5 @3D6CG6CD ?@E65 E92E E96 G@E:?8 AC@46DD H2D E2<:?8 D6G6C2= >:?FE6D =@?86C A6C A6CD@?]k^Am kAm“(96? J@F 255 2 4@FA=6 >:?FE6D 96C6 2?5 2 4@FA=6 >:?FE6D E96C6[ :E DE2CED E@ 255 FA @G6C2==[” 96 D2:5]k^Am kAmw2D663F==29 D2:5 @3D6CG6CD 2=D@ D2H =@?8 =:?6D @? E96 =2DE 52J @7 62C=J G@E:?8[ H96? D@>6 A6@A=6 H2:E65 ?62C=J E9C66 9@FCD E@ 7:?:D9 42DE:?8 2 32==@E]k^Am kAm%96C6 H6C6 C6A@CED @7 >:?@C E649?@=@8:42= :DDF6D E9C@F89@FE E96 52J E92E H6C6 C6D@=G65 BF:4<=J[ 2D H6== 2D >2?J J@F?8[ 7:CDE\E:>6 G@E6CD 2E &}{'[ 96 D2:5]k^Am kAm%96 }6G252 t=64E:@? ~3D6CG2E:@? }6EH@C< D6?E 23@FE eg @3D6CG6CD E@ dg A@==:?8 =@42E:@?D 24C@DD }6G252 @? t=64E:@? s2J] {6I: q@:C@[ 2 52E2 2?2=JDE H:E9 E96 ?@?AC@7:E[ D2:5 E96 @C82?:K2E:@? C646:G65 2 76H C6A@CED @7 >:?@C E649?@=@8:42= :DDF6D]k^Am kAm$@>6 @3D6CG6CD C6A@CE65 A6@A=6 6I:E:?8 =@?8 =:?6D E@ 8@ 9@>6 2?5 7:== @FE E96:C >2:=\:? 32==@E 7@C 5C@A\@77]k^Am kAm“x E9:?< H92E H6 D2H @? %F6D52J H2D 2 G@E:?8 AC@46DD E92E D9@F=5 36 ECFDE65[” q@:C@ D2:5]k^Am kAmw2D663F==29 BF6DE:@?65 H96E96C E96C6 :D 2 BF:4< D@=FE:@? E@ =@?8 =:?6D 36J@?5 E96 8@G6C?>6?E 255:?8 >@C6 A@== H@C<6CD @C G@E:?8 >249:?6D] {68:D=2E@CD 4@F=5 2==@H :?:E:2= C6DF=ED E@ 36 C6=62D65 367@C6 6G6CJ@?6 :? =:?6 92D G@E65[ 3FE E92E CF?D E96 C:D< @7 :?7=F6?4:?8 A6@A=6 E@ =62G6 E96 =:?6 H96? E96J D66 E9@D6 C6DF=ED[ 96 D2:5]k^Am kAm{@>2I[ E96 7@C>6C 4@F?EJ C68:DEC2C[ 62C?65 2 C6AFE2E:@? 7@C D>@@E9 6=64E:@?D H96? 96 D6CG65 :? E96 C@=6 7C@> `hhh E@ a_`b] q24< E96? G@E6CD H6C6 2DD:8?65 E@ 2 DA64:7:4 AC64:?4E :?DE625 @7 36:?8 23=6 E@ 8@ E@ 2?J G@E:?8 46?E6C]k^Am kAmtG6? H96? E96C6 H6C6 D6E AC64:?4ED[ {@>2I D2:5[ :E H2D 92C5 E@ 6DE:>2E6 E96 36DE H2J E@ 5:DEC:3FE6 G@E:?8 >249:?6D 2?5 C6D@FC46D] w6 D2:5 !@CE:==@[ H9@ H@C<65 F?56C {@>2I[ “D66>D E@ 36 5@:?8 ;FDE 7:?6” :? 96C C@=6]k^Am kAmw2D663F==29 D2:5 E92E :?7@C>:?8 G@E6CD 23@FE E96:C @AE:@?D E@ FD6 62C=J G@E:?8 @C >2:=\:? 32==@ED 2=D@ H@F=5 C65F46 7FEFC6 H2:E E:>6D]k^Am kAm&}{' 9:DE@CJ AC@76DD@C |:4926= vC66? D2:5 C646?E 6=64E:@?D 92G6 D66? >@C6 A6@A=6 D9@H:?8 FA ;FDE 367@C6 A@==D 4=@D6 2E f A]>][ 56DA:E6 E96 G2C:6EJ @7 G@E:?8 @AE:@?D]k^Am kAm“x’> 92AAJ E92E D@ >