When I first voted in 1984, the model combined security with efficiency: in-person voting, paper ballots, and photo ID requirements, along with a strict timeline that kept the process focused and transparent. Polls closed at 8 PM, and each polling station had to submit their results by 10 PM, with final regional tallies completed by midnight. This deadline system prevented the uncertainty of prolonged counting while maintaining accuracy through bipartisan verification - representatives from both parties had to agree on each ballot’s validity, with contested ballots elevated to a secondary review team.
This time-tested approach worked because it combined robust security measures with clear deadlines: in-person verification, paper documentation, bipartisan oversight, and a defined completion timeline. The structured process eliminated the ambiguity of extended counting periods while ensuring every legitimate vote was properly validated and counted on election day.