Voting locations have changed over time as laws have changed and public opinion has shifted. In the early years of the United States, people voted in church basements and town halls. In the 20th century, more people moved into cities and towns and high schools began to be used as polling places.
The reason why voting is largely conducted in high schools today is due to the fact that there are many benefits to using them as polling places. These benefits include larger spaces that can accommodate more people, the availability of plenty of parking, and the presence of staff and security measures. Additionally, high schools typically have large student populations who are potential and interested voters — encouraging youth to participate in the electoral process. The wide space available in high schools also provides ample opportunities to practice social distancing during a pandemic. Finally, in some instances, funds from the school activity fees may be able to cover costs for hosting voting facilities, which makes them cheaper to use.
