As the presidential race tightens, voter turnout could play a decisive role, and a new study warns that some Americans may have a harder time casting ballots than others.

Spencer Overton with The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies says a lack of resources and planning are largely responsible for delays at polling places.

"Amusement parks and other public venues manage wait times and lines with a science called 'queueing theory' where they collect data and they make sure adequate resources are in place. This should be applied to voting."

To reduce wait times, he suggests states, counties and cities should adopt and enforce minimum wait-time standards, provide adequate funding for voting machines and workers, expand early vote days, and add the option of voting by mail.