Vote counting system
Encyclopedia
There exist various methods through which the ballot
s cast at an election
may be counted, prior to applying a voting system
to obtain one or more winners.
that represents voter intent. The physical ballots are read and interpreted; then results are individually tabulated.
Such a system may be used for recounts in areas where mechanical or automated counting systems are used.
s or marksense, are collected and fed into a machine to tabulate vote totals. Tabulation can occur with each individual ballot, or in batches.
s in a polling station
, or all voting machines in a precinct
, etc.
Ballot
A ballot is a device used to record choices made by voters. Each voter uses one ballot, and ballots are not shared. In the simplest elections, a ballot may be a simple scrap of paper on which each voter writes in the name of a candidate, but governmental elections use pre-printed to protect the...
s cast at an election
Election
An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy operates since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the...
may be counted, prior to applying a voting system
Voting system
A voting system or electoral system is a method by which voters make a choice between options, often in an election or on a policy referendum....
to obtain one or more winners.
Manual counting
Manual counting requires a physical ballotBallot
A ballot is a device used to record choices made by voters. Each voter uses one ballot, and ballots are not shared. In the simplest elections, a ballot may be a simple scrap of paper on which each voter writes in the name of a candidate, but governmental elections use pre-printed to protect the...
that represents voter intent. The physical ballots are read and interpreted; then results are individually tabulated.
Such a system may be used for recounts in areas where mechanical or automated counting systems are used.
Electromechanical and Optical scan counting
Paper ballots, typically punched cardPunched card
A punched card, punch card, IBM card, or Hollerith card is a piece of stiff paper that contains digital information represented by the presence or absence of holes in predefined positions...
s or marksense, are collected and fed into a machine to tabulate vote totals. Tabulation can occur with each individual ballot, or in batches.
Direct-recording voting (mechanical) counting
Voters selecting switches (levers), pushing plastic chips through holes, or pushing mechanical buttons which increment a mechanical counter (sometimes called the odometer) for the appropriate candidate.Direct-recording electronic counting
Voting data and ballot images are recorded in memory components. Tabulation of the voting data stored in a removable memory component and as printed copy. The system may also provide a means for transmitting individual ballots or vote totals to a central location for consolidating and reporting results from precincts at the central location. This consolidation can be any subset of machines, such as all voting machineVoting machine
Voting machines are the total combination of mechanical, electromechanical, or electronic equipment , that is used to define ballots; to cast and count votes; to report or display election results; and to maintain and produce any audit trail information...
s in a polling station
Polling station
A polling place or polling station is where voters cast their ballots in elections.Since elections generally take place over a one- or two-day span on a periodic basis, often annual or longer, polling places are often located in facilities used for other purposes, such as schools, churches, sports...
, or all voting machines in a precinct
Precinct
A precinct is a space enclosed by the walls or other boundaries of a particular place or building, or by an arbitrary and imaginary line drawn around it. The term has several different uses...
, etc.
See also
- Recount
- Tally (voting)Tally (voting)A tally is an unofficial private observation of an election count carried out under Proportional Representation using the Single Transferable Vote. Tallymen, predominantly a feature of the Irish electoral process, are appointed by political candidates and parties. They observe the opening of...
- Electronic votingElectronic votingElectronic voting is a term encompassing several different types of voting, embracing both electronic means of casting a vote and electronic means of counting votes....
- Voting machineVoting machineVoting machines are the total combination of mechanical, electromechanical, or electronic equipment , that is used to define ballots; to cast and count votes; to report or display election results; and to maintain and produce any audit trail information...
- Voting/Electoral systemVoting systemA voting system or electoral system is a method by which voters make a choice between options, often in an election or on a policy referendum....
- BallotBallotA ballot is a device used to record choices made by voters. Each voter uses one ballot, and ballots are not shared. In the simplest elections, a ballot may be a simple scrap of paper on which each voter writes in the name of a candidate, but governmental elections use pre-printed to protect the...
External links
- The Election Technology Library research list - A comprehensive list of research relating to technology use in elections.
- E-Voting information from ACE Project
- AEI-Brookings Election Reform Project
- Voting and Elections by Douglas W. Jones: Thorough articles about the history and problems with Voting Machinery
- Selker, TedTed SelkerEdwin Joseph Selker, better known as Ted Selker is an American computer scientist known for his user-interface inventions.-Biography:Selker graduated from Brown University in 1979 with a BS in Applied Mathematics, and from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with an MS in Computer and...
Scientific American Magazine Fixing the Vote October 2004 - The Machinery of Democracy: Voting System Security, Accessibility, Usability, and Cost from Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law
- An index of articles on vote counting from the ACE Project guide to designing and administering elections