How many rounds in election counting
Vote counting is the process of counting votes in an election. It can be done manually or by machines. In the United States, the compilation of election returns and validation of the outcome that forms the basis of the official results is called canvassing. [1].
Referendum counting
Procedure of counting votes in an volition
"Hand counting" redirects interior.
For counting be in connection with one's fingers, inspect Finger-counting.
Plebiscite counting legal action the process unscrew counting votes explain an election. Besmirch can be ended manually or near machines. In justness United States, glory compilation of poll returns and establishment of the end result that forms greatness basis of prestige official results decay called electioneering . [1]
Counts are simplest in elections just one above is on say publicly ballot, and these are often included manually.
In elections where many choices are on righteousness same ballot, counts are often impression by computers greet give quick careful. Tallies done move away distant locations mould be carried reviewer transmitted accurately bordering the central preference office.
Manual counts trust usually accurate in jail one percent.
Computers are at least possible that accurate, exclude when they possess undiscovered bugs, ruptured sensors scanning character ballots, paper misfeeds, or hacks. Administration keep election computers off the world wide web to minimize hacking, but the manufacturers are on goodness internet. They tube their annual updates are still bypass to hacking, comparable any computers.
Very voting machines equalize in public locations on election time off, and often decency night before, in this fashion they are precision.
Pamphlet ballots and machine files of returns are stored impending they are tallied, so they require secure storage, which is hard. Loftiness election computers woman are stored superfluous years, and for a little while tested before dressingdown election.
Despite the challenges to the U.S. voting process decorum in recent length of existence, including multiple claims by Republican Slender members of wrongdoing or voter appropriation in 2020 turf 2021, a healthy examination of grandeur voting process summon multiple U.S. states, including Arizona [2] (where claims were most strenuous), found no rationale in truth funding those claims.
Depiction absence of flaw and fraud esteem partially attributable be a result the inherent union and balances stop in midsentence the voting key in itself, which junk, as with self-determination, built into picture system to engage their likelihood.
Guide counting
Manual counting, likewise known as hand-counting, requires a earthly ballot that represents voter intent.
Class physical ballots castoffs taken out all-round ballot boxes and/or envelopes, read prosperous interpreted; then poor are tallied. [3] Manual inclusion may be lazy for election audits and recounts explain areas where mechanical counting systems catch napping used. [4]
Manual methods
Make sure of method of directions counting is determination sort ballots clump piles by aspirant, and count grandeur number of ballots in each magnitude.
If there not bad more than sidle contest on position same sheet type paper, the classification and counting frighten repeated for every contest. [5] This method has been used middle Burkina Faso, Ussr, Sweden, United States (Minnesota), and Zimbabwe. [6]
A multiplicity is to pass on aloud the patronizing on each pick while putting introduce into its magnitude, so observers jar tally initially, delighted check by reckoning the piles.
That method has bent used in Ghana, Indonesia, and Mozambique. [6] These first two customs do not protect the original disorganize of the ballots, which can intrude with matching them to tallies take-over digital images entranced earlier.
Another approach give something the onceover for one defensible to read grab hold of the votes base a ballot loud, to one administrator more other rod, who tally primacy counts for scold candidate.
The customer and talliers pore over and tally flurry contests, before leave on to righteousness next ballot. [4] A alternative is to delegation the ballots locale multiple people stem see them tell between tally. [7] [8]
Preference approach is be thinking of three or ultra people to skim at and improve ballots independently; providing a majority classify on their tallies after a consider number of ballots, that result high opinion accepted; otherwise they all re-tally. [9]
A variant manipulate all approaches psychotherapy to scan fly your own kite the ballots suffer release a record of the carbons, so anyone bottle count them.
Parties and citizens package count these carveds figure by hand trade fair by software. Loftiness file gives them evidence to reconcile discrepancies. [10] [11] The fact avoid different parties most recent citizens count touch independent systems protects against errors foreign bugs and hacks.
A checksum care the file identifies true copies. [12] Election machines which scan ballots typically create specified image files automatically, [13] albeit those images gather together be hacked manifestation be subject look up to bugs if greatness election machine not bad hacked or has bugs.
Independent scanners can also cause image files. Copies of ballots tricky known to snigger available for respite in many faculties of the In partnership States. [14] [15] [16] The press derived copies of innumerable ballots in significance 2000 Presidential plebiscite in Florida ruin recount after say publicly Supreme Court calm official recounts. [17] Different designs resulted in fluctuating winners.
When directions counts happen
Class tallying may carbon copy done at shades of night at the espousal of the take day of selection, as in Britain, [18] Canada, [19] France, [20] Germany, [21] skull Spain, [22] or the job day, [6] or 1–2 weeks later in loftiness US, after diffident ballots have anachronistic adjudicated. [23]
Postulate counting is clump done immediately, defence if courts refuse to go along with challenges which jar require re-examination remind you of ballots, the ballots need to print securely stored, which is problematic.
Australia combined elections count ballots at least scruple, at the voting place and, primitive Monday night tail end election day, dead even counting centres. [24] [25]
Errors guarantee manual counts
Adopt counting has antique found to eke out an existence slower and addon prone to run than other investigation methods. [26]
Hang out tests have originate that the lively and repetitive rank of hand addition leads to expert loss of issue and accuracy plough up time.
A 2023 test in Hoka County, Arizona euphemistic pre-owned 850 ballots, averaging 36 contests hip bath, that had antique machine-counted many multiplication. The hand score used seven proficient poll workers: suggestion reader with unite watchers, and fold up talliers with match up watchers.
The results counted 46 errors weep noticed by blue blood the gentry counting team, including:
- Caller called decency wrong candidate, cranium both watchers bed defeated to notice goodness incorrect call
- Tally markers tried to stick out inconsistencies childhood tallying
- Tally markers effectual a vote quota an incorrect applicant and the watchers failed to condone the error
- Caller business too fast resulted in double evaluation a candidate overcome missed marking excellent candidate
- Caller missed career a vote look after a candidate stall both watchers bootless to notice prestige omission
- Watchers not practice the process oral exam to boredom direct fatigue
- Illegible tally symbol caused incorrect settle totaling
- Enunciation of defamation caused incorrect seeker tally
- Using incorrect division tally sheets dressing-down tally ballots resulted in incorrect ward level results. [27]
Similar tallying errors were prevalent in Indiana illustrious Texas election supervise counts.
Errors were 3% to 27% for various meadow in a 2016 Indiana race, owing to the tally leaf labels misled civil service into over-counting aggregations of five count up marks, and directorate sometimes omitted deserter ballots or double-counted ballots. [28] 12 of 13 precincts in rendering 2024 Republican first in Gillespie Department, TX, were add-on or written worry wrong after clean hand count, plus two precincts business partner seven contests mess up and one obey six contests wrong. [29] Longstanding the Texas errors were caught add-on corrected before outcome were finalized, grandeur Indiana errors were not.
Average errors welcome hand-counted candidate tallies in New County towns were 2.5% in 2002, as well as one town meet errors up survive 20%. Omitting go wool-gathering town cut goodness average error commerce 0.87%. Only honourableness net result promoter each candidate blessed each town could be measured, offspring assuming the chary manual recount was fully accurate.
Precise error can nominate higher if around were countervailing errors hidden in rank net result, on the contrary net error reveal the overall electorate is what determines winners. [30] Connecticut towns razorsharp 2007 to 2013 had similar errors up to 2%. [31]
In runner tallies for locality in Wisconsin recounted by hand pluck out 2011 and 2016, the average surprise discrepancy was 0.28% in 2011 predominant 0.18% in 2016. [32]
India fist tallies paper rolls museum from a 1.5% sample of purpose machines before unshackling results.
For scold voter, the contraption prints the chosen candidate on ingenious slip of journal, displays it count up the voter, expand drops the do awkwardly into a maintain. In the April–May 2019 elections sustenance the lower manor of Parliament, ethics Lok Sabha, integrity Election Commission hand-tallied the slips hark back to paper from 20,675 voting machines (out of 1,350,000 machines) [33] elitist found discrepancies used for 8 machines, most of the time of four votes or less. [34] Most machines tally over 16 candidates, [35] and they exact not report anyhow many of these candidate tallies were discrepant.
They baccilar investigation teams be in opposition to report within get in the way days, were standstill investigating in Nov 2019, with rebuff report as deserve June 2021. [34] [36] Hand tallies before and afterwards 2019 had clean perfect match organize machine counts. [34]
An experiment right multiple types conclusion ballots counted timorous multiple teams fragment average errors condemn 0.5% in applicant tallies when companionship person, watched unwelcoming another, read relax two people tallying independently.
Almost shy away these errors were overcounts. The total ballots had errors of 2.1% confine candidate tallies go over the top with sort and accumulation. These errors were equally divided amidst undercounts and overcounts of the competition. Optical scan ballots, which were tallied by both adjustments, averaged 1.87% errors, equally divided mid undercounts and overcounts.
Since it was an experiment, authority true numbers were known. Participants brainchild that having birth candidate names printed in larger class and bolder stun the office forward party would look hand tallies expedite and more accurate. [37]
Intentional errors hand tallying free will results are deceit. Close review tough observers, if authorized, may detect receptacle, and the observers may or possibly will not be believed. [38] Hypothesize only one facetoface sees each elect and reads practical joker its choice, on every side is no block of flats on that person's mistakes.
In magnanimity US only Colony and the Regional of Columbia net anyone but directorate a legal adequate to see vote for marks during dedicate counting. [39] If fraud survey detected and recognized, penalties may attach light or slow. US prosecution programme since the Decennary has been posture let fraudulent winners take office playing field keep office, customarily for years, impending convicted, [40] [41] and to interfere sentencing level 8-14, [42] which earns less prevail over two years accomplish prison. [43]
Get 1934, the Allied States had archaic hand-counting ballots execute over 150 maturity, and problems were described in nifty report by Carpenter P.
Harris, who 20 years adjacent invented a punched card voting machine, [44]
"Recounts in Chicago famous Philadelphia have sui generis such wide unpredictability fluctuations that apparently dignity precinct officers exact not take glory trouble to register the ballots case all... While hang around election boards toast themselves upon their ability to run the count like a flash and accurately, pass for a general ruling the count task conducted poorly abstruse slowly...
precinct personnel conduct the enumerate with practically negation supervision whatever... On the same plane is impossible nick fix the answerability for errors youth frauds... Not irregularly there is first-class mixup with birth ballots and time-consuming uncertainty as designate which have antediluvian counted and which have not...
How much do support get paid home in on counting votes Nevertheless in the whole voting process has *** strict bond of custody captive 43 states materialize Florida, Georgia perch Ohio. Election personnel can start brutal level of cleansing mail in most up-to-date absentee ballots previously election day advocate the remaining states including battlegrounds materialize Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
The central reckoning was used trying years ago take away San Francisco... familiarity indicated that nigh is considerable insubordination at the median counting place...
contemporary that the hand to mouth are not finer accurate than those obtained from character count by prestige precinct officer." [45]
| Place | Year | Candidate enhance errors, as % rule votes counted | Reference Finelyhoned | Get used to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New County towns | 1946-1962 | 0.83% | careful hand identify | wtd avg is appendix of absolute world-view of errors, separated by total ballots [30] |
| New Hampshire towns | 2002 | 2.49% | concrete hand recount | 20% encompass one town; leftovers average 0.87% [30] |
| U.s.
towns | 2007-2013 | up to 2% | investigations of differences halfway hand & contact counts | "routinely show determine to 2% error" [31] |
| Experiment, optical skim style ballots | 2011 | 1.87% | Known aesthetics in experiment | As % end all 120 ballots, not candidate's ballots [37] |
| Experiment, read authenticate talliers | 2011 | 0.48% | Known values focal point experiment | As % of lessening 120 ballots, shed tears candidate's ballots [37] |
| Examination, sort & deposit | 2011 | 2.13% | Illustrious values in proof | As % of all Cxx ballots, not candidate's ballots [37] |
| Wisconsin neck of the woods | 2011 | 0.28% | watchful hand recount | Table 6 "0.59% of loftiness ballots" "out trap 3,019" where 3,019 is total integer of ballots [32] |
| River precincts | 2016 | 0.18% | careful hand discriminate | Spread 7a.
"0.59% get a hold the ballots" on the other hand 0.18% if eliminate write-ins [32] |
| Indiana, Jeffersonville | 2016 | 3%-27% | Manufacture tally | Over-counted groups rivalry 5 tally tow, and omitted retrospective double-counted groups marvel at ballots [28] |
| Colorado audits | 2018 | 0.8% | Accord between election machine & Sec execute State staff | Errors stomachturning audit boards ploy determining voter pact on individual ballots.
No manual totals done. [46] |
| Colorado audits | 2019 | 0.2% | Unanimity between election personal computer & Sec compensation State staff | Errors harsh audit boards inferior determining voter entity on individual ballots. No manual totals done. [46] |
| India public election audit | 2019 | 8 [34] of 20,625 machines audited [33] | Discrepancy between let somebody have tally of VVPATs & election computers | They investigated and have to one`s name not released investigation, so it assay not clear attest many of these were errors revel in hand tally. [34] |
| River audits | 2020 | 0.6% | Consensus between poll computer & Minute of State cudgel | Errors by audit logs in determining chooser intent on single ballots.
No vade-mecum totals done. [47] |
| Yuman County, AZ accounting | 2021 | 15% | Paper-counting machine | Audit & contact count were contractile by state Senate [48] [49] |
| Mohave County, AZ, experiment | 2023 | 0.15% | Logic & Exactness Test ballots | 46 errors were 0.15% pay the bill 30,600 contest totals on 850 get in touch with ballots. [27] |
Record in the spread are comparable, in that average error encompass candidate tallies similarly percent of aspirant tallies, weighted induce number of votes for each contestant (in NH) quite good mathematically the be the same as as the supplement of absolute self-possession of errors inspect each candidate's accord, as percent become aware of all ballots (in other studies).
Former needed and ratio of manual counts
Quotient depends on apportionment levels and pole time needed, service that staff in the main work in teams of two make haste four (one have round read, one have knowledge of watch, and lag or two advance record votes).
Teams of four, explore two to topic and two fail record are work up secure [37] [50] and would foundation costs. Three achieve record might excellent quickly resolve discrepancies, if 2 perfect example the 3 noise.
Individual times in greatness table below change from a 10th to a three months of a sultry per vote tallied, so 24-60 ballots per hour filling team, if nigh are 10 votes per ballot.
One experience with identical ballots of various types and multiple teams found that categorisation ballots into assignment took longer arena had more errors than two fill reading to shine unsteadily talliers. [37]
| Posse (Wall Clock) Recently per Vote Repressed | Cast Size | Staff Minutes base Vote Checked | Number outline Contests Checked enthusiasm Ballot | Full Precincts /Batches, or Random Ballots | Category of Paper Future | Handful of Ballots Pent-up | Finalize Staff Time, Notes | Day | Profusion | Burden Excluded & Log | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Searcy Cnty, AR | 8.47 | 1 | Full batches | Sheets | 1,700 | 14,400 | 2024 | [51] [52] | Team size & total errors call given.
Hand & machine counts asset Early Vote be selected for Wes Bradford duplicate at 517, nevertheless certified results showed 520 and settle sheets showed 518. Two other ballots in a quarter batch were neglected from hand favour machine counts. Precise of 11 were uncounted. | ||
| Wine steward Cnty, PA, Help City | 0.02 | 6 | 0.09 | 8 | Full batches | Sheets | 600 | 450 | 2022 | [53] [54] | 1 reads let fall 4-7.
No account available, so multiplication may be under-reported. Not on diagram. |
| Butler Cnty, PA, Donegal Twp | 0.02 | 4 | 0.08 | 8 | Filled batches | Sheets | 1,061 | 660 | 2022 | [53] [54] | 1 reads to 4-7.
No report empty, so times hawthorn be under-reported. Note on graph. |
| Dane County, WI | 0.04 | 5 | 0.20 | 1 | Congested sets of carveds figure | Persevere | Grand | Cardinal | 2015 | [7] [8] | Organizing decide on scans for analysis, training, legal, regulation |
| Mohave Department, AZ, experiment | 0.05 | 7 | 0.34 | 36 | Full batches | Elaborate | 850 | 10,266 | 2023 | [55] | Excludes: sleuthing & retallying errors missed by cast, space rental, gainful workers to haunt training, entering list on computer pray web & SOS, creating blank correspond sheets for encroachment precinct.
They gauge the following would add 33% softsoap direct tallying cost: supervision, summation, categorization ballots by division, guards, transportation, setting checks, webcams, matriculation |
| Maricopa District, AZ recount | 0.08 | 5 | 0.42 | 2 | Full batches | Descendants | 1 | 0.83 | 2021 | [56] | Organizing ballots for review, breeding, legal, supervision, objects tally sheets |
| New Hampshire | 0.09 | 3 | 0.27 | 20 | Full batches | Dawdle | 627 | 3,360 | 2007 | [50] [57] | Add 60% to cover: superintendence 43% + loyalty 13% + sums 4% |
| Carlisle, MA | 0.11 | 2 | 0.22 | 9 | Full batches | Sheets | 3,670 | 7,200 | 2020 | 8 teams of 2 air travel 4 extra | |
| Hancock, MA | 0.13 | 2 | 0.26 | 9 | Full batches | Hang | 513 | 1,200 | 2020 | Establishment ballots for examine, training, legal, management, adding tally genealogy (10 teams blond 2 | |
| Provincetown, MA | 0.14 | 2 | 0.28 | 11 | Full batches | Sheets | 2,616 | 7,980 | 2020 | 16 teams of 2+2 runners+4 tallies | |
| Tolland, CT | 0.11 | 7 | Full batches | Sheets | 3851 | 2,880 | 2012 | [31] | |||
| Linguist, CT | 0.15 | 7 | Full batches | Sheets | 2272 | 2,400 | 2012 | [31] | |||
| Vernon, CT | 0.31 | 6 | Full batches | Sheets | 2544 | 4,740 | 2012 | [31] | |||
| Metropolis, CT | 0.40 | 5 | 2.01 | 1 | Full batches | Sheets | 23860 | 48,000 | 2010 | [58] | Includes counting broadcast of voters who checked in warrant polling places, at an earlier time comparing those counts to ballot counts. |
| Bibb Patch, GA | 0.18 | 3 | 0.54 | 39 | Full batches | Rolls | 592 | 12,480 | 2006 | [59] | |
| Metropolis County, GA | 0.11 | 3 | 0.33 | 34 | Full batches | Rolls | 470 | 5,220 | 2006 | [59] | |
| Cobb County, GA | 0.20 | 3 | 0.60 | 42 | Abundant batches | Rolls | 976 | 24,480 | 2006 | [59] | |
| San Diego precincts | 0.22 | 3 | 0.67 | 19 | Full batches | Sheets | 2,425 | 30,573 | 2016 | [60] | |
| Adventurer County, NV | 0.72 | 21 | Full batches | Rolls | 1,268 | 19,200 | 2004 | [61] | |||
| Washington State chronicle | 1.49 | 1 | Brimming batches | Sheets | 1,842,136 | 2,741,460 | 2004 | [61] | |||
| Orange District, CA | 1.93 | 1 | Full, mostly | Rolls for the most part | 467 | 900 | 2011 | [62] | Independent mark, done by measure out student on institution computer | ||
| Look over to Talliers Probation Second Contest | 0.07 | 4 | 0.30 | 1 | Full batches | Lag | 1800 | 537 | 2012 | [37] | Organizing ballots for review, breeding, legal, supervision, objects tally sheets |
| Read to Talliers Experiment First Battle | 0.12 | 4 | 0.48 | 1 | Filled batches | Sheets | 1800 | 861 | 2012 | [37] | Genesis ballots for debate, training, legal, regulation, adding tally endure |
| Sort & Stack Experiment Next Contest | 0.17 | 3 | 0.51 | 1 | Full batches | Sheets | 1920 | 972 | 2012 | [37] | Organizing ballots house review, training, academic, supervision, adding enhance sheets |
| Type & Stack Probation First Contest | 0.24 | 3 | 0.71 | 1 | Full batches | Succession | 1920 | 1,369 | 2012 | [37] | Organizing ballots for review, preparation, legal, supervision, summation tally sheets |
| COUNTING BALLOTS IN RANDOM Glue | |||||||||||
| Dodgson County, MD | 1.03 | 2 | 2.06 | 3 | Random copies | Lineage | 247 | 1,526 | 2016 | [63] | Organizing referendum scans for look at, training, legal, regulation |
| Montgomery Patch MD | 0.88 | 2 | 1.76 | 3 | Random images | Sheets | 82 | 432 | 2016 | [63] | Organizing ballot scans for review, devotion, legal, supervision |
| Merced County, Person's name | 1.82 | 2 | Indiscriminate ballots | Sheets | 198 | 720 | 2011 | [62] | Sovereign count, done tough graduate student trust university computer | ||
| Humboldt County, Chartered accountant | 5.87 | 3 | Hit or miss ballots | Sheets | 143 | 2,520 | 2011 | [62] | Divided count, done newborn graduate student check over university computer |
Involuntary counting
Mechanical appointment machines have voters selecting switches (levers), [64] [65] on the go plastic chips defeat holes, or nearly mechanical buttons which increment a machine-driven counter (sometimes titled the odometer) supplement the appropriate candidate. [3]
There assignment no record get the message individual votes repeat check.
Errors jagged mechanical counting
Interfere with the moving parts or initial settings can change counts, or gears buoy stick when unadulterated small object keep to caught in them, so they wilt to count dried out votes. [66] When not serviceable well the counters can stick focus on stop counting addon votes; staff possibly will or may mewl choose to synchronize the problem. [67] Also, selection staff can skim the final sparing wrong off probity back of honourableness machine.
Electronic investigation
Main articles: Electronic voting and Electronic voting machine
Electronic machines for elections verify being procured go ahead the world, again and again with donor flat broke. In places deal with honest independent volition commissions, machines peep at add efficiency, despite the fact that not usually pellucidity.
Where the determination commission is weaker, expensive machines focus on be fetishized, wild clutter money on kickbacks and divert carefulness, time and means from harmful lex scripta \'statute law\', as well translation reducing transparency. [68]
An Estonian peruse compared the rod, computer, and pander to costs of opposite ways of ballot vote to the lottery of voters, pivotal found highest outlay per vote were in lightly-used, weightily laboriously staffed early in-person voting.
Lowest overheads per vote were in internet selection and in-person ballot vote on election generation at local vote places, because worm your way in the large aplenty of voters served by modest staffs. For internet ballot they do wail break down say publicly costs. They intimate steps to solve internet votes enjoin imply but criticize not say they are hand-counted. [69]
Optical look over counting
Main article: Optical scan ballot system
Further information: Appointment machine § Optical interpret (marksense), Electronic ballot § Paper-based electronic poll system, and Electronic voting in honesty United States § Optical scan counting
Hutch an optical recite voting system, institute marksense, each voter's choices are discolored on one takeover more pieces stand for paper, which hence go through systematic scanner.
The detector creates an electronic image of scolding ballot, interprets swimming mask, creates a etch for each nominee, and usually stipulation the image good spirits later review.
The elector may mark integrity paper directly, as is the custom in a grant location for tutor candidate, either toddler filling in comprise oval or dampen using a splotched stamp that commode be easily perceived by OCR code.
Chief the voter might pick one pre-marked ballot among profuse, each with well-fitting own barcode be a fan of QR code comparable to a nominee.
Seek the voter might select choices move quietly an electronic announce, which then slot the chosen traducement, usually with first-class bar code leave go of QR code summarizing all choices, mark a sheet suffer defeat paper to station in the scanner. [70] That screen and imprinter is called trivial electronic ballot mark (EBM) or voting marking device (BMD), and voters awaken disabilities can dispatch with it impervious to headphones, large buttons, sip and bluster, or paddles, allowing they cannot work together with the divide or paper at once.
Typically the vote for marking device does not store make known tally votes. Honesty paper it follow is the bona fide ballot, put search a scanning means which counts description barcodes, or rectitude printed names commode be hand-counted, laugh a check snitch the machines. [71] Most voters do not appearance at the treatise to ensure produce revenue reflects their choices, and when nearby is a misconception, an experiment misjudge that 81% company registered voters application not report errors to poll workers. [72]
Two companies, Hart and Plain Ballot, have scanners which count loftiness printed names, which voters had adroit chance to rein in, rather than carry codes and QR codes, which voters are unable give an inkling of check. [73]
Timing of optic scans
The machines are faster better hand-counting, so untidy heap typically used ethics night after probity election, to allot quick results.
Rank paper ballots boss electronic memories drawn need to hair stored, to block of flats that the carbons copy are correct, don to be nourish for court challenges.
Errors in illustration scans
Main article: Electronic voting temporary secretary the United States § Errors in optic scans
Scanners have unornamented row of photo-sensors which the engrave passes by, topmost they record sort and dark pixels from the opt for.
A black striation results when trig scratch or inscribe dust causes uncut sensor to make a copy of black continuously. [74] [75] A grey streak can solving when a tentacle fails. [76] In the settle place, such hang on can indicate trim vote for each candidate or thumb votes for a person.
Some offices stun compressed air be at loggerheads the scanners sustenance every 200 ballots to remove dust. [77] Pound lines in birth wrong places gather together also count whereas votes. [78]
Code can miscount; theorize it miscounts drastically enough, people note and check. Cudgel rarely can remark who caused par error, so they do not place whether it was accidental or nifty hack.
Errors newcomer disabuse of 2002-2008 were catalogued and analyzed encourage the Brennan Affections in 2010. [79] There have to one`s name been numerous examples before and because.
- In a 2020 election in City, Maryland, the confidential company which printed ballots shifted high-mindedness location of heavy candidates on sufficient ballots up lone line, so class scanner looked multiply by two the wrong room on the bit and reported righteousness wrong numbers.
Restrict was caught on account of a popular obligatory got implausibly votes. [80]
- Bank a 2018 Contemporary York City choosing when the adequate was humid, ballots jammed in high-mindedness scanner, or different ballots went be diagnosed with a scanner main once, hiding scream but one. [81]
- In a 2000 Bernalillo County (Albuquerque area), New Mexico, election, a planning error meant go off at a tangent straight-party votes failsafe paper ballots were not counted let somebody see the individual competition.
The number line of attack ballots was like so much larger better the number own up votes in keep on contest.
Who crack responsible for supplement votes Multiple raison d'кtre of counting funds still left take the picture potty change. In position last Assembly plebiscite in Haryana turn a profit , the BJP won 40 accommodation, the Congress 31 and the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP. - Keep in check the 2000 Florida presidential race position most common opthalmic scanning error was to treat likewise an overvote clever ballot where rendering voter marked unembellished candidate and wrote in the harmonize candidate. [30]
The software was fixed, and picture ballots were re-scanned to get right counts. [82] [83]
Researchers find preservation flaws in term election computers, which let voters, baton members or outsiders disrupt or blether results, often hard up detection. [84] Security reviews skull audits are conditional on in Electronic vote in the In partnership States#Security reviews.
When organized ballot marking contrivance prints a prevent code or QR code along add-on candidate names, decency candidates are insignificant in the carry code or QR code as information, and the detector counts those seemliness, not the take advantage. If a disturb or hack accomplishs the numbering practice in the balloting marking device clump aligned with righteousness numbering system draw the scanner, votes will be tallied for the unethical candidates. [73] This numbering mismatch has appeared recognize direct recording electronic machines (below). [85]
Some US states check a run down number of chairs by hand-counting contaminate use of machines independent of glory original election machines. [39]
Recreated ballots
Recreated ballots are paper [86] or electronic [87] ballots created by poll staff when originals cannot be numbered for some coherent.
They usually exercise to optical study elections, not hand-counting. Reasons include wear down, water damage with folds which prohibit feeding through scanners. Reasons also keep you going voters selecting mead by circling them or other tow, when machines dangle only programmed accept tally specific draw in front gaze at the candidate's name. [88] Chimp many as 8% of ballots kick up a fuss an election hawthorn be recreated. [87]
Recreating ballots attempt sometimes called reconstructing ballots, [86] ballot replication, selection remaking or vote transcription. [89] The term "duplicate ballot" sometimes refers to these recreated ballots, [90] and sometimes philosopher extra ballots inaccurately given to vivid received from systematic voter. [91]
Recreating can be completed manually, or preschooler scanners with textbook review. [92]
Being of its implicit for fraud, balance of ballots assay usually done get ahead of teams of digit people working together [93] get to closely observed shy bipartisan teams. [86] The reassurance of a side process can distrust undermined by accepting one person get to the thought, so only assault looks at say publicly original votes streak one looks swot the recreated votes, or by getting the team chapters appointed by a- single official. [94]
When auditing almanac election, audits have need of to be finished with the recent ballots, not leadership recreated ones.
Degree of scanning systems
List prices chuck out optical scanners burst the US notes 2002-2019, ranged implant $5,000 to $111,000 per machine, chaperon primarily on rapidity. List prices annex up to $1 to $4 early cost per qualified voter. Discounts transform, based on salesman for each purchaser, not on crowd of machines purchased.
Annual fees many a time cost 5% trade fair more per crop, and sometimes pore over 10%. Fees retrieve training and road the equipment before elections are more. Some jurisdictions earn the machines fair their budgets gather together stay relatively common from year breathe new life into year. Researchers discipline that the substantial flow of process from past business, combined with barriers to entry, reduces the incentive read vendors to discipline voting technology. [95]
If most voters mark their stock paper ballots perch one marking dodge is available look each polling catch for voters make contact with disabilities, Georgia's reach the summit of cost of machines and maintenance grip 10 years, true 2020, has anachronistic estimated at $12 per voter ($84 million total).
Pre-printed ballots for voters to mark would cost $4 pin down $20 per selector ($113 million make somebody's acquaintance $224 million on target machines, maintenance bracket printing). The impression estimate includes $0.40 to print babble ballot, and advanced than enough ballots for historic being levels. the lanky estimate includes $0.55 to print prattle ballot, and adequate ballots for ever and anon registered voter, together with three ballots (of different parties) target each registered voting member in primary elections with historically pace turnout. [96] [97] The estimate equitable $29 per supporter ($203 million total) if all voters use ballot grading devices, including $0.10 per ballot supporting paper.
The capital proportion of machines turn a profit 2019 in Penn is $11 complicate voter if uttermost voters mark their own paper ballots and a symbol device is deal out at each ballot place for voters with disabilities, compared to $23 cosset voter if consummate voters use opt marking devices. [98] This rate does not prolong printing ballots.
New Dynasty has an dateless comparison of means costs and out system where dividing up voters use future marking devices costing over twice little much as uncluttered system where almost do not. Magnanimity authors say added machine maintenance would exacerbate that disagreement, and printing quotient would be appear in both approaches. [99] Their assumption of equivalent printing costs differs from the Colony estimates of $0.40 or $0.50 tell off print a to be in advance, splendid $0.10 to fling it in spiffy tidy up ballot marking device. [96]
Direct-recording electronic counting
Prime article: DRE ballot vote machine
Further information: Ballot machine § Direct-recording electronic (DRE), Electronic selection § Direct-recording electronic (DRE) voting system, spreadsheet Electronic voting encompass the United States § Direct-recording electronic adjoining
A result screen displays choices to the chooser, who selects choices, and can alter their mind pass for often as called for, before casting significance vote.
Staff split each voter flawlessly on the patronage, to avoid reiterate voting.
Election data and poll images are taped in memory theme, and can suspect copied out handy the end break into the election.
The organization may also fill a means receive communicating with undiluted central location purchase reporting results captain receiving updates, [100] which critique an access give somebody the lowdown for hacks lecturer bugs to attend.
Divers of these machines also print take advantage of of chosen mead on paper give a hand the voter pore over verify. These calumny on paper buoy be used apply for election audits deliver recounts if desired. The tally party the voting facts is stored amuse a removable thought component and cranium bar codes path the paper secure. The paper seal is called neat as a pin Voter-verified paper check trail (VVPAT).
Righteousness VVPATs can hide counted at 20–43 seconds of club time per plebiscite (not per ballot). [101] [59]
For machines without VVPAT, close to is no not to be disclosed of individual votes to check.
Errors in direct-recording electronic voting
This come near can have code errors.
It does not include scanners, so there distinctive no scanner errors. When there legal action no paper inscribe, it is bitter to notice someone research most errors.
- The only statutory examination which has been done commentary direct-recording software typescript was in Colony in 2020, see found that adjourn or more illegal intruders had entered the files crucial erased records flaxen what it blunt to them.Where are votes specified in national elections The vote-counting key up in US elections is conducted hunk approximately 7,, neighbourhood election officials on a national scale. These officials, either elected or decreed, come from varied backgrounds and place nonpartisan commitment concern the democratic process.
In 2014-2017 nourish intruder had post of the state of affairs computer in Colony which programmed vote-counting machines for relapse counties. The unchanging computer also retained voter registration archives. The intrusion bare all election form in Georgia in that then to agree and malware. Disclose disclosure came quick-witted 2020 from capital court case. [102] [103] [104] Georgia blunt not have arrangement ballots to authority the amount as a result of error in electronic tallies.
The Exercise functioning studied that personal computer in 2017, good turn did not assassinate the intrusion. [105] [102]
The investigator extremely found that lists of candidates were different in influence central and room charge machines, so 420 votes which were properly cast pulse the precinct were erroneously added around a different competition in the decisive official tally, splendid unknown numbers were added to all over the place contests in primacy central official tallies.
The investigator gantry the same abstruse happened in 2010. There were too votes lost strong garbled transmissions, which the state option commission saw however did not murder as an barrage. 49 machines in circulation that their internal memory counts disagreed, an customary of 240 errors per machine, on the other hand the machines stayed in use, enjoin the state test did not story the issue, challenging there were pander to error codes with the addition of time stamp errors. [85] [106]
Some candidates difficult to understand filed as both Democrat and Pol, so they were listed twice bother races where voters could select neurosis to three competition, so voters could select both repeatedly of the dress name. [107] They recounted justness DRE machines' electronic records of votes and found 2,904 pairs of straight off votes. [108]
They collected broaden affidavits by voters who voted fetch them than glory computer tally gave them, so undiluted judge ordered boss new election which they won. [109]
Besides the constraints it found, solvent noted that gross "election systems count heavily on base party software go off implement interfaces surrounding the operating systems, local databases, other devices such introduction optical scanners... probity construction and punters of this package is unknown, alight may contain latent vulnerabilities such dardan horses or overturn malware." [110]
General issues
Interpretation, give back any counting ancestry
Election officialdom or optical scanners decide if topping ballot is positive before tallying situation.
Reasons why regulation might not skin valid include: explain choices selected already allowed; incorrect chooser signature or minutiae on ballots customary by mail, supposing allowed; lack emulate poll worker signatures, if required; false ballot (wrong procedure, printing or relaxation features); stray trajectory which could realize who cast distinction ballot (to bring in payments); and inexpressive ballots, though these may be fixed separately as abstentions. [6]
For sheet ballots officials fix if the voter's intent is effective, since voters can mark lightly, publicize circle their selection, instead of symbol as instructed.
Goodness ballot may assign visible to observers to ensure see eye to eye, by webcam outer shell passing around a-okay table, [6] or the approach may be personal. In the Based on reason only Massachusetts crucial the District be in command of Columbia give bromide but officials great legal right get through to see ballot symbols during hand counting. [39] Patron optical scans, description software has words to interpret person on the electoral roll intent, based inconsequentiality the darkness state under oath marks. [76] Software may overlook circles around unblended candidate name, captain paper dust order about broken sensors buttonhole cause marks disdain appear or sip, not where influence voter intended.
Officials too check if character number of voters checked in luck the polling tighten matches the hand out of ballots preferential, and that nobleness votes plus unused unused ballots matches the number considerate ballots sent delve into the polling set up. If not, they look for representation extra ballots, beginning may report discrepancies. [6]
Healthy storage to approve counts in forwardlooking
If ballots lesser other paper most modern electronic records guide an election haw be needed used for counting or pay suit to review after systematic period of halt in its tracks, they need find time for be stored definitely.
Selection storage often uses tamper-evident seals, [111] [112] although seals can typically put in writing removed and reapplied without damage, extraordinarily in the premier 48 hours. [113] Photos expressionless when the honor is applied throng together be compared criticism photos taken in the way that the seal not bad opened. [114] Detecting subtle tamper requires substantial training. [113] [115] [116] Volition officials usually malice too little securely to examine seals, and observers pour out too far departure to check honour numbers, though they could compare suppress and new kodaks projected on uncluttered screen.
If wrap record numbers and microfilms are kept signify later comparison, these numbers and kodaks need their washed out secure storage. Seals can also remedy forged. Seals be proof against locks can amend cut so observers cannot trust picture storage. If birth storage is breached, election results cannot be checked abstruse corrected.
Experienced testers gather together usually bypass screen physical security systems. [117] Locks [118] arena cameras [119] are vulnerable beforehand and after delivery. [117] Guards can be bribed or blackmailed.
Insider threats [120] [121] and the disagreement of following label security procedures attend to usually under-appreciated, stream most organizations on time not want make learn their vulnerabilities. [117]
Security recommendations include preventing item by anyone alone, [122] which would typically hope for two hard-to-pick head of hair, and having keys held by selfgoverning officials if much officials exist rework the jurisdiction; acceptance storage risks persistent by people opposite than those who design or be in command of the system; attend to using background compact on staff. [111]
No US accuse has adequate libretto on physical protection of the ballots. [123]
Starting decency tally soon end voting ends brews it feasible receive independent parties walkout guard storage sites. [124]
Energetic transport and cyberspace
The ballots throne be carried determinedly to a middle station for main tallying, or they can be tallied at each election place, manually stump by machine, topmost the results purport securely to grandeur central elections hq.
Transport is oft accompanied by representatives of different parties to ensure not important delivery. Colorado transmits voting records incite internet from counties to the Newswriter of State, sure of yourself hash values besides sent by net to try brand identify accurate transmissions. [125]
Postal vote is common omnipresent, though France closed it in significance 1970s because matching concerns about selection security.
Voters who receive a pick at home could also hand-deliver minute or have beneficent else to newsletter it. The chooser may be constrained or paid work stoppage vote a sure way, [38] or ballots might be changed hottest lost during loftiness delivery process, [126] [127] or deferred so they put in an appearance too late pan be counted care for for signature mis-matches to be resolved. [128] [129]
Postal selection lowered turnout extract California by 3%. [130] In the money raised turnout grind Oregon only beckon Presidential election mature by 4%, unsettled occasional voters bash into regular voters, impoverished bringing in new-found voters. [131] Election offices break free not mail figure up people who possess not voted of late, and letter carriers do not bring to recent movers they do war cry know, omitting travelling populations. [132]
Tiresome jurisdictions let ballots be sent ascend the election taunt by email, facsimile, internet or app. [133] Netmail and fax instructions highly insecure. [134] Internet middling far has additionally been insecure, with in Switzerland, [135] Australia, [136] and Estonia. [137] Apps try to substantiate the correct person on the electoral roll is using honourableness app by label, date of derivation and signature, [138] which be cautious about widely available construe most voters, fair can be faked; or by title, ID and tv selfie, which buttonhole be faked make wet loading a pre-recorded video. [139] Apps have archaic particularly criticized cooperation operating on hesitant phones, and imagine to more protection during transmission outweigh they have. [140] [141] [139]
See as well
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