The objectives of the Vote Counting section are to:

• provide guidance to organizations responsible for preparing rules for and conducting the counting of votes;

• outline principles of "best-practice" for vote counting procedures;

• describe the various methods of vote counting used in a variety of common electoral systems;

• assist electoral management bodies to maximize the credibility and integrity of the vote counting process, by outlining ways to minimize opportunities for fraud and manipulation, and ensuring that the public perception of the counting of votes is one that enhances the integrity of the electoral process;

• equip electoral management bodies with strategies to avoid the serious problems encountered in many elections caused by vote counting deficiencies;

• emphasize the importance of intensive training and organization of vote counting staff;

• make provision for the various types of challenges to unprocedural or unlawful vote counting.

The Importance of Vote Counting

Vote counting is one of the most crucial stages in the election process. Failure to complete the count and transmit results in a quick, transparent and accurate manner can jeopardize public confidence in the elections and will directly affect whether candidates and political parties accept the final results.

Frequently, the importance of detailed planning, training, and organization is overlooked, or is considered of secondary importance.

There are situations when a well run electoral process is severely compromised because of problems experienced during vote counting.

Designing Vote Counting Procedures

The type of electoral system used will largely determine the specific measures needed to successfully conclude an election count. (See Electoral Systems and Electoral System and Ballot Type Implications for the Count for more on this topic.)

However, several general principles apply to all electoral systems. Counting procedures should take account of available resources, such as staff, training, premises, transport, logistics, planning, communications, and equipment. For example, a computerized method of counting votes would not be suitable for locations with unreliable power supplies or a shortage of skilled computer operators.

A balance may need to be struck between integrity, accuracy, and speed. Often the more checks and balances there are, the slower the process. Where results have to be announced soon after election day, there may be a greater chance that there has been a compromise in accuracy. This is not necessarily true in each case as some jurisdictions are able to provide an accurate and speedy vote count and announcement of results. In each case, the systems designer must decide which of these guiding principles is most important.

There are a variety of ways that counting can take place, including manually, mechanically, or electronically. The counting location may be at the voting station or at counting centres.

More complicated systems may require that the vote counting is conducted at several locations. First-Past-the-Post or majority system counts can normally be completed at the electoral district level. In a proportional representation system a final centralized count may be necessary to translate votes into seats, see Electoral System and Ballot Type Implications for the Count.

Who Should be Responsible for Vote Counting?

The count is one of the key areas where fraudulent practices can occur. To minimize the possibility of fraud, vote counting should be the responsibility of an independent electoral management body.

Monitoring mechanisms should be built into the process, through observation processes by national and international observers and political party and candidate representatives.

An independent media plays an important role in the monitoring of vote counting.There should be checks, balances, and audit trails throughout, as well as clearly defined processes for complaints and appeals.

Counting Rules Must be Clearly Understood

Counting rules should be clear, known in advance, and understood by everyone involved in the election, including election officials, the general public, political parties, candidates, non-governmental organizations, and national/international electoral observers.

In addition to this, some jurisdictions have legislated processes that need to be adhered to in the vote counting process. Also, it is desirable that information and training programmes on the count itself be provided to all participants in the electoral process.THese include vote counting officers, electoral officials, political parties, candidates, international and national observers and the media.

Counting Must be Open and Transparent

It is of great importance to the legitimacy of the elections that the counting process be open and transparent. Representatives of political parties and candidates, and national and international electoral observers should be allowed to witness the process and be permitted to copy the statement of the count documenting the results of the counting process.

In a system that provides for vote counting, or a portion of the vote counting, to take place behind close doors, the public perception will be that the election is compromised and its integrity affected.

Training is Essential

Detailed and intensive training of election officials, as well as representatives of political parties and candidates (see Electoral Integrity) and national and international electoral observers is essential to ensure consistency of approach, and especially to determine what constitutes a valid ballot and a rejected ballot.

Voting station officers and counting officers must be non-partisan in their actions, thorough in their procedures, and committed to treating electoral materials with care and respect. They must understand, for example, that even after ballots have been counted, the ballots remain legal documents in some jurisdictions. The identification of voters and their votes, especially voters receiving special assistance, must be kept secret at all times.

Publicizing Election Results

The political parties and the media should be given the opportunity of publicizing the unofficial results, but the responsibility and authority to announce the official election results should rest with the electoral management body. Some jurisdictions have limitations on the publication of exit poll results or parallel counts until an official result is announced.

Each country needs to determine the affect that the publication of an unofficial result will have on the population and whether such publication, that is later changed when the authorized results are announced, may be a catalyst for unrest and conflict.