When
ballots are sorted, the counting officer needs to distinguish a valid ballot
from an invalid. Each ballot in the ballot box needs to be verified. The ballot
paper can be excluded because the ballot is either a counterfeit, which is less
common, or a genuine ballot that has not been properly authenticated by ballot
paper issuer.
Counterfit Ballots
In some
jurisdictions, security paper is used for ballots. This paper contains a
watermark or other form of unique identification (special colour, lines,
symbols, markings or logos) making the ballot virtually impossible to
counterfeit. The texture, thickness, colours, size, and format of the ballot
are also indicators that separate a valid ballot from counterfeits.
The
counting officer should know where to look on the ballot to be sure of its
authenticity. If he or she does not recognize the ballot, or the ballot does
not have the official identification, then it should not be included in the
count. It should not be destroyed but kept as invalid ballot in an envelope or
file for that purpose.
Authenticating Ballots
To
speed up the process of authenticating the ballots, certain jurisdictions
require that the counting officer adds his/her initials in a space provided at
the back of the ballot before handing it to the voter.
Other
jurisdictions provide a validating stamp at the voting station for every ballot
to be stamped before handing it to the voter. During counting, a ballot without
a stamp is rejected. If the initial system is used and the initials on the
ballot are not from the counting officer, then it should be set aside and not
counted as a valid ballot. If no initials are on the back of the ballot, but
the counting officer recognizes that he or she issued the ballot, he or she can
then initial it, and the ballot can be counted as valid.
This
measure of adding the counting officer’s initials at the back of the ballot can
help to identify valid ballots from counterfeit. The counting officer should
always use the same colour of pen or pencil when adding his or her initials.
This problem will not exist when a validating stamp is used as described above.
All
ballots must be kept, even if they are not valid. No ballots should be
destroyed, as an audit trail of all ballots considered must be assembled in
such a way that the count can be fully reconstructed.
If
there is any doubt, the counting officer should be able to verify the basis of
his other decision with the electoral management body, before taking the
decision to reject a ballot as counterfeit. Rejecting a ballot on the basis
that it is counterfeit is an important decision and should be made after
careful consideration, as it may have political consequences.
