Categorical Ballot

Voters make a straight choice.

Collation

The transmission of results from a particular polling site to the next level to be collated with other results to give the outcome for a wider area to establish the overall national result.

Contestation

An administrative objection, or any other, to activities and decisions of an electoral nature, or to the electoral process and results.

Counting Centre

A central or regional place where the votes for more than one polling station are counted. Counting of the votes and marked in a way that does not allow determining the choice of the elector or that divulges the identity of the voter. Not to be confused with spoiled ballot.

Counting of the Votes

The activity consisting of counting the votes case for each candidate or political party after the close of the polls. This activity determines the winners. Consists of opening the ballot box, sorting their contents, determining the validity of ballot papers and counting the valid ones. Produces the result.

Declined Ballot

A ballot which an elector has chosen not to mark for any party of political party, generally with a view to express his dissatisfaction in the choice of candidates or parties.

Electoral Dispute (Recourse)

A system put in place to resolve complaints, disputes, claims, recalls and contestations relating to the electoral process.

Electoral Quota

The number of votes or the proportion of the votes required to win a seat in a proportional representation system.

Exit Poll

An unofficial poll in which voters leaving a polling station are asked how they voted. This is done especially by the media, the parties, and the candidates

Mark-Choice Ballot

Where alternate candidate/parties appear on the same ballot and the voter places only a single mark to mark his or her preference.

Official Results

Results published by the appropriate electoral official containing all the information required by law.

Ordinal Ballot

A ballot where the voter is required to indicate preferences amongst the various candidates or parties by numbering their respective names, in declining order.

Panachage

A device used in a small number of jurisdictions to add additional flexibility to open-list systems. It is the capacity to vote for more than one candidate across different party lists. It is categorized as a free list system.

Plurality of Votes

Electoral results in which a candidate or a political party receives more votes than the opponents, but less than 50% of all votes cast.

Preferential Distribution

A system in which votes counted are used to redistribute the preferences of the electors to establish a winner (in alternative vote and single non transferable vote systems).

Quick Count Results

Results obtained through a quick count process used where the collation of the overall results can take a lengthy period.

Rejected Ballot

A ballot paper found in the ballot box during the Counting of the votes and marked in a way that does not allow to determine the choice of the elector or that divulges the identity of the voter. Not to be confused with spoiled ballot. 

Results

Final result establishing the successful candidate or candidates, or party or parties.

Seat

A position within a legislature or parliament, usually filled by an elected person.

Seat Allocation

The process of distributing the seats of a legislative assembly to the political parties or candidates on the basis of the number of votes they have obtained.

Spoiled Ballot

A ballot that cannot be used. A spoiled ballot is one that is returned to the voting officer at the voting station and is not put into the ballot box. The voter may have marked their ballot incorrectly and requires another ballot to give effect to their vote.

Statement of the Vote/ Results Slip/ Results Form

The statement of the vote is a form on which results are written. The counting official completes this form for each ballot box counted at the counting centre. This form indicates the election results and should include standard information, such as the name of the electoral district, the name and/or number of the voting station, and election date.

Tendered Vote Two-Round Electoral System

A system in which the election takes place in two rounds, often a week or a fortnight apart. First round is conducted as First Past the Post election. If a candidate receives absolute majority, the election is over. If not, a second round of voting is conducted and the winner is declared elected. Also referred to as run-off or double ballot system.

Unmarked Ballot: see Rejected Ballot.

Unofficial Results


Results published by the media.

Unused Ballot

Any ballot in excess of the number required which has not been used during the election. 

Valid Ballot

A ballot that is not spoiled, unmarked or invalid and is completed correctly in terms of legal requirements (if applicable) and that shows the intention of the voter. A valid ballot may be open to interpretation, but the general best practice is to accept a ballot as valid as long as it provides a satisfactory indication of the voter’s choice, and it does not risk the anonymity of the voter.