Spoiled, rejected, and unused ballots need to be counted to create a complete audit trail. These ballots remain official documents, even if not counted as valid. Additionally, rejected ballots are essential in case of a recount.

Rules of Interpretation for Rejected Ballots

To eliminate possible objections to the validity of a ballot, the counting officer should be provided with clear rules of interpretation, and illustrations of acceptable and unacceptable marks on the ballot, including the rationale for rejection of a ballot.

Minimizing the interpretation needed by the counting officer makes it easier to make the necessary decisions and reduces disputes over the validity of ballots. In the event of a close margin in favour of one candidate, a recount is likely to be requested, and rejected ballots will be carefully analysed.

Handling Disputes Regarding Rejections

In some jurisdictions, the presiding officer is the only person qualified to make the final decision regarding the validity of a ballot, even if all counting officers are involved in the counting process. He/she is also the person handling disputes regarding objections.

If a representative of a candidate or a political party disagrees with the counting officer on the validity of a ballot, he/she may challenge the decision. In most cases, the presiding officer must immediately make a decision on whether or not the ballot is valid. In order to make more consistent decisions, the counting officer may put all contested and questionable ballots in a separate pile while counting valid ballots.

The presiding officer can then decide which of the potential rejected ballots will actually be rejected, and count the total number of rejections. The rest of the valid ballots can then be added to the count for each political party or candidate.

Alternatively, all potential rejected ballots can be identified and decided on first, and then the valid ballots can be counted.

One way of accounting for rejected ballots is to number them on the back. The same number will be written in the voting record book or the statement of the vote (or a separate form can also be used), along with the decision made by the counting officer.

All rejected and spoiled ballots are counted and recorded in the statement of the votes as well as on the ballot account form.