The voting station statement of the votes is the legal document based on which results are tabulated and final results announced, once verified by the EMB centrally. The presiding officer normally completes this form. One statement of the votes form should be filled out per voting station, even in the case of voting locations housing multiple voting stations.
The statement of the votes form could include the following general information:
Specific information on the count should include:
It may be necessary to look at the voting record book as some jurisdictions authorize registration of voters on voting day, and these may be added using the voting record book. Other jurisdictions use separate forms. Additional detailed information, such as the serial numbers of the seals on the ballot box, or of the ballot box itself, is required in some jurisdictions.
In several jurisdictions, this form is an important document since it provides the information used by the electoral management body to release both interim and final results. The counting officers responsible for the counting should complete this form with utmost care.
In order to reduce the risk of tampering with the statement of votes form, EMBs can utilize tamper-resistant forms, and require that results be written both numerically and in words. Sometimes, wide, clear adhesive tape is stuck over the filled-in sections of the forms to prevent tampering.
