Hand Counting 101: An Introduction to Manually Counted Elections
Hand counting elections might seem like a step back in time, but it's actually a straightforward and effective way of tabulating votes. To the voters, things won't look too different. The only exception is that instead of feeding your ballot into an electronic voting machine, you'll hand it off to be counted.
If you've ever kept score at a baseball game or played Bingo, then you have an idea of the ease and simplicity involved in the counting process. This process can be learned quickly, especially for the newly appointed Election Judges who will be tasked with counting and tallying votes.
Why Choose Hand Counting?
Decreasing time spent administering elections
Hand counting can seem daunting when you consider the sheer number of ballots cast county-wide. However, it's the ballots cast at each polling place that matters for hand counting. Hand counting promotes transparency and maintains a secure chain of custody as ballots are counted on-site, ensuring no time is wasted transporting them.
Ensuring election results are delivered on election day
This manual method means votes are visually counted and noted down on a tally form. It offers an open, transparent way for Election Judges, observers, and voters to see the total votes cast for each ballot question or race.
Providing a secure and understandable tabulation method
The Ballots, Batches, and Results (BBR) Process, a simple and transparent process, makes auditing easy. It reduces the complexity associated with conducting an election with machines and minimizes the chances for error.
Saving money
By eliminating the need for electronic voting machines, the costs associated with their upkeep and programming are also removed.
Hand Counting Elections: A Quick Overview
- Ballots: Votes are counted by bipartisan teams of Election Judges at the polling station, not unlike marking off pitches in baseball or numbers in Bingo. With a steady pace of 100 ballots per hour, even a polling station with 1,400 ballots can complete the count by 9 pm on election day.
- Batches: After each batch of ballots is counted, the totals are transferred onto a summary sheet, which makes double-checking for accuracy quick and easy.
- Results: Once all the ballots are counted, a bipartisan team of counting judges reviews and double-checks the results. Upon reaching an agreement, the Election Judges sign the Certification. Transparency is ensured as anyone present can see the final results.
What's Needed for This Process?
- Voting at Precinct Polling Stations
- Separation of Federal & Local/Precinct Ballots for easy tallying
- Additional Precinct Supervisors Judges
- Additional Volunteers
The Cost of Elections
Election administration has evolved into a multi-billion dollar industry with many entities involved, from voting machine companies to logistics firms. The costs of maintaining electronic voting infrastructure, with its hardware and software, plus additional staff and security measures, can add up. By adopting hand counting, these costs can be significantly reduced.
Resources
- Return to Hand Counting Guide - Linda Rantz
- Cause of America - Precinct Hand Count Procedures by Shawn Smith (Click on Library and search "Precinct Hand Count")
- Voting and Counting By Hand - Operation Eagle's Wings – The America Project