Paperilippuäänestystä

Paperilippuäänestys, or paper ballot voting, is an electoral method in which voters mark a printed ballot and place it into a ballot box. It is used in many democracies as a core means of recording votes, either exclusively or alongside other systems such as electronic voting.

Process and design

Voters receive a ballot at a polling station and, in a private booth, mark their selections according to instructions. Ballots typically list candidates, parties, or referenda questions, and may be single or multiple-choice. After marking, voters fold the ballot and deposit it into a sealed ballot box. Ballot design emphasizes clarity, legibility, and accessibility, with features such as straightforward voting instructions and distinct candidate or option listings.

Counting and verification

Ballots are counted either by hand or with optical scanning equipment. Counting can occur at a polling station or at a central counting center. Sealed ballot boxes and audit procedures help ensure accuracy. Post-election processes may include audits or recounts to verify results and detect discrepancies.

Security and integrity

Key safeguards include voter secrecy, chain-of-custody for ballots, tamper-evident seals, and secure storage of ballots before and after counting. Poll workers are trained to prevent errors and fraud. In many jurisdictions, post-election audits or risk-limiting audits are used to corroborate the accuracy of the tally.

Advantages and challenges

Advantages include transparency, ease of auditing, and resilience to certain technical failures. Limitations can include slower results due to manual counting, greater manpower needs, and potential for human error or ballot spoilage. Proper design, training, and auditing are essential to maintain reliability.

Variants

Paper ballots may be used as pure paper voting or in combination with mark-sense or punch-card systems. Some systems rely on paper trails that can be verified independently of electronic records.