ballotcounter

A ballotcounter is a device or software system that tallies votes cast on ballots, producing vote totals and related reports. It is used in elections to count ballots either at polling places (precinct level) or at central counting facilities. Modern ballot counters commonly read paper ballots or ballots marked for scanning, and they may also record votes directly into a digital system in the case of certain direct-recording electronic devices. Ballot counters can be categorized by the ballot input method: optical scan counters read marks on paper ballots; direct-recording electronic counters record votes when a voter makes selections on a touchscreen; hybrid systems may use ballot marking devices to generate voter-verified paper ballots that are later scanned.

During operation, ballots are presented to the counter, either fed through a scanner or inserted into a device. The counter identifies marked selections and increments corresponding tallies, producing running totals and a final results report. Some systems generate a paper record or an auditable log to support verification and recounts.

Election officials commonly implement measures to ensure integrity: paper ballots, risk-limiting audits, chain-of-custody, tamper-evident seals, and certified software and hardware. Many jurisdictions require independent post-election audits to verify reported totals against the voter-verifiable paper record. Transparency about software and vendor reliability is a continuing public concern; some systems separate ballot counting from ballot marking to reduce risk of ballot interpretation errors.

Ballot counters in various forms have existed since mechanical vote-tallying devices were used in the 19th and early 20th centuries, with optical scanners becoming prevalent in the late 20th century and electronic systems expanding in the same period. In recent decades, many jurisdictions have adopted paper-based optical scan systems or hybrid approaches to support auditing and recounts.