makulaturvotuksessa

Makulaturvotuksessa is a Finnish term used to describe the handling and disposition of ballot papers and related documents during a vote, with a focus on determining their validity. The word stems from makuloi, meaning to obliterate or cancel, and the suffix -tuksessa indicating a process. In this sense, makulaturvotuksessa refers to the decisions and actions by election officials to decide which ballots are eligible to be counted and which are not, and how damaged or illegible ballots are treated.

Procedures typically occur in ballot inspection and counting. Ballots are checked for damage, unclear markings, or signs of multiple votes. Those deemed invalid are set aside or recorded as spoilt rather than included in the tally. In many systems voters may spoil their own ballot by requesting a replacement, which is then processed through the makulaturvotuksessa workflow. The aim is to safeguard election integrity while respecting voter intent as far as possible.

The term is relatively specialized and not common in everyday language; official materials more often refer to spoiled or invalid votes. The concept is closely related to general ballot handling and the broader field of election administration.

See also: makulointi; hylätty ääni; äänestysten hallinto.