optællinger

Optælling, or optællinger in plural, is the process of counting and tallying items, data points, or votes. The term is used in Danish and Norwegian contexts and derives from tælle (to count) with the prefix op- indicating completion or enumeration. It denotes both the act of calculating a total and the resulting total.

Applications include elections, inventories, censuses, and data analysis. In elections, optælling refers to counting ballots after polls close to determine the result. Counting may be done manually by volunteers, by machine counting, or by a combination. Procedures aim to ensure accuracy, transparency, and timeliness. In many jurisdictions ballots are sorted, tallied, and cross-checked with voter lists and provisional counts; a recount may be triggered by a close margin or irregularities. Audit trails, paper ballots, and routine verifications help ensure trust.

In statistics and research, optælling covers the tallying of responses or occurrences, producing frequency counts, contingency tables, and descriptive summaries. Data may be aggregated at different levels and rounded according to predefined rules; quality control includes double data entry, validation, and reconciliation with source data.

Quality and governance: Electoral authorities establish rules for counting, handling of spoiled ballots, and confidentiality. Recounts and independent audits are used to resolve disputes. The concept also implies traceability, from raw ballots or data to final totals.

History: Counting practices date back to ancient times; in modern contexts, standardized procedures and auditing have increased reliability. Automation has accelerated optælling but requires safeguards against systematic errors and manipulation.