The ballot is cast or returned
A voter may mark a paper ballot, use an accessible ballot-marking device, or return a mail ballot where permitted. A ballot-marking device helps make selections; it is not necessarily the device that counts them.
Elections & Voting
How Ballots Are Counted and Audited
How do we know votes are counted correctly?
Start here. The detailed explanation is farther down this page.
- 1. Collect the ballots — Election workers gather and protect ballots, including ballots sent by mail.
- 2. Count the votes — Workers use scanners or count by hand, depending on the election and its rules.
- 3. Check the totals — Officials compare records and review problems. Some elections also have audits or recounts.
- 4. Make the results official — Election-night numbers are not final. Officials certify results after required checks.
An audit is a check of election results. A recount counts votes again. The exact rules vary by state.
Learn the difference between election-night results, canvassing, audits, recounts, and official certification—and why rules differ across states.
The short answer
In U.S. elections, casting a ballot starts a process—not an instant final result. Election workers secure and account for ballots, determine which ballots are eligible under applicable law, tabulate votes, reconcile totals, and complete required checks before results become official.
There is no single nationwide counting procedure. The sequence and equipment differ by state, locality, and election type. The steps below show a common workflow, not a mandatory checklist followed in exactly this order everywhere.
Follow a ballot: seven common stages
Ballots and records are secured
Officials use procedures such as sealed containers, custody logs, voter check-in records, and ballot inventories. Precinct ballots and mail ballots may follow different secure handling routes.
Eligibility and ballot status are reviewed
Mail ballots may require envelope or signature checks under state rules. Provisional ballots are reviewed before eligible votes are included. Some states offer an opportunity to correct certain ballot-envelope problems, often called curing.
Votes are counted
Depending on the jurisdiction, officials may use optical scanners to read paper ballots, count by hand, or combine methods. Ballots requiring review—for example, ambiguous marks or damaged paper—are handled under voter-intent and ballot-processing rules.
Unofficial totals are reported
Election-night websites and media reports show preliminary figures. Even “100% precincts reporting” does not necessarily mean every eligible mail, provisional, or overseas ballot has been counted.
Officials reconcile and verify
The canvass checks election records, ballot counts, and reported totals. Required post-election audits may compare paper records with machine tabulations. Audit methods and timing vary by state.
Results are certified
Authorized election officials formally certify the results after applicable legal requirements are met. Recounts or election contests may still occur under state law, including after certification in some cases.
Important: Audits and recounts do not always happen in the same order as shown above. Some jurisdictions audit before certification, others after; recount rules also vary.
What actually counts the marks on a ballot?
Optical ballot scanners
Read marks on paper ballots and produce electronic tallies. The paper ballot can provide a record for checks, audits, or recounts.
Hand counting
Election workers examine and tally paper ballots according to local procedures. Hand counting may be the primary method or part of an audit or recount.
Ballot-marking devices
Help voters mark selections, including accessible voting options. These devices should not be confused with ballot scanners or results-reporting software.
Electronic reporting is different from electronic voting. A jurisdiction can use paper ballots and hand counts while still using software to compile and publish totals.
Why some ballots take longer to count
- Mail or absentee ballots: processing may involve checking required voter information, tracking return deadlines, opening accepted envelopes, and preparing ballots for tabulation. Some states begin processing before Election Day; others restrict when it can start.
- Provisional ballots: officials determine eligibility and which contests, if any, can be counted under state law.
- Military and overseas ballots: applicable return and receipt deadlines can differ from those for domestic ballots.
- Ballots needing review: damaged paper, ambiguous marks, or write-ins may require additional handling and review under applicable rules.
These steps explain why a later update to unofficial totals is not, by itself, evidence of an error or wrongdoing.
Canvass, audit, recount, and certification: what's the difference?
| Process | Purpose | Typical question |
|---|---|---|
| Canvass | Reconcile election records and confirm all eligible ballots are included in official totals. | Do the ballot records and vote totals match? |
| Post-election audit | Check counting accuracy, often by comparing paper records with tabulated results. | Did the tabulation system report the outcome accurately? |
| Recount | Repeat the counting of ballots for a particular contest under applicable rules. | Does counting this contest again change its totals? |
| Certification | Officially attest to the results after required steps are complete. | What is the official election result? |
Two common ways to audit an election
Traditional tabulation audit
Officials check a set number or percentage of paper ballots or precincts against the reported results. The sample size may be fixed in advance.
Risk-limiting audit
A statistical method uses randomly selected paper records to test the reported outcome. If the evidence is insufficient, the sample grows and can lead to a full hand count.
States set different rules about which contests are audited, how samples are selected, what happens if discrepancies appear, and whether audits occur before or after certification.
Questions readers often ask
Why can the totals change after election night?
Election-night results are preliminary. Eligible ballots can still be processed and counted, and officials reconcile and correct records during the canvass. State deadlines differ.
Does a ballot scanner connect to the internet?
Equipment configurations and security rules differ by jurisdiction. A scanner's ability to read paper ballots does not by itself establish whether it has a network connection. Consult the relevant election office for the equipment and procedures used locally.
Does an audit mean officials are recounting every ballot?
No. Many audits examine a sample of paper records. A recount repeats the count for a particular contest under separate legal rules.
Who decides when results become official?
Authorized local and/or state election officials certify results under the deadlines and procedures in applicable law—not television networks or election-night dashboards.
Sources and related reading
These explanations draw on the U.S. Election Assistance Commission and the National Conference of State Legislatures. For rules and deadlines in a specific election, check the responsible state or local election authority.
- EAC: Election Results, Canvass, and Certification
- EAC: Why election-night results change
- EAC: Canvass and ballot reconciliation resources
- NCSL: Post-Election Audits
- NCSL: Risk-Limiting Audits
Explore related pages: Presidential elections and 2024 maps · How U.S. elections work · Voting technology around the world.
How does your state count and check ballots?
States use different rules for counting, audits, recounts, and making results official. Choose a state to explore these topics. We are still researching each state's rules, so we will not display guesses as facts.
Select a state to see its research status.
Important: State summaries may not cover every county or election type. Always check your election office for current procedures.