Are mail in ballots counted by machine
In the United States, mail-in ballots are typically counted using a combination of human review and machine counting. Here's a general overview of the process:
- Sorting and Pre-processing: Mail-in ballots are sorted and pre-processed by election officials to ensure they are properly filled out and meet the required deadlines. This may involve checking for missing or mismatched signatures, and verifying the voter's identity.
- Hand-Counting: Many jurisdictions still use hand-counting to verify the accuracy of the ballots. Election officials may count the ballots by hand to ensure that the machine counting is accurate.
- Machine Counting: Once the ballots have been pre-processed and verified, they are fed into a machine designed specifically for counting mail-in ballots. These machines are typically designed to read the marks or votes on the ballot and count them accurately.
- Tabulation: The machine counts the votes and produces a tabulation report, which is then reviewed by election officials to ensure accuracy.
- Audit and Verification: To ensure the integrity of the election, many jurisdictions conduct an audit and verification process to ensure that the machine counting is accurate. This may involve re-counting a random sample of ballots or comparing the machine count to a hand-count.
Some common machines used for counting mail-in ballots include:
- Optical Scan Machines: These machines use a scanner to read the marks or votes on the ballot and count them.
- Ballot Mark Sense Machines: These machines use a special ink or marker to detect the votes on the ballot.
- Digital Ballot Counting Machines: These machines use digital technology to read and count the votes on the ballot.
It's worth noting that the specific process for counting mail-in ballots can vary depending on the jurisdiction and the type of election. Some jurisdictions may use a combination of machine and hand-counting, while others may use only one or the other.