Nic ⚡ on Nostr: Alright, here's the ChatGPT explanation, because it can get confusing. Rejecting and ...
Alright, here's the ChatGPT explanation, because it can get confusing. Rejecting and declining are two different things.
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1. Declined Votes
A declined vote is an intentional choice made by a voter.
It happens when a voter formally refuses the ballot by returning it to the election official and saying they decline to vote.
This is a recognized form of protest vote and is recorded in the official results.
Only possible during in-person voting at a polling station.
2. Spoiled Ballots
A spoiled ballot is one that was messed up before being cast (e.g., filled out incorrectly or damaged).
If a voter realizes they've made a mistake, they can return the spoiled ballot and receive a new one.
Spoiled ballots are not counted in the final results and are kept separate for accountability.
3. Rejected Ballots
A rejected ballot is different again—this is a ballot that has been cast, but the vote can’t be counted due to improper marking (e.g., more than one candidate selected, or the mark is unclear).
These are recorded separately in the results.
So, in the official results, you’ll often see:
Valid votes
Rejected ballots
Declined votes
Spoiled ballots (not part of the final count but tracked)
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1. Declined Votes
A declined vote is an intentional choice made by a voter.
It happens when a voter formally refuses the ballot by returning it to the election official and saying they decline to vote.
This is a recognized form of protest vote and is recorded in the official results.
Only possible during in-person voting at a polling station.
2. Spoiled Ballots
A spoiled ballot is one that was messed up before being cast (e.g., filled out incorrectly or damaged).
If a voter realizes they've made a mistake, they can return the spoiled ballot and receive a new one.
Spoiled ballots are not counted in the final results and are kept separate for accountability.
3. Rejected Ballots
A rejected ballot is different again—this is a ballot that has been cast, but the vote can’t be counted due to improper marking (e.g., more than one candidate selected, or the mark is unclear).
These are recorded separately in the results.
So, in the official results, you’ll often see:
Valid votes
Rejected ballots
Declined votes
Spoiled ballots (not part of the final count but tracked)