An old fraud in which a voter is handed a pre-marked ballot by a party worker. The voter then enters the polling place and receives a blank ballot, but deposits the marked ballot in the ballot box and leaves with the blank ballot, which is handed to the party worker, marked, and then given to the next voter to repeat the cycle. This process can continue all day, giving the party control of a large number of voters.
What is chain voting?
The term Chain Voting refers to an unlawful voting scheme in which a completed ballot is passed or reused so additional votes can be cast or an unauthorized person can participate. It gives election, security, legal, or technical readers a specific label for the concept rather than a broader everyday meaning.
How does a chain-voting scheme work?
The term Chain Voting is used according to its defined context: an unlawful voting scheme in which a completed ballot is passed or reused so additional votes can be cast or an unauthorized person can participate. The surrounding election procedure, policy, system specification, or legal source determines who applies it, when it is used, and what operational effect it has.
Why are ballot-control procedures used to prevent chain voting?
Understanding Chain Voting matters because the concept can affect election administration, voter participation, legal decisions, or resilience. In this context, it refers to an unlawful voting scheme in which a completed ballot is passed or reused so additional votes can be cast or an unauthorized person can participate.
Understand more election terms clearly
Get one important election term explained each week, with authoritative sources, practical context and related definitions.
An old fraud in which a voter is handed a pre-marked ballot by a party worker. The voter then enters the polling place and receives a blank ballot, but deposits the marked ballot in the ballot box and leaves with the blank ballot, which is handed to the party worker, marked, and then given to the next voter to repeat the cycle. This process can continue all day, giving the party control of a large number of voters.
Cite this term
Election Security Glossary. (2026). Chain Voting. In Election Security Glossary. Retrieved September 1, 2026, from https://electionsecurityglossary.com/glossary/chain-voting
Sources
01
Single-source
Get the weekly election term
Receive one cited, source-backed election explanation in your inbox each week.