A voter who dies after having cast an BALLOT. Generally such a ballot is not to be ABSENTEE counted. "If an absentee voter dies before the polls are opened on election day, and this fact comes to the attention of the clerk, registrar or any election official, he shall notify the warden who shall reject the ballot of the dead person." Maine Rev. Stat. §21-A-761.
What is deceased voter?
The term Deceased Voter refers to a voter-registration record belonging to a person who has died and that election officials must handle according to official list-maintenance procedures. It gives election, security, legal, or technical readers a specific label for the concept rather than a broader everyday meaning.
How is deceased voter used in voter registration?
In election administration, Deceased Voter is applied according to its defined purpose: a voter-registration record belonging to a person who has died and that election officials must handle according to official list-maintenance procedures. Officials then use the relevant eligibility, filing, ballot, timing, notice, or procedural rules for that election. The exact process can differ by office, election type, and jurisdiction.
Why does deceased voter matter to election officials?
Understanding Deceased Voter matters because the concept can affect election administration, voter participation, legal decisions, or resilience. In this context, it refers to a voter-registration record belonging to a person who has died and that election officials must handle according to official list-maintenance procedures.
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A voter who dies after having cast an BALLOT. Generally such a ballot is not to be ABSENTEE counted. "If an absentee voter dies before the polls are opened on election day, and this fact comes to the attention of the clerk, registrar or any election official, he shall notify the warden who shall reject the ballot of the dead person." Maine Rev. Stat. §21-A-761.
Cite this term
Election Security Glossary. (2026). Deceased Voter. In Election Security Glossary. Retrieved August 21, 2026, from https://electionsecurityglossary.com/glossary/deceased-voter
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