Primary definition
Votes which cannot be counted in favour of any participant in an election due to accidental or deliberate errors of marking by the voter.
Also known asspoiled votes · void votes · rejected votes · null votes · discarded votes
1 sources cited4 related termsReviewed Aug 9, 2026
— ACE Electoral Systems GlossaryView source
Understand more election terms clearly
Get one important election term explained each week, with authoritative sources, practical context and related definitions.
Free. One useful email each week. Unsubscribe anytime.Learn more about the ESG newsletter →
ACE
Votes which cannot be counted in favour of any participant in an election due to accidental or deliberate errors of marking by the voter.
ACE Electoral Systems Glossary · 2024
Cite this term
Permanent URL · stable across revisions
Election Security Glossary. (2026). Invalid Votes. In Election Security Glossary. Retrieved August 21, 2026, from https://electionsecurityglossary.com/glossary/invalid-votes
Sources
1 cited · last checked Aug 9, 2026
01
ACE Electoral Systems Glossary
ACE Electoral Systems Glossary
Single-source
Get the weekly election term
Receive one cited, source-backed election explanation in your inbox each week.
Get election terms explained weekly →
Free · Nonpartisan · Unsubscribe anytime.