Marginal Mark

The term Marginal Mark refers to a mark that falls near the edge of, but not clearly within, the designated voting target and may require interpretation under ballot-adjudication rules. It gives election, security, legal, or technical readers a specific label for the concept rather than a broader everyday meaning.

Marginal marks are reviewed under the jurisdiction's ballot-adjudication standards to determine whether they show a valid expression of voter intent. Reviewers may examine the mark's location, shape, consistency, and surrounding selections while following bipartisan or multi-person procedures where required. The decision and any changed interpretation should be documented in the election record.

Yes. A mark near the edge of a voting target can be ambiguous enough that a scanner does not interpret it confidently or election rules require human review. The ballot may then be sent to adjudication so authorized reviewers can apply the jurisdiction's voter-intent standards and determine whether the selection should be counted.