The failure of a voter to have a vote recorded for an office or question on which she was entitled to vote. A pure "no vote" results when no attempt to vote is recorded, in which case it is not known whether the voter voluntarily chose not to vote or did not follow instructions. Some jurisdictions consider an overvote to be a no vote because the result is the same, namely invalidation of the vote in the relevant office. In some cases, a voting position is designated as a "no vote" so the voter may positively indicate an intention not to vote. Also VOTE. DROP
What does a no vote mean?
The term No Vote refers to a recorded choice against a proposal or motion, or more generally the absence of an affirmative vote depending on the specific voting context and rules. It gives election, security, legal, or technical readers a specific label for the concept rather than a broader everyday meaning.
Is a no vote the same as not voting?
No. A 'no' vote is an affirmative choice against a proposition, measure, or question, while not voting means the voter made no counted selection in that contest. An omitted selection may be treated as an undervote rather than as opposition. The distinction matters when calculating totals, percentages, thresholds, or passage requirements.
How is a no vote counted on a ballot measure?
A valid 'no' selection on a ballot measure is counted in the total opposing the proposal. Whether abstentions, blank selections, or invalid votes affect the denominator used to determine passage depends on the jurisdiction's rules. Some measures also require a particular majority or turnout threshold, so officials apply the formula specified by law.
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The failure of a voter to have a vote recorded for an office or question on which she was entitled to vote. A pure "no vote" results when no attempt to vote is recorded, in which case it is not known whether the voter voluntarily chose not to vote or did not follow instructions. Some jurisdictions consider an overvote to be a no vote because the result is the same, namely invalidation of the vote in the relevant office. In some cases, a voting position is designated as a "no vote" so the voter may positively indicate an intention not to vote. Also VOTE. DROP
Cite this term
Election Security Glossary. (2026). No Vote. In Election Security Glossary. Retrieved August 21, 2026, from https://electionsecurityglossary.com/glossary/no-vote
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