Precinct Count Optical Scan System

Primary definition

(PCO) System by which votes are recorded in a voting location by means of marks made in voting targets designated on one or both sides of a ballot card or series of cards. An optical scan system reads and tabulates ballots, usually paper ballots, by scanning the marks made by voters.

Also known asPCOS · Precinct Count Optical Scanner · Optical Scan Voting System · Precinct-Based Optical Scan System
1 sources cited4 related termsReviewed Aug 10, 2026
EAC Glossary of TermsView source

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EAC
U.S. Election Assistance Commission

(PCO) System by which votes are recorded in a voting location by means of marks made in voting targets designated on one or both sides of a ballot card or series of cards. An optical scan system reads and tabulates ballots, usually paper ballots, by scanning the marks made by voters.

EAC Glossary of Terms · 2024

Cite this term

Permanent URL · stable across revisions
Election Security Glossary. (2026). Precinct Count Optical Scan System. In Election Security Glossary. Retrieved August 22, 2026, from https://electionsecurityglossary.com/glossary/precinct-count-optical-scan-system

Sources

1 cited · last checked Aug 10, 2026

01

EAC Glossary of Terms
EAC Glossary of Terms

Single-source

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