Primary definition
Total number of votes that cannot be counted for a specific contest. There may be multiple reasons for residual votes (e.g., overvoting in a contest, failure to cast ballot before leaving polling place).
Also known asresidual vote · residual votes · uncounted votes · unresolved votes · invalid votes · spoiled votes · overvotes · undervotes
1 sources cited4 related termsReviewed Aug 10, 2026
— NIST Election GlossaryView source
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NIST
Total number of votes that cannot be counted for a specific contest. There may be multiple reasons for residual votes (e.g., overvoting in a contest, failure to cast ballot before leaving polling place).
NIST Election Glossary · 2024
Cite this term
Permanent URL · stable across revisions
Election Security Glossary. (2026). Residue Vote. In Election Security Glossary. Retrieved August 20, 2026, from https://electionsecurityglossary.com/glossary/residue-vote
Sources
1 cited · last checked Aug 10, 2026
01
NIST Election Glossary
NIST Election Glossary
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