A method of counting votes where ballots are sorted into stacks by selections in contests and then the number of ballots in a stack are counted to determine the number of votes for a candidate or yes/no.
What is sort and stack method?
The term Sort And Stack Method refers to a manual ballot-counting method in which ballots are sorted into stacks by selection or contest outcome and then counted and reconciled. It gives election, security, legal, or technical readers a specific label for the concept rather than a broader everyday meaning.
How is sort and stack method used to count votes?
Election officials use Sort And Stack Method to create, organize, verify, communicate, or reconcile information connected with a manual ballot-counting method in which ballots are sorted into stacks by selection or contest outcome and then counted and reconciled. Documented handling makes the record easier to check later and can support canvassing, auditing, certification, retention, or public reporting.
Why does sort and stack method matter for election results?
Understanding Sort And Stack Method matters because election records and results need to be traceable, reviewable, and handled consistently. Here, the term refers to a manual ballot-counting method in which ballots are sorted into stacks by selection or contest outcome and then counted and reconciled.
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A method of counting votes where ballots are sorted into stacks by selections in contests and then the number of ballots in a stack are counted to determine the number of votes for a candidate or yes/no.
Cite this term
Election Security Glossary. (2026). Sort And Stack Method. In Election Security Glossary. Retrieved August 22, 2026, from https://electionsecurityglossary.com/glossary/sort-and-stack-method
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