Auditing

Verified

Sort And Stack Method

Primary definition

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.

Also known asstack-and-count method · ballot sorting and stacking · sort-and-count method
1 sources cited4 related termsReviewed Aug 9, 2026
Pilot Implementation Study of Risk-Limiting Audit Methods in the State of Rhode IslandView source
People also ask

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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PISRAM

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.

Pilot Implementation Study of Risk-Limiting Audit Methods in the State of Rhode Island · 2024

Cite this term

Permanent URL · stable across revisions
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

Sources

1 cited · last checked Aug 9, 2026

01

Pilot Implementation Study of Risk-Limiting Audit Methods in the State of Rhode Island
Pilot Implementation Study of Risk-Limiting Audit Methods in the State of Rhode Island

Single-source

View source

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