Primary definition
To mark or otherwise alter a ballot so it indicates in a human-readable manner that the ballot is not to be cast.
Also known asspoiled ballot · invalidated ballot · voided ballot · discarded ballot · rejected ballot
3 sources cited3 related termsReviewed Aug 9, 2026
— EAC Glossary of TermsView source
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EAC
U.S. Election Assistance Commission
To mark or otherwise alter a ballot so it indicates in a human-readable manner that the ballot is not to be cast.
EAC Glossary of Terms · 2024
Cite this term
Permanent URL · stable across revisions
Election Security Glossary. (2026). Spoil. In Election Security Glossary. Retrieved August 20, 2026, from https://electionsecurityglossary.com/glossary/spoil
Sources
3 cited · last checked Aug 9, 2026
01
EAC Glossary of Terms
EAC Glossary of Terms
High consensus
02
Electronic Voting Glossary
Electronic Voting Glossary
Multi-source
03
NIST Election Glossary
NIST Election Glossary
High consensus
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