A "vote that has been counted as valid or determined to be valid." Mont. Code Ann. §13-1- 101(30). A "vote from a ballot or ballot image that conforms to jurisdiction dependent criteria for accepting or rejecting entire ballots, such as stray marks policies and voter eligibility criteria, in a contest that was not overvoted." 2005 VVSG V.1, APPENDIX A.
What is valid vote?
The term Valid Vote refers to a vote that meets the applicable legal and procedural requirements to be counted for a candidate, option, or measure. It gives election, security, legal, or technical readers a specific label for the concept rather than a broader everyday meaning.
How is valid vote handled in an election?
In election administration, Valid Vote is applied according to its defined purpose: a vote that meets the applicable legal and procedural requirements to be counted for a candidate, option, or measure. Officials then use the relevant eligibility, filing, ballot, timing, notice, or procedural rules for that election. The exact process can differ by office, election type, and jurisdiction.
Why does valid vote matter for voters?
Understanding Valid Vote matters because the concept can affect election administration, voter participation, legal decisions, or resilience. In this context, it refers to a vote that meets the applicable legal and procedural requirements to be counted for a candidate, option, or measure. The practical effect depends on the authority, procedure, and jurisdiction governing the specific election, system, or incident.
Understand more election terms clearly
Get one important election term explained each week, with authoritative sources, practical context and related definitions.
A "vote that has been counted as valid or determined to be valid." Mont. Code Ann. §13-1- 101(30). A "vote from a ballot or ballot image that conforms to jurisdiction dependent criteria for accepting or rejecting entire ballots, such as stray marks policies and voter eligibility criteria, in a contest that was not overvoted." 2005 VVSG V.1, APPENDIX A.
Cite this term
Election Security Glossary. (2026). Valid Vote. In Election Security Glossary. Retrieved August 21, 2026, from https://electionsecurityglossary.com/glossary/valid-vote
Sources
01
High consensus
02
Multi-source
03
Multi-source
Get the weekly election term
Receive one cited, source-backed election explanation in your inbox each week.