A tape that is printed by an electronic voting machine or optical scanner at the closing of the polls, which shows the number of votes cast for each candidate and for and against each measure on the ballot. It's the same thing as a summary tape.
What is vote total tape?
The term Vote Total Tape refers to a printed tape or report from voting or tabulation equipment showing accumulated vote totals after ballots have been processed. It gives election, security, legal, or technical readers a specific label for the concept rather than a broader everyday meaning.
How is vote total tape used in election results?
Election officials use Vote Total Tape to create, organize, verify, communicate, or reconcile information connected with a printed tape or report from voting or tabulation equipment showing accumulated vote totals after ballots have been processed. Documented handling makes the record easier to check later and can support canvassing, auditing, certification, retention, or public reporting.
How is vote total tape checked or verified?
Election officials use Vote Total Tape to create, organize, verify, communicate, or reconcile information connected with a printed tape or report from voting or tabulation equipment showing accumulated vote totals after ballots have been processed. Documented handling makes the record easier to check later and can support canvassing, auditing, certification, retention, or public reporting.
Understand more election terms clearly
Get one important election term explained each week, with authoritative sources, practical context and related definitions.
A tape that is printed by an electronic voting machine or optical scanner at the closing of the polls, which shows the number of votes cast for each candidate and for and against each measure on the ballot. It's the same thing as a summary tape.
Cite this term
Election Security Glossary. (2026). Vote Total Tape. In Election Security Glossary. Retrieved August 20, 2026, from https://electionsecurityglossary.com/glossary/vote-total-tape
Sources
01
Single-source
Get the weekly election term
Receive one cited, source-backed election explanation in your inbox each week.