The call method, used by most unions, requires three-person tally teams consisting of a "caller" and two recorders. The caller reads the votes on each ballot aloud while the recorders independently mark the votes for each candidate on tally sheets. Periodically, the two tally sheets are compared to insure that the recorders agree and the vote totals for any candidate which do not match are recounted. Step-by-step instructions for the call method follow:
1 . Judges of Election should open the ballot box in the presence of watchers, remove and unfold all marked ballots, and place them in bundles of 50 or 100, numbering each bundle # 1 of __, # 2 of _, etc., to insure accuracy and provide a means of control. Any ballots voided in their entirety should be removed and set aside.
2. A recorder should sit on each side of the caller and put the ballot bundle number on a Tally Sheet (Appendix H). The caller should then place the ballots face up on the table and, beginning at the top of each ballot, read the name of each candidate who received a vote. As the name of each candidate receiving a vote is called, each recorder should place a tally mark next to that candidate's name on a tally sheet in groups of five as illustrated below:
3. If voter intent is unclear for any office(s) on a ballot, Judges of Election should rule on whether the vote(s) should be counted and, if so, for which candidate(s).
4. The tally team should continue counting the ballots until the bundle is completed. At that point, the tally sheets should be "closed" and the two recorders should read the number of votes credited to each candidate and compare the totals.
5. If the recorders' vote totals do not agree for any candidate, the ballots should be recounted, but only for the position where the discrepancy occurred. This can be done by separating the ballots into two or more stacks, each representing all of the votes received by a particular candidate. Each stack should be recounted by each member of the tally team until there is agreement on the vote totals.
6. After agreement is reached on all vote totals, the tally team should sign and date the tally sheets. The bundle of ballots which corresponds to the two completed tally sheets should be wrapped inside those tally sheets and banded together.
7. The tally team should then begin a new tally sheet for another bundle of ballots and continue counting in this manner until all bundles are counted.
8. After ballots are tallied, the tally sheets should be assembled and the vote totals from each tally sheet transferred to a Vote Summary Sheet (Appendix 1) where grand totals should be calculated.
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