The most effective way to count ballots is the stack method, a system in which two-person teams count ballots by separating them into stacks based on the votes cast for each officer position. This tally procedure is very accurate and significantly faster and more efficient than the call method. For these reasons, the stack method is recommended by OLMS. Step-by step instructions for the stack 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. Judges of Election should determine the first race to be counted, usually the office of President. The counting should be done by two person teams. Each tally team should take one bundle of ballots, record the bundle number on the tally sheet, and divide the ballots into separate stacks based on the votes cast for each candidate for the office of President.
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. After all the ballots in the bundle are separated, the stacks for each candidate should be counted by each team member who should also verify that the votes in each stack are all for the same candidate.
If the team members' vote totals do not agree, each stack should be recounted and the agreed-upon vote totals for each candidate entered on a tally sheet. The number of ballots voided for that office and the number of ballots which contained no vote for that office should also be noted on the tally sheet. (The total of all valid votes, voids, and no votes should equal the total number of ballots in the bundle.)
5. After all the votes for the first office are counted, the stacking procedure should be repeated by the tally team for the next office on the ballot. The ballot tally should continue until the votes are counted for each office on the in that bundle.
6. When all ballots in the bundle are counted for each office, the tally team should sign and date the tally sheet. The bundle of ballots which corresponds to the completed tally sheet should be wrapped inside the tally sheet 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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