Ballot Position
Ballot Position: A specific place in a ballot where a voter's selection for a particular contest may be indicated.
Definition
A specific place in a ballot where a voter's selection for a particular contest may be indicated. Positions may be connected to row and column numbers on the face of a voting machine or ballot, particular bit positions in a binary record of a ballot (for example, an electronic ballot image), or the equivalent in some other form. Ballot positions are bound to specific contests and candidate names by the ballot configuration.
Alternative Definitions
- Definition 2
Abstract choice that is represented by a single line item where a vote may be recorded in a ballot or ballot image.
- Definition 3
1. The physical location of a candidate’s name on the BALLOT. Because of subtle ordering effects that may induce voter to prefer candidates that are listed first, the states are meticulous about specifying the precise ordering. For exam ple, “There shall be placed in a suitable container, capsules containing numbers one through the number that is equivalent to the total number of major political parties participating in the general election. The number drawn by each major party state chairman or his designated representative shall determine the position on the general election ballot that his party and its candidates shall occupy, with number one being the first position on the ballot, number two being the second, number three being the third, and so on down the ballot until all major parties are placed on the ballot. The same procedure shall be followed in a separate draw ing for minor parties’ ballot positions.” N. M. Admin. Code §1.10.6.8(D). See also BALLOT ROTATION. 2. “A specific place in a ballot where a voter's selection for a particular CONTEST may be indicated. Positions may be connected to ro w and column numbers on the face of a voting machine or ballot, particular bit positions in a binary record of a ballot (for example, an ELECTRONIC BALLOT IMAGE), the equivalent in some other form. Ballot positions are bound to specific contests and candidate names by the BALLOT CONFIGURATION.” 2005 VVSG GLOSSARY.