Stringing

Definition

A seemingly antique procedure for counting paper BALLOTS in which the ballots are literally placed on a string by being pierced by a needle and threaded for security. “The board in the actual procedure of counting the ballots shall thereupon unlock and open the BALLOT BOX; the ballots shall then be taken singly and separate ly therefrom by the judge of the election, and while each ballot shall remain in his hands, he sh all audibly and publicly read the same in full view of the INSPECTOR. The inspector shall be satisfied that the ballot is being correctly read by the JUDGE. After the reading of the ballot, incl uding a ballot determined to be void, and before taking another ballot from the box, the judge shall fold the ballot to a size about five inches square, and shall deliver the same so folded to the inspector, who shall write on the back thereof the number of such ballot from one onwar d, in the order in which the same shall have been taken from the box; and shall string the ballo t as one ticket in the order in which the same shall be taken from the box and numbered, by mean s of a needle and string to be provided for that purpose.” N. J. Stat. Ann. §19:16-7. While the procedure may seem old, the statutory clause was amended as recently as 1992. Similarly in Oregon Stat. §545.145.