Legal Definitions - counted vote

A counted vote refers to a ballot or expression of choice that has been officially tallied and included in the final calculation of an election, poll, or decision-making process. It signifies a vote that has been processed, validated, and contributes to the overall result.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Example 1: National Presidential Election

  After citizens cast their ballots on Election Day, election officials meticulously collect and verify each ballot. Once a ballot is deemed valid and its selection for a particular candidate is recorded and added to the running total, it becomes a counted vote. The final number of counted votes determines the winner of the election.

  Explanation: This example demonstrates that a vote isn't just cast; it must go through a process of validation and tabulation to be officially recognized and included in the final outcome. Each vote added to a candidate's tally is a counted vote.

• Example 2: Corporate Shareholder Meeting

  During an annual shareholder meeting, investors vote on a proposal, such as approving a merger or electing new board members. After the voting period closes, an independent third party or company secretary collects all proxy votes and ballots. Each vote that is successfully verified against shareholder records and added to the "for" or "against" totals for the proposal is considered a counted vote.

  Explanation: Here, the term highlights that only votes properly submitted and validated according to corporate governance rules contribute to the final decision. An unverified or improperly submitted vote would not become a counted vote.

• Example 3: Local School Board Referendum

  A community holds a referendum to decide whether to approve funding for a new school gymnasium. Residents cast their votes at designated polling places. Once the polls close, volunteers and election staff open the ballot boxes, verify the ballots, and record each "yes" or "no" selection. Every valid ballot that is added to the final tally for or against the proposal is a counted vote.

  Explanation: This scenario illustrates that even in local, smaller-scale decisions, the process of tallying and confirming each vote is crucial for determining the community's will. Only those votes that make it into the final tally are considered counted votes.