Legal Definitions - voter

A voter refers to an individual in one of two ways:

• A person who actively participates in an election by casting a ballot.
• A person who meets all the legal requirements to be eligible to vote in an election, even if they have not yet cast a ballot or completed the registration process. This individual is often referred to as a qualified voter or legal voter.

A registered voter is a specific type of qualified voter whose name has been officially recorded with the election authorities in their designated voting district. This official registration makes them eligible to cast a ballot in upcoming elections.

Examples:

• Example 1 (Active Participation): On Election Day, Mr. Henderson visited his local polling station and submitted his ballot for the school board election. By casting his vote, Mr. Henderson became a voter in the most direct sense, as he actively participated in the electoral process.

• Example 2 (Qualified Voter): Emily recently turned 18, is a U.S. citizen, and has resided in her state for over a year. She plans to register to vote next month for the first time. Even though she hasn't yet registered or voted, Emily is considered a qualified voter because she fulfills all the legal criteria for eligibility.

• Example 3 (Registered Voter): Before the upcoming gubernatorial election, Ms. Chen received a postcard from her county's election office confirming her voter registration status and providing details about her polling place. This indicates that Ms. Chen is a registered voter, meaning her eligibility has been officially recorded, allowing her to cast a ballot in her precinct.