2022 Election Administration and 

Voting Survey (EAVS)

Glossary of Terms 

November 14, 2022 
1 

Table of Contents

Purpose of the 2022 EAVS Glossary...................................................................................................................... 2

A ............................................................................................................................................................................ 2

B ............................................................................................................................................................................ 4

C ............................................................................................................................................................................ 5

D ............................................................................................................................................................................ 7

E ............................................................................................................................................................................ 9

F .......................................................................................................................................................................... 12

G .......................................................................................................................................................................... 13

H .......................................................................................................................................................................... 13

I ........................................................................................................................................................................... 14

L ........................................................................................................................................................................... 15

M ......................................................................................................................................................................... 15

N .......................................................................................................................................................................... 16

O .......................................................................................................................................................................... 17

P .......................................................................................................................................................................... 18

R .......................................................................................................................................................................... 21

S .......................................................................................................................................................................... 22

T .......................................................................................................................................................................... 23

U .......................................................................................................................................................................... 24

V .......................................................................................................................................................................... 26

W ......................................................................................................................................................................... 29
2 

Purpose of the 2022 EAVS Glossary

This glossary contains more than 130 terms and phrases used in the 2022 Election Administration and Voting 

Survey (EAVS) and Policy Survey. The primary audience for this glossary is the state and local election officials 

who complete these surveys. The purpose of this glossary is to assist survey respondents in understanding 

the survey questions and providing data that are accurate and comprehensive, as well as to establish data 

consistency across states and jurisdictions.

This glossary is not intended to be a comprehensive overview of all election terminology or all potential uses 

of the terms contained in this glossary. See the EAC’s Glossary of Election Terminology for a more thorough

guide to election terms.

Within this glossary, question numbers that start with Q denote questions in the 2022 Policy Survey, and 

questions that start with A–F denote questions in the 2022 EAVS.

A 

Access audit

Appears in: Q36

An assessment of whether legal procedures were followed to ensure an election’s accessibility to voters with 

disabilities.

Accessible absentee voting

Related terms: Remote access vote by mail, remote ballot marking, electronic absentee

Appears in: Q24a

A process whereby a voter with a disability may access a ballot online, mark it privately and independently, 

and return it to election officials.

Active voter

Related terms: Active status, Active registered voter

Appears in: Q10, Q10a, A1

Fully eligible voters who have no additional processing requirements to fulfill before voting.
3 

Affidavit

Appears in: Q37b, C9

A written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation. Can be used to attest to a voter's identity or their 

eligibility to cast a ballot.

All-mail election

Related terms: All-vote-by-mail election

Appears in: Q17, Q17a, F1

An election in which all registered voters or all active registered voters are automatically sent a mail ballot. 

Some in-person voting may take place in all-mail elections. All-mail elections may be conducted statewide 

or only in certain jurisdictions within a state.

Armed forces recruitment office

Related terms: Military recruiting office

Appears in: Q4, A4–A7

An office at which members of the U.S. armed forces assist individuals in signing up for military service. In 

some states, these offices may also serve as voter registration sites.

Automatic registration

Related terms: Automatic voter registration

Appears in: Q5, Q5a, A4–A7

A system under which eligible voters are automatically registered to vote when they interact with a 

government agency (e.g., motor vehicles agency, public assistance agencies, other agencies designated by 

a state's chief election official or governor, etc.). The individual may be given the option to opt out of 

registration either during the interaction or in response to a mailer sent to the individual after the 

interaction has concluded. 
4 

B 

Ballot

Related terms: Electronic ballot, paper ballot

Appears in: Q7, Q8, Q8a, Q17, Q18, Q20, Q20a, Q20b, Q21, Q24, Q24a, Q24b, Q24c, Q25, Q27, Q28, Q29, 

Q30, Q31, Q35a, Q36, Q37, Q37b, F1, F2, F5–F9

The official presentation of all of the contests to be decided in an election and the mechanism for voters to 

show their voter preferences. Ballots may be offered in both paper and electronic format.

Ballot design audit

Appears in: Q36

An assessment of the usability of the ballot(s) in an election, often focusing particularly on voters with 

disabilities or voters who use ballots in languages other than English.

Ballot marking device

Related terms: BMD, EBM, electronic ballot marker

Appears in: F7

An electronic system that produces a paper record but does not tabulate votes. These devices permit contest 

options to be reviewed on an electronic interface, produce a human-readable paper ballot, and do not 

make any other lasting record of the voter's selections.

Ballot reconciliation audit

Appears in: Q36

A comparison of the published election results with the number of voters who signed poll books during inperson voting or whose mail ballot envelopes were checked in.

Ballot request

Appears in: B2–B4

An act by which a registered voter requests that a ballot be transmitted to them. Usually applies to mail 

voting or voting by UOCAVA voters.
5 

Ballot statement

Appears in: Q20a

A document that accompanies a returned mail ballot, typically attesting the voter's eligibility to cast a ballot 

and requiring the voter's signature (and, in some cases, a witness signature). Some states or jurisdictions 

may reject a mail ballot that is missing a ballot statement or that has an incomplete ballot statement.

Ballot tabulation

Related terms: Ballot tally, vote tally

Appears in: Q35, Q35a, Q36, Q36a, Q36b, F10

The process of counting ballots and tallying votes to determine the results of an election.

Ballot transmission

Related terms: Transmitted ballot

Appears in: Q27, B5–B8, B9–B12, C1, C2

The act of an election office sending a blank ballot to a voter, usually by mail or electronically.

Bottom-up system

Appears in: Q3, Q3a

A registration system where data is stored and maintained in local jurisdiction election offices. These systems 

upload information retained at the local level and compile it at regular intervals to form the statewide 

voter registration list.

C 

Canvass

Appears in: Q13, Q22, Q33d, C8

(1) The process of aggregating or confirming every valid ballot cast and counted, which includes mail ballots, 

in-person voting during early voting or on Election Day, provisional ballots, and ballots from UOCAVA 

voters. (2) The process of going door-to-door to collect information from registered voters on their voter 

eligibility.
6 

Cast a ballot

Related terms: Cast ballot

Appears in: Q8, Q8a, Q25, Q26, Q33b, Q33c, Q35, Q36, Q37, Q37b, A2, C9, E1, E2, F1, F2

The process by which a voter marks a ballot (either a paper ballot or an electronic ballot) with their 

preferences and submits the marked ballot to an election office (through placing the voted ballot in a 

ballot receptacle or a drop box, submitting the ballot at an election office, or returning the ballot 

electronically). Once a ballot is cast, the voter's preferences usually cannot be changed. 

Challenged voter

Appears in: E2

A voter whose eligibility to cast a ballot has been questioned.

Citizen voting age population (CVAP)

An estimate of the number of people who are U.S. citizens, are at least 18 years of age, and are eligible to 

register and/or vote in federal elections. These estimates are based on data collected through the 

American Community Survey by the U.S. Census Bureau and are available for the 50 U.S. states, the 

District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and most counties (or county equivalent). These data are used to 

calculate registration rates and voter turnout rates using EAVS data.

Close of registration

Related terms: Registration deadline

Appears in: Q8, Q8a, A1, A2, A3, A4–A7, A8, A9

The last day that an individual can register to vote or update their voter registration before an election.

Compliance audit

Related terms: Procedural audit, Process audit

Appears in: Q36

An audit that examines whether the established processes and procedures were followed throughout the 

election. 
7 

Confirmation notice

Related terms: Confirmation of registration notice, removal notice

Appears in: Q12, Q12a, A8, A9

A notice mailed to a voter to confirm changes made to their information on a voter list. The notice may 

request that the voter take an action to confirm that the information contained in the notice is accurate.

Counted ballot

Related terms: Tabulated ballot, tallied ballot

Appears in: B14–B17, B24, C7, C8, E1, F1, F2, F9

A ballot that has been processed and the voter preferences expressed on the ballot have been included in the 

vote totals for the election.

Cross-jurisdiction change of address

Related terms: Change of address

Appears in: A3

The act of a voter moving to a new election jurisdiction that is different from the jurisdiction in which they 

were previously registered and re-registering to vote to update their residence or mailing address.

Cured ballot

Related terms: Ballot curing

Appears in: Q20, Q20a, Q20b, C7

A returned mail ballot that was originally rejected for an error or because it was missing required information 

but was ultimately counted because the voter corrected the error or supplied the required information.

D 

Direct-recording electronic machine (DRE)

Appears in: F5, F6

A vote capture device that allows the electronic presentation of a ballot, electronic selection of valid contest 

options, and electronic storage of contest selections as individuals vote. It also provides a summary of 

these contest selections. 
8 

Disqualifying criminal conviction

Appears in: Q12a, A9

An action or offense that renders a voter unable to participate in an electoral process.

Domestic civilian voter

Appears in: Q21, Q24, Q30, Q32

A non-military citizen who resides within the United States or one of its territories and is eligible to vote in 

federal elections.

Drop box

Related terms: Place of deposit, secure ballot intake station

Appears in: Q19, Q19a, Q19b, Q19c, Q19d, C3–C5, C6

A locked container (located either indoors or outdoors) where voters (or voters’ authorized representatives, 

if allowed by state law) may deliver their voted mail ballots for collection. Drop boxes are operated or 

controlled by election officials. Drop boxes are separate from ballot boxes, which are located at in-person 

polling places for voters to place their ballots immediately after voting in person.

Duplicate ballot

Related terms: Duplicate ballot transmission, duplicate ballot return

Appears in: B5–B8, B9–B12, C1

(1) An additional ballot transmitted to a voter who has already been transmitted a ballot, usually because the 

originally transmitted ballot has been lost or spoiled. (2) An additional returned ballot that originates from 

a voter who has already cast another ballot. 

Duplicate registration

Appears in: A3, A6

An application to register to vote from a person already registered to vote at the same address, under the 

same name and personal information.
9 

E 

Early voting

Related terms: In-person absentee voting, advance voting, one-stop voting, walk-in absentee voting

Appears in: Q8a, Q19a, Q25, Q25a, Q26, A2, C5, D4, D6, F1, F5–F9, F10

Voting that occurs before Election Day wherein voters complete ballots in person at an election office or 

other designated polling site under the supervision of election workers.

Early voting polling place

Related terms: Early voting site

Appears in: Q19a, Q26, D4

A location at which voters may cast ballots before Election Day in person, such as at an election office or 

other designated polling site, under the supervision of election workers.

EAVS comprehensive report

A report written by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) that highlights findings from the EAVS and 

Policy Survey, particularly those related to election administration and other election activities. This report 

is delivered to the U.S. Congress and is publicly released no later than June 30 in the year following the 

election for which EAVS and Policy Survey data are being sought.

Election

A formal process of selecting a person for public office or of accepting or rejecting a political proposition by 

voting.

Election Administration and Voting Survey (EAVS)

Related terms: EAVS Comprehensive Report

A biennial data collection effort by the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to collect data on election 

administration and other election activities following each federal general election. This term may refer 

specifically to the survey that collects data on voter registration, UOCAVA voting, mail voting, in-person 

polling operations, provisional voting, voter participation, and election technology within 90 days of a 

federal general election. It may also be used to refer collectively to the data collection effort that 

encompasses the EAVS survey and the Policy Survey.
10

Election audit

Related terms: Audit

Appears in: Q36, Q36a, Q36b

(1) A systematic, independent, documented process for obtaining records, statements of fact, or other 

relevant information and assessing them objectively to determine the extent to which specified 

requirements are fulfilled. (2) The verification of statistical or exact agreement of records from different 

processes or subsystems of a voting system. (3) A review of a system and its controls to determine its 

operational status and the accuracy of its outputs.

Election certification

Related terms: Certification of election, certification of official election results, certification

Appears in: Q34

(1) A written statement attesting that the tabulation and canvassing of an election are complete and 

accurate. (2) The act of confirming the final official results of a jurisdiction’s election. This event occurs 

after results from valid ballots are tallied from all voting methods and results are validated and approved 

by those legally responsible.

Election Day registration (EDR)

Related terms: Same-day registration (SDR)

Appears in: Q8, Q8a, A2, A3

An act whereby a voter may register to vote on Election Day and cast a ballot in person on the same day.

Election Day voting

Appears in: Q26, D3, D5, F1, F5–F9, F10

An act whereby voters cast ballots on Election Day.

Election office

Related terms: Election division

Appears in: Q1, Q7, Q12a, Q13, Q19a, Q25, C4–C5, D3–D4

The department of government charged with administering elections. These offices may be a part of a state 

(or equivalent) government or a local government.
11

Electronic data transfer

Appears in: Q4

The transmission of information from one computer system to another, not including information sent 

through email or fax.

Electronic poll book

Related terms: E-poll book, EPB

Appears in: Q15, Q15a, F3

A device that partially automates the process of checking in voters, assigning them the correct ballot style, 

and marking voters who have been issued a ballot. It may be used in place of a traditional paper poll book. 

Electronic poll books can be stand-alone at the precinct with a separate copy of the registration list, or

they can be networked into a central voter registration system where election officials or poll workers can 

check and update voter records in real-time.

Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC)

Appears in: Q13

A public charity non-profit membership organization that assists states in improving the accuracy of 

America’s voter rolls and increasing access to voter registration for all eligible citizens. This is 

accomplished by sharing data from member states and other data sources on voters who have moved 

(either within states or between member states), voters who have died, and voters with duplicate 

registrations in member states to facilitate voter registration list maintenance.

Eligibility audit

Appears in: Q36

A process to verify that the ballots that were counted were legally cast.

Eligible voter

Related terms: Voter eligibility

Appears in: Q10a, Q29, Q33a, Q33c, Q38c, A1, A3, A8, B1, B3, C9, E1, E2

The universe of all voters who, if they cast a ballot, would have the legal right to have eligible contests on 

that ballot tabulated. This includes individuals who do not appear in the list of eligible voters because they 

did not or could not register ahead of time and live in a state that offers same-day registration and/or 

Election Day registration or does not require voter registration.
12

Email ballot return

Appears in: Q28, B11, B13, B16

The return of a voted ballot from a voter as an attachment to an email message. Some states and 

jurisdictions may allow this ballot return method to UOCAVA voters, to voters with a disability, or in other 

circumstances. Other electronic means of returning ballots, including fax, online ballot delivery portals, 

and other internet-supported applications, are reported separately from ballots returned by email in 

EAVS.

Email ballot transmission

Appears in: Q24, Q24b, Q27, Q28, B7, B11, B13, B16

The delivery of a blank ballot to a voter as an attachment to an email message. Some states and jurisdictions 

may transmit ballots using this method to UOCAVA voters, to voters with a disability, or in other 

circumstances. Other electronic means of transmitting ballots, including fax, online ballot delivery portals, 

and other internet-supported applications, are reported separately from ballots transmitted by email in 

EAVS.

Excuse for mail voting

Appears in: Q16

The act of requiring voters to provide a valid excuse to be permitted to vote by mail in an election. Common 

excuses include the voter being away from their county on Election Day, having an illness or disability, 

being incarcerated but otherwise qualified to vote, or having a work shift during all voting hours.

F 

Federal general election

A general election in which a candidate for federal office (President, Senator, or Representative) appears on 

the ballot.

Federal Post Card Application (FPCA)

Appears in: Q29, B2–B4

A uniform registration and ballot request application for military and overseas voters that is accepted in all 

U.S. states and territories.
13

Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP)

Related terms: UOCAVA

A division within the U.S. Department of Defense that works to ensure service members, their eligible family 

members, and overseas citizens are aware of their right to vote and have the tools and resources to 

successfully do so. The data collected in Section B of EAVS are the result of a collaboration between the 

Election Assistance Commission (EAC) and FVAP to study the implementation of the Uniformed and 

Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA). 

Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB)

Appears in: B23–B27

A blank ballot provided by the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) through which military and overseas 

voters can vote by writing in their choices and returning the ballot to their election office. The FWAB is 

typically used when a voter's regular UOCAVA absentee ballot does not arrive in time. FWABs originate 

from the voter and are not transmitted by any election office.

G 

General election

An election in which all eligible voters, regardless of party affiliation, are permitted to select candidates to fill 

public office and/or vote on ballot measures.

H 

Hand cancellation

Related terms: Postmark

Appears in: Q23

Imprints applied to stamped mail pieces that cancel the affixed postage. Unlike physical postmarks applied by 

machines, these are applied by hand using a stamp provided by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). Hand 

cancellation may be used to satisfy postmark requirements for mail ballots in some states.

Hand count

Appears in: Q36b, F9

Counting paper ballots and/or selections on paper ballots by human examination.
14

Help America Vote Act (HAVA)

An act passed by the U.S. Congress in 2002 to make reforms to the nation’s voting process. HAVA addresses 

improvements to voting systems and voter access that were identified following the 2000 election. The 

EAVS assists the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) in meeting its statutory requirements under HAVA.

Hybrid system

Appears in: Q3, Q3a

A registration system that combines elements of both top-down and bottom-up registration systems.

I 

Inactive voter

Related terms: Inactive status, NVRA

Appears in: Q10, Q10a, A1

Voters who remain eligible to vote but require address verification under the provisions of the National Voter 

Registration Act (NVRA)

Ineligible voter

Appears in: Q12, Q13, B3

A voter who does not have the legal right to register to vote and/or cast a ballot in an election under federal, 

state, or local law.

In-person voting

Appears in: Q8, Q25, Q33a, Q37, A2, D2, D3–D4, F1

Voting that occurs in an official location, such as a polling place or election office, under the supervision of 

election workers.

Intelligent barcode

Related terms: Intelligent Mail barcode (IMb)

Appears in: Q23

A 65-bar U.S. Postal Service (USPS) barcode applied to a mail piece. When applied to a mail ballot envelope, 

this barcode allows election officials to track individual ballots as they are mailed between the election 

office and voters.
15

L 

Legal audit

Appears in: Q36

An assessment of whether election practices comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

List maintenance

The process that state and local election offices use to maintain and update voter registration rolls on a 

periodic basis by canceling registrations for voters who are no longer eligible.

Local election office

Appears in: Q1, Q12

An office that oversees election administration below the level of the state, including counties, cities, 

districts, boroughs, towns, townships, villages, and parishes. 

Local jurisdiction

Governmental jurisdictions below the level of the state, including counties, cities, districts, boroughs, towns,

townships, villages, and parishes. The EAVS collects data at the local jurisdiction level.

Logic and accuracy testing

Related terms: LAT, pre-election testing, L&A testing

Appears in: Q36

A test to examine whether voting machines are tabulating votes correctly before vote tabulation begins, 

usually by creating a test deck of ballots and running them through the machines.

M 

Mail ballot

Related terms: Absentee ballot

Appears in: Q7, Q8, Q13, Q17, Q18, Q19, Q20, Q20a, Q20c, Q21, Q23, Q25, Q32, Q33a, Q36, C1, C2, C6, C7, 

C8, C9, F1, F2, F5–F9, F10

A ballot cast by a voter through a method other than in person at a voting location (such as a polling place or 

an election office). Mail ballots are marked, unsupervised, at a location of the voter's choosing before 

being returned to election officials. Mail ballots are typically mailed to voters but can be issued over the 
16

counter from an election office. Depending on the jurisdiction, mail ballots can be returned by mail, in a 

drop box, or in person. For the purposes of the EAVS, in-person absentee voting that takes place at an 

election office is considered early voting. 

Mail voting

Related terms: Absentee voting, vote-by-mail

Appears in: C1, C2

Voting via a physically transmitted ballot that is not returned in person at a physical polling place. Voters 

mark their mail ballot, unsupervised, at a location of their choosing either before or on Election Day 

before returning the ballot to election officials. Common methods for voters returning mail ballots include 

by mail through the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), at a drop box, or at an election office. For the purposes of 

the EAVS, in-person absentee voting that takes place at an election office is considered early voting. 

Motor vehicles agency

Related terms: Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)

Appears in: Q4, Q5a, Q13, A4–A7

A government agency that manages motor vehicle registration and driver licensing. The National Voter 

Registration Act (NVRA) requires that states offer the opportunity to register to vote at state motor 

vehicles agencies. 

N 

National Change of Address (NCOA)

Appears in: Q13

A secure dataset of approximately 160 million permanent change-of-address (COA) records consisting of the 

names and addresses of individuals, families, and businesses who have filed a change-of-address with the 

U.S. Postal Service (USPS). Election officials use NCOA to update records in their voter registration 

databases. 

National Voter Registration Act (NVRA)

Related terms: Motor Voter Act, motor voter

Appears in: Q4, Q10a, Q12, Q13, A1, A4–A7

An act, commonly known as the “Motor Voter Law,” that requires that states offer the opportunity to 

register to vote at their motor vehicles agencies (known as the DMV in many states), state offices that 

provide public assistance, state-funded programs primarily engaged in providing services to persons with 
17

disabilities, and armed services recruitment offices. NVRA also provides guidelines on registration list 

maintenance and sets limits on how voters can be removed from the rolls.

New valid registration

Appears in: A3, A4–A7

A successful voter registration application submitted by an individual who meets eligibility requirements and 

that does not duplicate or modify a voter registration record that already exists within the voter 

registration system.

Non-military/civilian overseas voter

Related terms: Overseas citizen, overseas voter, UOCAVA voter

Appears in: Q31, B1, B2–B3, B5–B8, B9–B12, B14–B17, B18–B22, B23–B27

A U.S. citizen who is living outside of the United States and is eligible to vote in their last place of residence in 

the United States.

O 

Online ballot delivery portal

Related terms: Electronic ballot interface, electronic ballot delivery, electronic ballot return

Appears in: Q27, Q28, B8

An internet-supported application that transmits blank ballots to voters electronically. Some portals may also 

allow voters to return their voted mail ballots using the same application. Some states and jurisdictions 

may use these applications to facilitate voting by UOCAVA voters, voters with a disability, or in other 

circumstances. The transmission or return of ballots as an attachment to an email message is reported 

separately from ballots that are transmitted or returned using an online ballot delivery portal in EAVS.

Online registration

Appears in: Q6, Q6a, Q24, A4–A7

A process whereby individuals may submit a voter registration application or update an existing voter 

registration via a paperless form filled out on an internet site; the paperless form is submitted 

electronically to election officials to be reviewed and, if valid, added to the state's voter registration rolls. 

This process typically parallels the traditional paper-based process but does not require a paper form to 

be submitted by the voter.
18

P 

Partially counted provisional ballot

Appears in: Q33c, E1

A provisional ballot for which only some voter preferences are included in the official tally of the votes, 

typically because the voter cast their ballot in the wrong precinct and was only eligible to vote in some of 

the contests on their ballot.

Permanent mail voter

Related terms: Permanent absentee voter

Appears in: Q18, Q18a, C2

A voter who has applied to use a mail ballot to vote for all elections and has met the qualifications to be a 

permanent mail voter in their jurisdiction. In reporting data on permanent mail voters in EAVS, voters who

receive a mail ballot because they reside in a state or jurisdiction that transmits mail ballots to all 

registered voters, or all active registered voters, in each election (typically called an all-mail election) 

should be excluded.

Policy Survey

A survey that collects data on state election policies and procedures to provide context for the quantitative 

data included in each state’s EAVS submission. The Policy Survey is collected before the election for which 

data are being sought.

Poll book

Related terms: Roster, electronic poll book

Appears in: Q15, Q15a, Q36, F2, F3–F4

An official register of those entitled to vote at an election that is used at in-person voting sites to verify and 

check in voters before issuing them a ballot. Poll books may be printed on paper or used electronically.

Poll worker

Related terms: Election judge, booth worker, warden, commissioner, election inspector, election worker

Appears in: Q19d, Q33a, D5–D6, D7, D8, D9, F2

An official responsible for the proper and orderly voting at a polling location or an election process. Poll 

workers perform duties that may include verifying the identities of voters; assisting voters with signing the 

register, affidavits, or other documents required to cast a ballot; providing voters with ballots or setting 

up voting machines for voters; and other functions as dictated by state law. Poll workers do not include 

observers stationed at polling places, regular office staff who do not serve poll worker functions in an 
19

election, or temporary office staff not hired specifically to serve voters in either early or Election Day 

voting.

Polling place

Related terms: Polling site, polling location, polling station, poll, voting service center, voting center

Appears in: Q7, Q19, Q19a, Q25, Q26, Q33a, Q37b, C1, D2, D3–D4, E2, F1, F2, F3–F4, F10

A location at which voters may cast ballots in person under the supervision of poll workers or other election 

workers. These locations may be open for voting either on Election Day or before the Election.

Postal mail return

Appears in: Q28, B15, C1, C8

The return of a voted ballot from a voter to an election office through the postal mail, including the U.S. 

Postal Service (USPS), or through a private courier shipping service. Ballots that are typically returned by 

mail include mail ballots, UOCAVA absentee ballots, and Federal Write-in Absentee Ballots (FWAB).

Postal mail transmission

Appears in: Q27, B6, B10, B13, C1

The transmission of a blank ballot from an election office to a voter through the postal mail, including the 

U.S. Postal Service (USPS), or through a private courier shipping service. Ballots that are typically 

transmitted by mail include mail ballots and UOCAVA absentee ballots.

Post-election tabulation audit

Appears in: Q36

A type of election audit in which a sample of ballots is selected and re-tabulated. The results of the retabulation are compared to the corresponding vote totals originally reported as a check on the accuracy of 

election results and to detect discrepancies.

Postmark

Related terms: Hand cancellation

Appears in: Q21, Q23, Q30, Q31, Q32, B21, C9

A postal marking made on an envelope, parcel, postcard, or the like, indicating the place, date, and time that 

the item was delivered into the care of a postal service, or sometimes indicating where and when received 

or in transit. Postmarks may be used to determine that a mail ballot or a UOCAVA absentee ballot was 

submitted in a timely manner and is able to be counted in an election.
20

Precinct

Related terms: Voting precinct, tabulation district, ward

Appears in: Q33a, Q33c, D1, E1, E2, E3, F5–F9, F10

An election administration division corresponding to a contiguous geographic area that is the basis for 

determining which contests and issues the voters legally residing in that area are eligible to vote on.

Pre-registration

Appears in: Q9, Q9a, A1, A3

A process by which persons under the age of 18 submit a voter registration application so that they will be 

registered when they become of voting age. Not all states allow pre-registration. 

Provisional ballot

Related terms: Affidavit ballot, fail-safe ballot

Appears in: Q7, Q33, Q33a, Q33b, Q33c, Q33d, Q33e, Q37b, Q37c, C1, E1, E2, E3, F1, F5–F9, F10

A ballot cast by a voter when there is some question regarding the eligibility of the voter (e.g., the voter was 

not on the list of eligible voters, the voter's information was incomplete or not accurate, or the voter had 

already received a ballot in the mail and was allowed to vote). Provisional ballots are usually kept separate 

from the other ballots and are not tallied until an election official can determine if the voter is eligible to 

vote. 

Provisional voter

Appears in: E1, E2, E3

An individual who declares they are a registered voter in the jurisdiction where they desire to vote and is 

eligible to vote in an election for federal office, but (1) the voter’s name does not appear on the official list 

of eligible voters for the polling place, or (2) an election official asserts that the individual is not eligible to 

vote. 

Public assistance offices

Appears in: Q4, Q5a, Q13, A4–A7

A government agency that administers a program that provides either cash assistance or in-kind benefits to 

individuals and families from any government entity. State public assistance offices are mandated to serve 

as voter registration sites under the NVRA.
21

R 

Received ballot

Related terms: Returned ballot, ballot receipt, ballot return

Appears in: Q21, Q30, Q31, B9–B12, B19, B21, B25–B26, C9

A ballot that has been cast by a voter and returned to an election office to be tallied. Received ballots are 

reviewed by election officials to determine whether they should be counted or rejected.

Recount

Appears in: Q34, Q35, Q35a

A repeat tabulation of the votes cast in an election to determine the accuracy of the reported results of an 

election. Recounts may be conducted for a variety of reasons, and the repeat tabulation may be 

conducted by hand or by machine, depending on local laws and procedures.

Registered voter

Appears in: Q12a, Q17, Q18, A1, A2, A3, A8, A9, B1, E3, F1, F3–F4

A voter who is listed on an electoral roll for the jurisdiction where the voter resides.

Registration drive

Related terms: Voter registration drive

Appears in: A4–A7

An effort by a government authority, political party, or other entity to register to vote persons otherwise 

entitled to vote. Participants in a voter registration drive distribute voter registration forms, provide 

assistance in completing them, and return the forms to election offices for review.

Registration form

Related terms: Registration card, voter registration card, voter registration application

Appears in: A2, A3, A4–7, B2, B3

An official sworn statement of information used to register to vote by voters.
22

Registration source

Related terms: Registration mode

Appears in: A4–A7

The means through which a voter registration form is submitted to election officials for processing. Common 

registration sources include paper forms submitted through mail/fax/email, motor vehicle agencies, and 

registration forms submitted online.

Registration status

Related terms: Active voter, inactive voter

Appears in: Q7, A9

A term used by election officials to describe whether a voter's record shows that the voter is eligible to vote. 

Common status terms include: active, inactive, and canceled.

Rejected ballot

Appears in: Q33c, B18–B22, B25–B27, C1, C6, C7, C8, C9, E1, E3

A ballot that has been cast by a voter but cannot be counted due to a defect on the ballot, the ineligibility of 

the voter, or it being received after the deadline for returning ballots.

Risk limiting tabulation audit

Related terms: Risk limiting audit (RLA) 

Appears in: Q36b

A post-election audit procedure for checking a sample of ballots (or voter verifiable records). This procedure 

provides a pre-specified statistical chance of correcting the reported outcome of an election if the 

reported outcome is wrong (that is, if a full hand count would reveal an outcome different from the 

reported outcome).

S 

Same-day registration (SDR)

Related terms: Election Day registration (EDR), same-day voter registration

Appears in: Q8, Q8a, A2, F3–F4

An act whereby a voter may register to vote on the same day that they cast a ballot in person. This may occur 

either on or before Election Day.
23

Scanner

Related terms: Ballot scanner, ballot tabulator

Appears in: Q35a, F8

A device used to read the voter selection data from a paper ballot or ballot card.

Secrecy envelope

Related terms: Secrecy sleeve, privacy sleeve, inner envelope, identification envelope

Appears in: C9

An envelope that encloses a voted ballot to maintain the secrecy of how a voter marked their ballot. Some 

states or jurisdictions require voted mail ballots to be placed in a secrecy envelope when they are 

returned and will reject mail ballots that are not in a secrecy envelope.

Spoiled ballot

Related terms: Surrendered ballot, replacement ballot

Appears in: Q24, C1

A ballot that has been incorrectly marked or altered by a voter. A spoiled ballot is not cast and the voter may 

request a new ballot to mark correctly.

State election office

An office that oversees election administration for a territory with its own government and borders within a 

larger country subordinate to a federal government. The EAVS and Policy Survey collect data for the 50 

U.S. states, five U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia. The territories and the District of Columbia 

should complete the EAVS and Policy Survey as if they are states.

T 

Top-down system

Appears in: Q3

A registration system that is hosted on a single, central platform or mainframe that is maintained by the state 

with information supplied by local jurisdictions. 
24

Traditional machine tabulation audit

Appears in: Q36b

A tabulation audit in which records from a fixed number or percentage of randomly selected voting districts 

or voting machines are machine counted and compared to the originally reported vote totals.

Traditional manual tabulation audit

Appears in: Q36b

A tabulation audit in which records from a fixed number or percentage of randomly selected voting districts 

or voting machines are manually counted and compared to the originally reported vote totals.

Transmitted ballot

Related terms: Ballot transmission

Appears in: Q27, B5–B8, B9–B12, C1, C2

A blank ballot that is sent from an election office to a voter to be marked and returned. Ballots are most 

commonly transmitted by mail, but are sometimes transmitted by email or other electronic means to

UOCAVA voters and voters with disabilities.

Turnout

Related terms: CVAP

The total number of voters in an election divided by the total number of potential voters in a given precinct 

or jurisdiction. When calculating turnout using EAVS data, the EAC typically uses citizen voting age 

population (CVAP) as the denominator.

U 

U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC)

Appears in: Q10a, Q14a

A federal agency created by the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) to assist the states regarding HAVA 

compliance and to distribute HAVA funds to the states. The EAC is also charged with creating voting 

system guidelines and operating the federal government’s first voting system certification program. The 

EAC is also responsible for maintaining the National Voter Registration form, conducting research, and 

administering a national clearinghouse on elections that includes shared practices, information for voters, 

and other resources to improve elections. The data collected in the EAVS and the Policy Survey assist the 

EAC in meeting its statutory requirements under HAVA and the NVRA.
25

U.S. Postal Service (USPS)

Appears in: Q29, A8, B6, B10, B13, B15

An agency within the federal government that is responsible for providing postal service in the United States, 

including within its territories. The USPS may be involved in sending election mail, mailed ballots to voters, 

and voted ballots from voters to election offices.

Undeliverable

Related terms: Undeliverable ballot, undeliverable mail, undeliverable confirmation notice

Appears in: Q12a, Q13, A8, B13, C1

A piece of mail or a ballot that is sent from an election office to a voter or an individual but cannot be 

delivered to its recipient. Reasons an item cannot be delivered may include the U.S. Postal Service being 

unable to deliver the item or an incorrect postal mail address, email address, or fax number. Items that 

are unable to be delivered by postal mail may be returned to the election office.

Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA)

Related terms: UOCAVA voter, UOCAVA ballot, UOCAVA voting

Appears in: Q7, Q21, Q24, Q27, Q28, Q29, Q30, Q31, Q32, B1, B2, B3, B4, B5–8, B9–12, B13, B14–B17, B18–

B22, B23–B27, F1, F2

An act passed by the U.S. Congress in 1986 requiring that the states and territories allow certain groups of 

citizens to register and vote absentee in elections for federal offices. These groups include Uniformed 

Services voters (members of the Uniformed Services, Merchant Marine, commissioned corps of the Public 

Health Service, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on active duty; may be residing 

domestically or overseas) and their eligible spouses and dependents, as well as overseas citizens (nonmilitary U.S. citizens residing outside of the United States). These groups of voters are eligible to vote in 

their last place of residence in the United States. This act outlines processes by which these groups may 

participate in federal elections.

Uniformed services voter

Related terms: Military voter

Appears in: Q30, Q31, B1, B2–B3, B5–B8, B9–B12, B14–B17, B18–B22, B23–B27

A member of the Uniformed Services in active service, including Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast 

Guard, Merchant Marine, commissioned corps of the Public Health Service, and National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration on active duty. This includes the eligible spouses and dependents of these 

voters. 
26

Unreturned

Related terms: Unreturned ballot, unreturned confirmation notice

Appears in: A8, C1

A mail piece or ballot that is sent from an election office to a voter or another individual but that is not 

returned to the election office, either by the recipient or by the deliverer (such as the USPS).

V 

Voluntary Voting System Guidelines (VVSG)

Appears in: Q14a

A set of specifications and requirements against which voting systems can be tested to determine if the 

systems meet required standards. Under HAVA, the EAC is responsible for developing, maintaining, and 

approving these standards. Some factors examined under these tests include basic functionality, 

accessibility, and security capabilities.

Vote by mail

Related terms: VBM, all-mail voting, mail voting, postal voting

Appears in: Q17

A method of voting by which eligible voters are mailed ballots and information packets by an election office 

(or, in some circumstances, issued over the counter from an election office). These ballots are marked 

unsupervised at a location of the voter's choosing before being returned to election officials. Voters can 

return their marked ballots by mail, to a voting location, or in drop boxes, depending on the jurisdiction.

For the purposes of the EAVS, in-person absentee voting that takes place at an election office is 

considered early voting. 

Vote center

Appears in: Q25, Q26, Q26a

A physical location where voters from multiple precincts may cast their ballots (i.e., voters are not assigned to 

one location).

Vote history

Related terms: Voter history, voting history

Appears in: F2

A record of whether a registered voter cast a ballot in previous elections.
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Voter identification

Appears in: Q20a, Q33a, Q37, Q37a, Q37b, Q37c, C9, E2, E3

A means of proving a person's identity for the purposes of casting a ballot in an election, according to the 

laws of the jurisdiction. Common forms of identification include driver's licenses, passports, and stateissued identification cards. 

Voter registration

Appears in: Q3, Q3a, Q4, Q5, Q5a, Q6, Q6a, Q7, Q10, Q11, Q12a, Q13, Q24, Q38b, Q38c, A1, A3, A4–A7, A8, 

A9, B2, B3, D7, E2

The requirement in most states for citizens to register with a state or local election office in order to be 

eligible to cast an official ballot in an election and, in some cases, to participate in certain election-related 

activities (including but not limited to signing petitions, serving as poll workers, and running for office).

Voter registration database

Related terms: Voter registration system, registration database, centralized voter registration system

Appears in: Q3, Q3a, Q4, Q38b

A distributed or centralized system that permits the collection, storage, editing, deletion, and reporting of 

voter records. The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) requires each state to have a centralized, statewide 

voter registration system (VRS). VRSs have multiple interfaces and can interact with motor vehicle agency 

systems, election officials, voters, and other stakeholders. The VRS may be vendor-provided or maintained 

directly by election office staff. They may be client-server architecture or mainframe based. 

Voter registration removal

Related terms: Removed voter, list maintenance

Appears in: Q11, Q12a, Q13, Q38b, A9

An act whereby election officials remove an individual from a voter registration roll after confirming that the 

individual does not meet voter eligibility requirements under federal, state, or local law.

Voter registration roll

Related terms: Voter registration list

Appears in: Q4, Q12a, Q13, A1, A9

A list of the individuals that have registered on an electoral roll where a voter resides as a prerequisite for 

being entitled to vote.
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Voters with disabilities

Related terms: Persons with disabilities, disabled voters

Appears in: Q4, Q5a, Q13, Q18a, Q24, Q24a, Q24b, Q24c, Q25, Q36, A4–A7, F5–F9, F10

Voters who may require assistance during the election process to interact with systems not designed using 

universal design.

Voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT)

Related terms: Voter-verified paper trail (VVPT), voter-verified paper record system (VVPRS)

Appears in: Q35a, F5, F6

Physical paper records of voted ballots as voters have cast them on an electronic voting system. In the event 

that an election recount or audit is called for, the VVPAT provides a supporting record. The "voterverified" part of the VVPAT refers to the fact that the voter is given the opportunity to verify that the 

choices indicated on the paper record correspond to the choices that the voter has made in casting their 

ballot. Thus, the result of an election is an electronic tally of the votes cast and a paper record of the 

individual votes that have been cast.

Voting district

Related terms: Precinct, district

Appears in: Q36b, D1

A political subdivision established within a specific geographic area.

Voting machine

Appears in: Q36, Q36b, F5–F9

The mechanical, electromechanical, and electric components of a voting system that the voter uses to view 

the ballot, indicate their selections, and verify those selections. In some instances, the voting machine also 

casts and tabulates the votes.

Voting System Test Laboratory (VSTL)

Appears in: Q14a

Privately owned testing laboratories that test voting systems (and other election systems) for conformance to 

the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines (VVSG) or other requirements, including individual state 

requirements. VSTLs are periodically reviewed for conformance to National Voluntary Laboratory 

Accreditation Program (NVLAP) administered by the National Institute for Standards and Technology 

(NIST). 
29

W 

Witness signature

Related terms: Notary signature

Appears in: Q20a, Q24c, C9

The requirement that a ballot not marked under the supervision of an election worker (which may include 

mail ballots, UOCAVA absentee ballots, FWABs, and accessible absentee voting ballots) include a signature 

from a person who is not the voter and who can attest that the ballot was marked by the correct voter or 

that the voter was entitled to vote using the method by which the ballot was cast. Some states have 

additional requirements for who may serve as a witness.