RE: Election Terminology

[Michael Zolotarev <michael.zolotarev@baltimore.com>]

I'm not the best person to judge the terms, but I personally prefer making
clear distinction between a "ballot", and a "voted ballot". To me, a "voted
ballot" is a "vote". 
Of course we can still refer to a "voted ballot" as just a "ballot", as long
as there is always the word "voted" in front of it :)

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Thom Wysong [mailto:wysong@technodemocracy.org]
> Sent: Monday, 25 June 2001 23:13
> To: election-services@lists.oasis-open.org
> Subject: Election Terminology
> 
> 
> 
> Michael - Thanks for the ballot/vote explanation 
> (http://lists.oasis-open.org/archives/election-services/200106
> /msg00038.html).
> 
> ----------
> 
> Kevin - Thanks, also, for the feedback on this 
> (http://lists.oasis-open.org/archives/election-services/200106
> /msg00040.html).
> 
> ----------
> 
> All -
> 
> I'd be interested in hearing other opinions on this, 
> especially from those 
> who are familiar with the terminology used by election administrators.
> 
> Since, sooner or later, we'll need to decide on specific terms and 
> definitions, here are some further thoughts and suggestions 
> on this topic ....
> 
> ----------
> 
> As for defining "ballot", there seems to be some consistency and some 
> differences among our views. A ballot would look something like ....
> 
> - ballot (begin)
>      - contest 1
>          - option 1A
>          - option 1B
>          - option 1C
>      - contest 2
>          - option 2A
>          - option 2B
>      - contest 3
>          - option 3A
>          - option 3B
>          - option 3C
>          - option 3D
> - ballot (end)
> 
> (+) A "ballot" contains one or more "contests".
> (+) With each "contest", either an "office" or an "issue" is 
> being contested.
> (+) Each "contest" offers a voter one or more "options" 
> (usually two or 
> more, when at least two options are available).
> (+) Each "option" listed where an "office" is being contested 
> would contain 
> a "candidate".
> (+) The "options" listed where an "issue" is being contested would 
> generally be "for" or "against" (or synonyms of these).
> (+) The voter is allowed one or more "selections" (i.e. 
> votes) per "contest".
> 
> ----------
> 
> With the term "ballot", however, there seems to be a definite 
> difference in 
> how it's used.
> 
> I tend to think it would be best for our terminology to align 
> as closely 
> with paper-based balloting as it can, simply to avoid 
> confusing people. 
> With paper balloting, the base term used to refer to a ballot is not 
> affected by where that ballot is in the voting process. 
> Whether it just 
> came off the printing press, is being handed to a voter, is 
> being marked on 
> by a voter, is sitting in a ballot box, or wherever - it's 
> still referred 
> to as a "ballot".
> 
> Once a voter makes their selections, the term for the object doesn't 
> change. To denote where a ballot is in the voting process, 
> adjectives are 
> used to modify "ballot" (i.e. unvoted ballot, voted ballot, 
> spoiled ballot, 
> unused ballot, etc).
> 
>  From my view, at least, it would be best for us to stick 
> with this same 
> usage of the word "ballot" - in both its modified and 
> unmodified forms.
> 
> ----------
> 
> There is a difference between paper ballots and electronic 
> ballots, as 
> Michael alluded to.
> 
> With paper ballots ....
> (a) The amount of information on a ballot only increases, it does not 
> decrease.
> (b) Information is only added to a ballot, it is not removed.
> 
> With electronic ballots ....
> (a) The amount of information on/in a ballot can both 
> increase and decrease.
> (b) Information can be both added to a ballot, and removed 
> from a ballot, 
> as it is needed.
> 
> Even with these differences, however, I don't see sufficient 
> reason to call 
> a "ballot" by a different name once a voter has made their selections.
> 
> ----------
> 
> As for defining "vote", there also seems to be some 
> consistency and some 
> differences among our views. However, "vote" can be a 
> confusing word to use 
> in an unmodified form since, commonly, it is used to refer to 
> at least 
> three different concepts - a verb and two nouns. (a) The act 
> of casting a 
> ballot. (b) An individual selection on a ballot. And, (c) a 
> voting event.
> 
> To avoid confusion, perhaps it would be best for us to use 
> the word "vote" 
> to refer to only one of these concepts and use other terms to 
> refer to the 
> other concepts.
> 
> (+) The verb tense of "vote" (i.e. to vote, the act of 
> voting) would be 
> difficult to replace. In thinking about it, I haven't come up 
> with any good 
> alternative verbs to effectively replace "vote". So, my 
> thinking is we 
> should only use the word "vote" as a verb.
> 
> (+) The noun "vote" which refers to an individual selection 
> on a ballot 
> could be referred to as a "selection". The "options" 
> (mentioned above) 
> would go from voting-system-to-voter and "selection(s)" would go from 
> voter-to-voting-system.
> 
> (+) The noun "vote" which refers to a voting event could, 
> obviously, be 
> referred to as an "election".
> 
> These suggestions would have no effect on use of derivatives 
> of the word 
> "vote" - such as voting, voter, voted, etc - since they are 
> less likely to 
> be misunderstood.
> 
> ----------
> 
> Michael, Kevin, everyone - what are your thoughts on all of this?
> 
> - Thom
>   
> 
> 
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