The following words and terms, when used in this article, shall have the following meanings unless the context indicates otherwise:
BATCH ELIMINATION. A simultaneous defeat of multiple
when it is
.
BY LOT. A random method of breaking a tie vote, which method is solely determined by the
, and as otherwise set forth in M. S. § 205.185, as amended.
CHIEF ELECTION OFFICIAL. The city clerk, or the city clerk's designee(s).
CONTINUING CANDIDATE. A candidate who has not been elected or defeated.
DECLARED WRITE-IN CANDIDATE(S). One or more candidates who have filed a written request with the chief election official to have write-in votes for the candidate counted, provided that such request is filed no later than seven days before the general or special election.
EXHAUSTED BALLOT. A ballot on which all votes are for candidates who have been eliminated.
HIGHEST CONTINUING RANKING. The
on a voter's ballot with the lowest numerical value for a
.
INACTIVE BALLOT. A ballot that can no longer be counted, for the duration of the tabulation process. This includes
,
and
.
MATHEMATICALLY ELIMINATED. Either:
1. The candidate could never win because that candidate's current vote total plus all votes that could possibly be transferred to the candidate in future
(from candidates with fewer votes, tied candidates, and from ) would not be enough to equal or surpass the candidate with the next higher current vote total; or
2. The candidate has a lower current vote total than a candidate who is described by (1).
MATHEMATICALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO BE ELECTED.
by the next higher current vote total comparison.
MAXIMUM POSSIBLE THRESHOLD. The number of votes sufficient for a candidate to be elected based on Election Day tabulation. The maximum possible
equals the total ballots cast, including ballots with no votes,
, , and for the office, divided by two (2), then adding one (1).
OVERVOTE. Occurs when a voter ranks more than one candidate at the same
.
PARTIALLY DEFECTIVE BALLOT. A ballot that is defective to the extent that election judges are unable to determine the voter's intent with respect to the office being counted.
RANKED-CHOICE VOTING. An election method in which voters rank candidates for an office in order of their preference and ballots are counted in
where votes are distributed to candidates according to the preferences marked on each ballot until one candidate meets the
, or until two candidates remain and the candidate with the greater number of votes is declared elected.
RANKED-CHOICE VOTING TABULATION CENTER.
tabulation center means the location selected by the
for the tabulation of votes.
RANKING. The number assigned by a voter to a candidate to express the voter's preference for that candidate. Ranking number one is the highest ranking and the voter's most preferred candidate. A ranking of lower numerical value indicates a greater preference for a candidate than a ranking of higher numerical value.
REPEAT CANDIDATE RANKING. Occurs when a voter ranks the same candidate at multiple rankings for the office being counted.
ROUND. An instance of the sequences of voting tabulation steps.
SKIPPED RANKING. Occurs when a voter leaves a
blank and ranks a candidate at a subsequent
.
SUM OF ALL RANKED-CHOICE VOTES. The sum of all votes for a candidate at every
for an office, including all repeat candidate rankings.
THRESHOLD. The number of votes sufficient for a candidate to be elected to each office on the ballot during that tabulation
. The
equals the total votes counted, after removing , divided by two, then adding one.
TRANSFERABLE VOTE. A vote for a candidate who has been defeated.
TOTALLY DEFECTIVE BALLOT. A ballot that is defective because the election judges are unable to determine the voter's intent for any office on the ballot, it contains marks identifying the voter, or it is deemed defective by state statute.
UNDECLARED WRITE-IN CANDIDATE. A write-in candidate who is not a
.
UNDERVOTE. An instance when a voter does not rank any candidates for an office or ranks less than the maximum allowable number of candidates.