POLYAS Election Glossary
We provide explanations and background information on elections, voting rights and digital democracy
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Ballot Paper
A ballot paper is an official document which voters use to cast their votes by indicating their preferences on it.
The procedure of holding legally binding elections means that ballot papers also need to fulfil certain criteria. For instance, all voters have to receive identical ballot papers (print, size, colour etc.). Furthermore, the boxes in which candidates’ names are written need to be the same font and size, thereby giving each candidate equal representation on the ballot paper.
The common type of ballot papers are paper ballots, but ballots can also be created online and used digitally or filled out by using a voting machine.
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