A Simple Yet Important Election Protection Action Almost Anyone Can Do
What Are Poll Tapes and Why Are They Important?
Poll tapes are the original record of the total votes counted at a polling place. They show how many votes each candidate received in that location. These records, also called results tapes, look like cash register receipts.
Poll workers print out the tapes after polls close on election night and — in many states — are required to post them publicly. Workers will often hang them inside a window, facing out, or on the outside of the building.
That’s where you come in!
It’s crucial that we capture the numbers on these public records to verify the vote counts announced later. This is an essential check on our computerized voting systems.
All you need is a smart phone!
Using the Actual Vote app, you’ll scan the tape with your video camera and upload it to the servers of our partner organization, America Counts. From there it can be tabulated and analyzed.
The idea is to check the accuracy of official vote totals.
Double-checking vote totals in this way can help increase voter confidence. The evidence you’ve collected can help document the accuracy of an election, fending off partisan attacks on our democracy.