Return to Hand Counting

Is it Possible to Hand Count Ballots for an Election WITHOUT Using Voting Machines?

YES!

Will it take days, weeks, or months to count all the ballots?

NO-the time needed to hand count ballots is measured in hours.

What About Costs, Accuracy, and the People Needed to Count Ballots, and All the Other So-Called Objections?

Most objections are actually myths: popular beliefs that are false or unsupported.

The Use of Computerized Voting Machines Is Relatively New to Elections, While Hand Counting Ballots Was Done for Centuries.

Section 9 of Return to Hand Counting, is a 70-page Myth-Debunking Workbook. The author discusses about a dozen of the most repeated hand counting myths, and discusses the findings (the results of investigations, research, or experience) that hand counting ballots saves time, saves money, provides same-day or election-day results, is more transparent and secure than voting machines.

Example of a Myth vs. Finding

MYTH: Consider, as an example, the myth that hand counting ballots is more expensive than using electronic voting equipment. A 2024 academic study published by Cambridge University Press, A Republic If You Can Afford It. How Much Does It Cost to Administer Elections?, stated that, "The cost of administering elections is an importantly understudied area in election science." The study showed that elections in the United States are expensive but did not (or could not) conclude what portion of the costs is for voting machines.

However, the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) wrote in 2018 that "One of the most expensive items in an election administrator's budget is the equipment used to cast and tabulate votes." The NCSL also stated, "No one knows how much it costs to run elections in the United States. For that matter, it's a rare state that knows how much election administration costs within its own borders due to the complexity of elections and the involvement of several levels of government."

Return to Hand Counting Delivers Findings

In addition to the information in this book, estimator tools were created by the author and are available on the companion website. They calculate estimates for the number of people needed to hand count ballos in a specified number of hours, estimated labor costs, square footage of counting space needed, and more. There is even a shopping list of hand count supplies - most of which can be purchased at a local office supplies store.

While an apples-to-apples comparison of costs has not been possible due to lack of information regarding voting machines, comparisons of certain expenses consistently show that hand counting is less expensive than voting machines. Plus, the highest cost for hand counting - labor costs - is money that will stay in the community rather than going to private equity companies that own the voting machine companies.

A Complete Hand Count Process, with Commentary and Resources.

The Missouri Method, taught in this manual, is a complete hand count process from opening of the polling places to returning election results to the clerk. It was used in an official election and proved the accuracy of hand counting ballots. Although based on Missouri's laws, it may be adaptable by other states.

The paperback version of Return to Hand Counting is printed in standard color ink and is great for note-taking during training. The hardcover version is printed on heavier paper and in premium color ink.