After Election Day, officials conduct a Manual Tally of one percent (1%) of all the ballots counted. The purpose of the hand count is to confirm that the machine count is accurate. All races in the election must be included in the Manual Tally. Alameda County also hand counts one percent (1%) of the precinct ballots or batches counted in the election. A public notice of the date and time is posted at least five days before the Manual Tally on our website at acvote.org.
The Manual Tally is split into two different groups: Vote by Mail ballots and Vote Center ballots (by precinct or batch).
The one percent (1%) of ballots to be counted for each group is drawn at random. The ballots for Vote by Mail are selected by the batches counted. The ballots for Vote Centers are selected by the precincts or batches counted.
The Registrar of Voters’ Office selects a batch for each race or in one precinct for each race not included in the random draw.
The Registrar of Voters shall randomly select one percent (1%) of the precincts by spinning a drum filled with raffle tickets numbered one through the total number of batches or precincts.
A list of all the batches of Vote by Mail ballots and Vote Center ballots by precinct or batches are numbered with consecutive numbers from one to the exact number of batches and precincts used in the election. For example, if there are 50 batches in the election, they are numbered 1 through 50. Precincts are numbered as follows:
| 1. 200100 2. 200400 3. 200200 4. 200500 5. 200300 6. 200600 |
Spinning of the drum and drawing a ticket for each of the consecutive numbered batches or precincts to be tallied.
Continue with this same process until all batches and precincts have been randomly selected for the 1% Manual Tally.
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