Word of the Day
March 7, 2022
Adjudication
The formal process of making a judgment or decision, particularly in legal or administrative contexts. In election administration, adjudication refers to the process where election workers examine and determine voter intent on ballots that cannot be read by scanning machines, typically due to stray marks, unclear selections, or damaged ballots.
From Latin 'adjudicare' meaning 'to award or judge,' combining 'ad-' (to) + 'judicare' (to judge), derived from 'judex' (judge). The term entered English in the early 17th century through legal contexts.
Usage Examples
- The industry standard for ballot adjudication is 0.1 percent of votes cast, ensuring human review remains an exception rather than the rule.
- Election officials faced criticism when adjudication rates exceeded ten times the normal threshold without explanation.
- Fair adjudication requires bipartisan oversight to prevent any single party from controlling ballot interpretation.
From the Show
The concept of adjudication emerged as central to the March 7, 2022 discussion when Arizona GOP Chair Kelli Ward explained how Maricopa County sent 10 percent of early ballots to digital adjudication, far exceeding the 0.1 percent industry standard.