Scrutineer
Encyclopedia
In general, a scrutineer is a person who observes any process which requires rigorous oversight, either to prevent the occurrence of corruption or genuine mistakes. It is most commonly known as part of voting
in an election
, where the scrutineer observes the counting of ballot papers, in order to check that election rules are followed. There are other uses of the concept, such as in motorsport, when a scrutineer is responsible for ensuring that vehicles meet the technical regulations.
from a political party. In some jurisdictions, each candidate or party may have one scrutineer or poll-watcher per constituency or precinct
where voting or counting is taking place. In other jurisdictions, such as Australia
and Canada
, each party is permitted to appoint one scrutineer per ballot box. They are often required to refrain from contact with voters, wearing or displaying political slogans, or otherwise exerting influence on the conduct of the election while it is taking place.
s. Racing series typically have a set of technical regulations to which the cars, bikes or other vehicles must conform. The role of the scrutineer in this case is to confirm that vehicles entered for the race meet the relevant regulations.
) employ (usually professionally certified
) officials who oversee judging and tabulates scores. Software is often used to aid with tabulation. Two popular platforms are CompMngr and O2CM.
.
Voting
Voting is a method for a group such as a meeting or an electorate to make a decision or express an opinion—often following discussions, debates, or election campaigns. It is often found in democracies and republics.- Reasons for voting :...
in an election
Election
An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy operates since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the...
, where the scrutineer observes the counting of ballot papers, in order to check that election rules are followed. There are other uses of the concept, such as in motorsport, when a scrutineer is responsible for ensuring that vehicles meet the technical regulations.
Politics
Rules vary concerning the number of scrutineers that are allowed to be present at each polling stationPolling station
A polling place or polling station is where voters cast their ballots in elections.Since elections generally take place over a one- or two-day span on a periodic basis, often annual or longer, polling places are often located in facilities used for other purposes, such as schools, churches, sports...
from a political party. In some jurisdictions, each candidate or party may have one scrutineer or poll-watcher per constituency or precinct
Precinct
A precinct is a space enclosed by the walls or other boundaries of a particular place or building, or by an arbitrary and imaginary line drawn around it. The term has several different uses...
where voting or counting is taking place. In other jurisdictions, such as Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, each party is permitted to appoint one scrutineer per ballot box. They are often required to refrain from contact with voters, wearing or displaying political slogans, or otherwise exerting influence on the conduct of the election while it is taking place.
Sport
Scrutineers play an important role in many motor sportAuto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
s. Racing series typically have a set of technical regulations to which the cars, bikes or other vehicles must conform. The role of the scrutineer in this case is to confirm that vehicles entered for the race meet the relevant regulations.
Design/Engineering
Someone who carefully verifies the accuracy of Technical Specifications, Drawings, or Configurations as they apply to a specific discipline field.Competitive Dance
Dancing competitions (especially DancesportDanceSport
Dancesport denotes competitive ballroom dancing, as contrasted to social or exhibition dancing. It is wheelchair dancesport where at least one of the dancers is in a wheelchair....
) employ (usually professionally certified
Professional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
) officials who oversee judging and tabulates scores. Software is often used to aid with tabulation. Two popular platforms are CompMngr and O2CM.
Synonyms
The names Poll-watcher and Challenger is commonly used for this role in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.