Ballot counting is the process of tallying votes cast in an election. After polls close, election officials collect and verify the ballots to ensure they are legitimate. This process can involve both manual counting and the use of optical scan machines that read and tally votes automatically. Once the votes are counted, the results are reported to the public and relevant authorities. Accuracy is crucial in ballot counting to maintain the integrity of the election. Various methods, such as audits, may be employed to confirm that the counting process was conducted correctly and transparently.