Count What You Want to Count : Motivated Perception and Contested Ballots

Fairness requires that election ballots be counted in an accurate and consistent manner, yet close elections are decided often by hand-recounts that may introduce partisan bias. Using an experimental design, this paper simulates the process of counting challenged ballots during a hand-recount after a disputed election. Applying psychological theories of motivated reasoning to the political process, we find that ballot assessment often hinges on the individual’s party identification and the personal stake that he or she has in the outcome of the race. The effect of partisanship on motivated perception is greater when ballot counters are given ambiguous, rather than specific, instructions for determining voter intent. The results of this paper have serious implications for the electoral process and recount procedures