count the votes

USAGE SUMMARY

'count the votes' is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when discussing a formal process for tallying opinions or decisions. For example: "Before the results of the election can be announced, we need to count the votes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Count the votes.

The New York Times

"Before they even count the votes!

The New Yorker

Time to count the votes.

The New Yorker

"We want to count the votes".

The New York Times

"Those who count the votes decide everything".

The Guardian

"Count the votes," Mr. Tofel said.

The New York Times

Have a volunteer "election board" count the votes.

The New York Times

If they count the votes again and Maduro wins, fine.

The New York Times

The precinct officials don't count the votes anymore.

The New Yorker

Then after the election, we count the votes.

The New York Times

It should have moved the primary to June to provide enough time to count the votes.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal writing, consider using synonyms like "tabulate" or "tally" for a more sophisticated tone.

Common error

Avoid using "count the votes" as a catch-all phrase for election integrity. While vote counting is crucial, broader issues like voter suppression, campaign finance, and cybersecurity also affect election outcomes.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "count the votes" primarily functions as a verb phrase. Ludwig provides examples showing its use in imperative statements, declarative sentences, and questions relating to the electoral process and other contexts where decisions are made through voting.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

77%

Academia

8%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Science

11%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "count the votes" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to describe the action of tallying votes, primarily in the context of elections and decision-making processes. Ludwig's examples reveal its prevalence in news and media, with secondary usage in academic and general contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase follows standard grammar rules and is widely accepted. While seemingly straightforward, it's important to consider the broader context of vote counting within election integrity and to use more sophisticated synonyms like "tabulate" or "tally" in formal writing where appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tally the ballots

Replaces "votes" with "ballots", emphasizing the physical documents being counted.

tabulate the votes

Uses "tabulate" instead of "count", suggesting a more organized and systematic counting process.

conduct a vote count

Adds "conduct" to specify the action of performing the count.

perform the vote tally

Swaps "count" with "tally" and uses "perform" to describe the action.

determine the vote totals

Shifts the focus to determining the final totals of the votes.

ascertain the election results

Broadens the scope to the overall election results, implying the count is a part of that.

certify the voting outcome

Focuses on the official certification of the outcome after the votes are counted.

undertake a recount of the votes

Specifies a recount, which is a second count of the votes.

scrutinize the ballots cast

Emphasizes examining the ballots for irregularities during the counting process.

adjudicate disputed ballots

Highlights the process of resolving disagreements about how specific ballots should be counted.

FAQs

What does it mean to "count the votes"?

To "count the votes" means to tally all the ballots or votes cast in an election or decision-making process to determine the outcome.

What is another way to say "count the votes"?

Alternatives to "count the votes" include "tally the ballots", "tabulate the votes", or "perform the vote tally".

Why is it important to "count the votes" accurately?

Accurately "counting the votes" is essential to ensure a fair and democratic process, reflecting the true will of the voters.

What happens after officials "count the votes"?

After officials "count the votes", the results are typically certified, and the winner is declared based on the final tallies. Sometimes, a "recount of the votes" may be conducted if the election is close.