How contest ballots are counted
Each voting judge picks a 1st, 2nd and 3rd. On the tally sheet, 1st earns 3 points, 2nd earns 2 and 3rd earns 1. Add up each speaker's points and rank them by total. Every counter checks the totals, and the chief judge makes sure each ballot is counted twice.
Then check the timer's record. A speaker disqualified for time is struck from the results. Everyone else keeps the points the judges gave them, so nobody moves up a place on a ballot. If two speakers tie, the chief judge opens the tiebreaking judge's ballot, which ranks every speaker. The higher-ranked of the tied speakers takes the place and the other follows.
With three or more speakers, the chair announces 3rd, then 2nd, then 1st. With two speakers, it's 2nd and 1st. Before that, the chair says how many time disqualifications there were, without names.
Example: a tie for first and an overtime speaker
Four speakers, five judges. Dev went 7 minutes 40 seconds, so the timer's record disqualifies him.
| Ballot | Alicia | Ben | Carmen | Dev |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Judge 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | |
| Judge 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Judge 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | |
| Judge 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | |
| Judge 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | |
| Total | 11 | 11 | 2 |
Alicia and Ben tie on 11. The tiebreaking judge ranked Dev, Ben, Alicia, Carmen. Dev is out, so Ben is first and Alicia second. Carmen is third with 2 points, even though Dev had more. The chair announces one time disqualification, then Carmen, Alicia and Ben. Open this example in the counter.
In the counting room
Before the contest, enter the speakers in speaking order. Names are optional; "Speaker 3" works. When the ballots come in, one counter taps each one in. A second counter then presses Start second count and enters the same ballots again, in the same order. The first count and the totals stay hidden until both counts agree. Any ballot that reads differently is flagged with both readings, so you check that paper ballot instead of recounting everything.
Mark disqualifications from the timer's record and any rulings from the chief judge. The tiebreaking judge's ranking only matters if there's a tie, and the counter tells you when it's needed. Print the tally sheet for the chief judge and the results slip for the chair. When the winners have been announced, start a new contest to erase the ballots.
Scored ballots for 4-H, Optimist and school contests
If judges give points instead of places, switch to Judges give scores. You can add the scores, average them, or rank each judge's scores and add the ranks (lowest total wins), which stops one generous judge from deciding the result. Dropping each speaker's highest and lowest score needs at least three judges. Penalty points come off every judge's score. Optimist oratorical contests, for example, take off 1 point for each 15 seconds, or part of 15 seconds, over or under time.
Questions from counters and chief judges
How do you count Toastmasters contest ballots?
Give 3 points for each 1st place, 2 for each 2nd and 1 for each 3rd, add up each speaker's points and rank them by total. Strike anyone disqualified, break ties with the tiebreaking judge's ballot, and count everything twice before the chief judge hands the results to the chair.
What happens to the points when a speaker is disqualified?
The speaker is struck from the results and their points are ignored. The official tally sheet doesn't tell counters to move anyone up on the ballots, so the other speakers keep the points the judges gave them. The counter shows the struck total crossed out for the record.
How does the tiebreaking judge break a tie?
The tiebreaking judge is secret, judges every speaker and ranks all of them. That ballot goes to the chief judge and is only used if there's a tie. The tied speaker ranked higher takes the place and the others follow in that order. Disqualified speakers on that ballot are skipped.
Are disqualifications announced?
Only time disqualifications, and only the number. Before announcing the winners, the chair says how many there were, without names. Rulings on originality or on referring to another contestant's speech are not announced.
What makes a judge's ballot invalid?
A ballot needs a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place and the judge's printed name and signature. Two names on one line, a repeated name or a missing place goes to the chief judge. Mark a ballot as set aside here to keep it on the sheet without counting it.
Why count every ballot twice?
Misreading one ballot can swap the winners. The rulebook asks the chief judge to have every ballot counted twice and all counters agree on the totals. Here the second count is entered without seeing the first count or the totals, and any ballot that doesn't match is flagged with both readings. The results slip waits until both counts agree.
Can I use it for 4-H, Optimist, Lions or school speech contests?
Yes. Use ranked ballots if judges pick a 1st, 2nd and 3rd, or scored ballots if they give points. Scored contests can add, average or rank the scores, drop each speaker's highest and lowest score, and take off penalty points. Check your own rules for how ties are broken.
Where are the ballots saved?
Only in this browser on this device, so you can close the page and come back. Nothing is uploaded. After the winners are announced, use Start a new contest to erase the ballots, the same way the chief judge destroys the paper ones.
Rules from the Toastmasters Speech Contest Rulebook, July 2026 to June 2027 (sections 5, 6 and 7, and the chief judge's checklist), the Counter's Tally Sheet, and the Optimist 2026–27 oratorical rules. Contest Tally is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by Toastmasters International. Your contest's rulebook and chief judge have the final word.