Calendar YearA document that is good for the calendar year effectively “expires” on December 31 at the end of the year.
Cancellation of An ElectionAn election may be cancelled under certain circumstances as allowed by law. Reasons for cancellation include candidates being unopposed or a moot measure…
CandidateA person who is running for an elected office.
CanvassThe procedure performed by the governing body of the political subdivision whereby the election results become official.
Carrier EnvelopeThe envelope in which a voter places his sealed ballot envelope (containing his marked by-mail ballot).
CensusAn official count of the number of people in a region. The federal census is done by the federal government every 10 years.
Central Counting StationA centralized location at which ballots cast during the election are tabulated and election reports generated based on those tabulations.
Certificate of ElectionAfter the completion of a canvass, the presiding officer of the local canvassing authority shall prepare a certificate of election for each candidate who…
City SecretaryA city clerk or, in a city that has no city secretary or clerk, the city officer who performs the duties of a city secretary.
Combination FormA form used at the polling place during early voting and election day that combines multiple functions and requirements into a single form.
Combined Election PrecinctsWhen two or more county election precincts vote at the same polling place but the precincts are reported separately and separate paperwork is kept for…
Commissioner/JP/Constable PrecinctEach county in the state must be divided into four commissioner’s precincts; one county commissioner is elected to represent each commissioner precinct.
Confirmation NoticeA notice sent to a voter by the voter registrar when the registrar has reason to believe that a voter’s current residence is different from that…
CongressThe U.S. Congress, which makes the country's laws, is divided into the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Congressional DistrictAn area within a state from which a member of the House of Representatives is elected.
Consolidated Election Precinct – County ElectionIn a special election for which use of county election precincts is required, the commissioners court may consolidate, on the recommendation of the county…
Consolidated Election Precinct – Primary ElectionThe county executive committee of a political party holding a primary election may order two or more county election precincts consolidated into a single…
ConventionAn official meeting of the delegates of a political party at which the delegates decide upon their party platform and take other party-related actions.
Corrected BallotTo make a necessary correction on the ballot, the authority responsible for having the official ballot prepared may prepare new ballots, line out or…
County ClerkAdministers elections at the county level, unless that county has an Elections Administrator.
County Election BoardThe board established in each county for the general election for state and county officers, a special election for an officer regularly elected at the…
County Election CommissionThe group that appoints, monitors, and may fire a county Elections Administrator (EA).
County Election PrecinctThe county commissioner’s court divides all territory of the county into county election precincts; each precinct must not contain territory from more…
County OfficeAn office of the county government that is voted on countywide or from a portion of the county such as a commissioner, justice, or constable precinct.
Countywide Polling Place ProgramAlso referred to as Vote Centers. A polling place system in which the county election precinct polling places are eliminated and instead any registered…
Cure PeriodThe period ending on the 6th day after election day (for most elections), during which a voter who voted provisionally due to failure to present one of…
Custodian of Election RecordsThe individual responsible for maintaining for the required retention period the records from an election.