Voting through the referee's eyes

Why this matters. The host must announce the candidates clearly and record every vote without ambiguity.

What to do. Write down the order of nominations. Announce the order before starting. For each candidate say the number, count the votes by the accepted procedure, close the taking of votes clearly and write down the number. In a dispute, do not change the decision under pressure.

How it sounds. "Candidate number four is up for the vote. The vote is closed. Five votes accepted."

Practice. Run five votes with deliberately late hands and check the protocol.

Typical mistakes. Changing the order of candidates, counting from memory, or accepting a late vote.