Methodology

• To standardize identification and reporting of electoral anomalies across jurisdictions.
• To support data-driven analysis that can detect patterns of fraud, error, or manipulation.
• To provide actionable insights for policymakers, election officials, and watchdog organizations.
• To enable cross-country comparisons to align with global election integrity standards.

IVACS uses a four-level code to categorize anomalies:

• Major Categories: (e.g., 2.0.0.0): Broad anomaly types, like Registration Issues.
• Subcategories: (e.g., 2.1.0.0): Specific areas, such as Address Issues.
• Detailed Issues: (e.g., 2.1.1.0): Clear problem types, like Voting at Wrong Address.
• Granular Issues: (e.g., 2.1.1.1): Precise issues, such as Multiple Voters at One Wrong Address.

1. Official Roster Issues: Errors in voter lists, such as mismatches between county and state records.
2. Registration Issues: Problems with voter registration, including address inaccuracies, invalid dates, and deceased voters.
3. Funding Related Issues: Improper financial influences, such as vote purchasing or private funding of election processes.
4. Individual Voting Issues: Fraudulent voting practices, like casting ballots for deceased persons or voting multiple times.
5. Polling Location Issues: Polling site concerns, including understaffing, intimidation, or early closures.
6. Voting Machine Issues: Technical problems with voting machines, such as interface errors, data discrepancies, or unauthorized internet connections.
7. Ballot Issues: Problems with ballot handling, modifications, or mail-in processes, including tampering or misprinting.
8. Pseudo Party Contributions: Partisan influences, such as biased election-related push notifications, or questionable grants.
9. Statistics and Analysis: Statistical methods, like Benford analysis, to detect anomalies, such as impossible turnout rates.

• Election Monitoring: Election officials can identify and address vulnerabilities in real-time.
• Research and Advocacy: Organizations can analyze election data for potential fraud, using tools like Benford Analysis.
• Policy Development: Legislation can be written to strengthen election security, addressing issues like non-citizen voting or invalid mail-in ballots.
• Public Transparency: Voters have a clear, consistent framework for reporting anomalies, building trust in electoral outcomes.

• Evolving Election Issues: New anomalies (e.g., AI-driven disinformation, as noted in 2024 UK election threats) may require updates to the taxonomy.
• Implementation Challenges: Data teams and election officials may require training to apply consistently across diverse electoral systems.
• Data Verification: IVACS provides an effective way to classify data surrounding election anomalies, but the data itself must be verified to give the whole picture.