tally room

English

Alternative forms

• tally-room

Etymology

From tally (“an account or score”) + room.

Noun

tally room (plural tally rooms)

1. A room in which votes are counted.
   • 1869, House of Commons, Accounts and Papers of the House of Commons‎^[1], page 328:

     I do not say with any criminal intent as to coercing this man, but he takes him away, and he is immediately hoisted upon the shoulders of the people, and they carry him off to Mr. Whitworth′s tally-rooms; […] .

   • 1997, US Department of Labor, Conducting Local Union Officer Elections: A Guide for Election Officials, DIANE Publishing Company, US, page 54,

     Because the atmosphere in the tally room can become noisy and tense, election officials must maintain order at all times so that tally teams can work efficiently and can hear the votes being read.

   • 1997, Jenni Harrold, Australian Politics‎^[2], page 21:

     The Tally Room at the Electoral Commission becomes a hive of activity after 6 p.m. when the polling places close. All the results from the Returning Officers are phoned through to the tally room.

   • 2005, John Wanna, Yes, Premier: Labor Leadership in Australia′s States and Territories‎^[3], page 70:

     In his victory speech at the Brisbane tally room in 2001 Beattie was characteristically earnest, modest, and inclusive.

   • 2010, Ross Fitzgerald, Stephen Holt, Alan ‘The Red Fox’ Reid: Pressman Par Excellence, page 283:

     Shortly thereafter Whitlam arrived in the tally room to accept defeat.