Scrutiny

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Scrutiny (Fr. scrutin, Late Lat. scrutinium, from scrutari, to search or examine thoroughly) is a careful examination or inquiry (often implying the search for a likely mistake or failure). It has a electing a pope in the Catholic Church, in contradistinction to two other methods, acclamation and accession. In the law of elections, scrutiny is the careful examination of votes cast after the unsuccessful candidate has lodged a petition claiming the seat, and alleging that he has the majority of legal votes. Each vote is dealt with separately, notice being given beforehand by one party to the other of the votes objected to and the grounds of objection.

This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica, Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.