How are votes counted during a papal conclave?

During a papal conclave, the election of a new pope is conducted via secret ballot within the Sistine Chapel.1

The voting process follows these steps:

• Balloting: Each cardinal elector writes the name of his chosen candidate on a ballot paper.1
• Recording: The ballots are recorded and threaded together to ensure security.1
• Frequency: One ballot is held on the first day, with up to four ballots conducted on subsequent days—two in the morning and two in the afternoon.1
• Threshold: A two-thirds majority is required to elect a new pope.12
• Conclusion: Once a candidate reaches the required majority, he is asked for his consent and chooses a papal name. The ballots are burned after the voting sessions; the color of the smoke produced—white for a successful election or black if no majority is reached—signals the result to the public.1