Debate · Tools

Judge's ballots

Printable ballots for practice rounds, scrimmages and club tournaments, plus a simple scoring sheet. At a real tournament, use the ballot the tournament gives you; these follow the same shape so new judges and debaters know what to expect.

Ballot for

Policy Debate Ballot

Teddy Rook Book · practice ballot

Tournament or event Round Room Date Judge Judge's school or club (if any) Resolution

Side	Team or debater code	Speakers	Points	Rank
Affirmative		1A:
Affirmative		2A:
Negative		1N:
Negative		2N:

Give each speaker points on your league's scale (check the tournament's instructions) and rank the speakers in the round. In most leagues the winning team may not have fewer points than the losing team unless the judge marks a "low-point win."

Decision: The better debating was done by on the ☐ Affirmative / ☐ Negative.

Reason for decision What decided the round? Which arguments did you weigh, and why?

Comments for the Affirmative One thing that worked, one thing to try next time.

Comments for the Negative One thing that worked, one thing to try next time.

Judge's signature

Lincoln-Douglas Debate Ballot

Teddy Rook Book · practice ballot

Tournament or event Round Room Date Judge Judge's school or club (if any) Resolution

Side	Team or debater code	Speakers	Points	Rank
Affirmative		Aff:
Negative		Neg:

Decision: The better debating was done by on the ☐ Affirmative / ☐ Negative.

Reason for decision What decided the round? Which arguments did you weigh, and why?

Comments for the Affirmative One thing that worked, one thing to try next time.

Comments for the Negative One thing that worked, one thing to try next time.

Judge's signature

Public Forum Debate Ballot

Teddy Rook Book · practice ballot

Tournament or event Round Room Date Judge Judge's school or club (if any) Resolution

Side	Team or debater code	Speakers	Points	Rank
First-speaking team		A1:
First-speaking team		A2:
Second-speaking team		B1:
Second-speaking team		B2:

Decision: The better debating was done by on the ☐ First-speaking team / ☐ Second-speaking team.

Reason for decision What decided the round? Which arguments did you weigh, and why?

Comments for the First-speaking team One thing that worked, one thing to try next time.

Comments for the Second-speaking team One thing that worked, one thing to try next time.

Judge's signature

Congressional Debate Ballot

Teddy Rook Book · practice ballot

Tournament or event Round Room Date Judge Judge's school or club (if any) Legislation

Legislator	Speech (Aff/Neg) or questions	Score	Comments

Score each speech on the scale your tournament gives. Judge clash with earlier speakers, evidence, organization, delivery and answers in questioning.

Top legislators in this session, ranked

Reason for decision What decided the round? Which arguments did you weigh, and why?

Comments for the Affirmative (for the legislation) One thing that worked, one thing to try next time.

Comments for the Negative (against the legislation) One thing that worked, one thing to try next time.

Judge's signature

World Schools Debate Ballot

Teddy Rook Book · practice ballot

Tournament or event Round Room Date Judge Judge's school or club (if any) Motion

Side	Team or debater code	Speakers	Points	Rank
Proposition		P1:
		P2:
		P3:
Opposition		O1:
		O2:
		O3:

Decision: The better debating was done by on the ☐ Proposition / ☐ Opposition.

Reason for decision What decided the round? Which arguments did you weigh, and why?

Comments for the Proposition One thing that worked, one thing to try next time.

Comments for the Opposition One thing that worked, one thing to try next time.

Judge's signature

British Parliamentary Debate Ballot

Teddy Rook Book · practice ballot

Tournament or event Round Room Date Judge Judge's school or club (if any) Motion

Team	Team name or code	Speakers and points	Team rank (1st to 4th)
Opening Government		Prime Minister: pts Deputy Prime Minister: pts
Opening Opposition		Leader of the Opposition: pts Deputy Leader of the Opposition: pts
Closing Government		Member for the Government: pts Government Whip: pts
Closing Opposition		Member for the Opposition: pts Opposition Whip: pts

Rank the four teams from first to fourth; there are no ties in rank. Speaker points follow your tournament's scale. Higher-ranked teams usually get higher total points.

Ranking: 1st 2nd 3rd 4th

Reason for decision What decided the round? Which arguments did you weigh, and why?

Comments for the Opening Government One thing that worked, one thing to try next time.

Comments for the Opening Opposition One thing that worked, one thing to try next time.

Comments for the Closing Government One thing that worked, one thing to try next time.

Comments for the Closing Opposition One thing that worked, one thing to try next time.

Judge's signature

American Parliamentary Debate (APDA and NPDA) Ballot

Teddy Rook Book · practice ballot

Tournament or event Round Room Date Judge Judge's school or club (if any) Motion

Side	Team or debater code	Speakers	Points	Rank
Government		Prime Minister:
Government		Member of Government:
Opposition		Leader of the Opposition:
Opposition		Member of the Opposition:

Decision: The better debating was done by on the ☐ Government / ☐ Opposition.

Reason for decision What decided the round? Which arguments did you weigh, and why?

Comments for the Government One thing that worked, one thing to try next time.

Comments for the Opposition One thing that worked, one thing to try next time.

Judge's signature

Oxford-Style Public Debate Ballot

Teddy Rook Book · practice ballot

Tournament or event Round Room Date Judge Judge's school or club (if any) Motion

Side	Team or debater code	Speakers	Points	Rank
For the motion		First speaker for:
For the motion		Second speaker for:
Against the motion		First speaker against:
Against the motion		Second speaker against:

Decision: The better debating was done by on the ☐ For the motion / ☐ Against the motion.

Many public debates also poll the audience before and after; the side that changes more minds wins. Follow your organizer's rules. Before: For Against Undecided · After: For Against Undecided

Reason for decision What decided the round? Which arguments did you weigh, and why?

Comments for the For the motion One thing that worked, one thing to try next time.

Comments for the Against the motion One thing that worked, one thing to try next time.

Judge's signature

Simple scoring sheet

For practice rounds and club meetings · Teddy Rook Book

Type names and tap scores from 1 (needs work) to 5 (excellent). Totals add up as you go, and the sheet is saved in this browser. Print it filled in, or print it blank for judges to fill by hand.

Topic

Speaker	Side	Arguments	Evidence	Refutation	Organization	Delivery	Questions	Total

What to work on

Arguments: Clear claims with reasons that link to the resolution.
Evidence: Sources that are real, relevant, fairly quoted and cited.
Refutation: Answers the other side's best points directly.
Organization: Signposts ("my first point…") and stays on time.
Delivery: Clear, audible, steady pace, eye contact, respectful tone.
Questions: Asks short, useful questions and gives truthful, direct answers.

What judges look for

Lay judges (parents, teachers, community members) decide like a thoughtful listener: who was clearer, more convincing and easier to follow. Speak plainly, explain jargon and slow down.
Flow judges (former debaters and coaches) take notes on every argument and decide on what was said and answered. A dropped argument usually counts for the side that made it, and new arguments in the last speeches usually don't count.
Every judge rewards honest evidence, direct answers to the other side, and a clear explanation in the last speech of why you win.
Write a reason for decision a debater can learn from: the argument that decided it and why, not just "good job."

Read more in Learn to Debate. For timing the round, use the debate timer.