Electronic correction of voter-marked paper ballot

摘要

Methods, systems, and devices are described for electronically correcting votes made on voter-marked paper ballots. An optical scan system may image a paper ballot and allow vote modification by the voter following the imaging. Such a modification may be necessary, for example, if a voter has improperly voted (e.g., voted for two candidates for one office), if a definitive determination of the intention to cast a vote cannot be made (e.g., partially filed-in bubble associated with a candidate, erasure, stray marks), if a write-in candidate is included on the ballot, or if a voter has changed their mind or otherwise wishes to cast a different vote than initially indicated. After correction, the corrected ballot may be re-imaged.

主权项

1. A method for modifying one or more votes on a voter-marked paper ballot, comprising:
receiving an optical image of the voter-marked paper ballot; analyzing the optical image to determine that one or more votes recorded on the voter-marked paper ballot satisfy a criteria for voter clarification; prompting the voter on a voter interface to provide clarification for one or more votes recorded on the voter-marked paper ballot when one or more votes satisfy the voter clarification criteria; receiving clarification via the voter interface for one or more votes from the voter responsive to the prompting, wherein the clarification comprises at least one of corrections or modifications, of the voter-marked paper ballot; and generating a cast vote record responsive to the analyzing and receiving clarification.