Reply #5: That's a potentially large technical problem

[slackmaster]

The scanning machines' basic function is to count filled-in bubbles in specific expected locations. Anything outside of the pre-printed bubbles is an extraneous mark from the perspective of the machine. That's the way all optical scanning machines have worked since they were invented.

Counting a write-in requires manual intervention - If the bubble isn't filled in, the scanner has no reason to flag that ballot as needing to be examined by a human.

Because of my technical background (I've worked with optical scanning and other types of automatic reading/scoring systems) it was quite obvious to me that the bubble needed to be filled in for a write-in to be counted. Most people lack that experience.

I think a requirement for brutally clear instructions would address the issue.