Abstract: A voting system and method with a voter verifiable real-time audit log is disclosed. The voting system includes at least one voting terminal operable to record a plurality of poll worker actions and a plurality of voter actions taken at the voting terminal. The voting system also includes at least one printer connected to the voting terminal that is operable to print the poll worker actions and the voter actions on a continuous paper roll so as to create a printed audit log in real-time as the poll worker actions and the voter actions are taken at the voting terminal. Preferably, the paper roll is secured within a locked housing such that the audit log is inaccessible to a voter using the voting terminal. The locked housing includes a display window that enables the voter to review a portion of the audit log associated with the voter in order to verify the voter actions printed on the paper roll.

Abstract: Described is a method of determining a choice made by a user by analyzing marks made on a response sheet by the user. The method employs a response sheet having response areas in which a user is directed to make marks indicating choices. The marked response sheet is then scanned to produce a digital image and associated data of each response area. That data is analyzed for characteristics according to a set of predetermined principles. These principles are based on the form of the response areas on the response sheet. The presence of certain characteristics in the data determines whether a mark was made in the response area and whether the mark constitutes a choice by the user.