The state of Washington requires fourth-grade students to take a standardized test which is scored using optical scanners. Most fourth-graders have no problems at all following the directions for the WASL test. These directions are the same for some King County election ballots (fill in the circle). I think we can stretch the point to the ballots used in Snohomish County (draw a line to complete the arrow).
The Associated Press reported election officials were “enhancing ballots to reflect voters’ intentions” (more than 700 ballots were being enhanced). Why is so much effort being put into “determining the voter’s intentions”? If a Washington state voter cannot be bothered to follow directions simple enough for a fourth-grader to follow, why should that voter’s ballot be considered at all? I do not want an election determined by a voter who can not or will not follow some simple rules all of us must follow.
Throw out any ballot that does not meet the simple, easy-to-understand rules. If the voter circled the candidate’s name, but did not fill in the circle (or draw the line to complete the arrow), then the voter is wasting all the resources put into educating him or her, and Washington should not waste any further resources trying to determine his or her intentions. The rule should be simple and straightforward. Follow the instructions, get counted. Ignore them, get thrown into the trash.
Anthony McDermott
Lake Stevens
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