Re: Bar Code Scheme for Ballot

On Thursday 21 August 2003 11:47 am, Alan Dechert wrote:
> David made some interesting comments about the bar code. I
> will take his last comment first.
>
> > As well, ballots with write-in candidates will presumably
> > require considerably longer bar codes than will ones that
> > only select standard candidates. Even without recognizing
> > specific patterns, it might be obvious THAT someone
> > voted for a write-in candidate (which partially punctures
> > ballot anonymity).
>
> Yes. I've given that some thought. That's partly why I've
> advocated NOT barcoding the write-in names.

We should leave some space in the bar code filled with
randomly-generated invalid "salt" values. If we reserve a code
value for write-in candidates, we can preserve the format of the
main voting record, and still allow the software to look up the
write-in candidates' names in this reserved area. Then all of
the bar codes will be the same size, and nobody will be able to
tell wthether the write-in area has been used without a full
scan.

-- 
Edward Cherlin, Simputer Evangelist
Encore Technologies (S) Pte. Ltd.
Computers for all of us
http://www.simputerland.com, http://cherlin.blogspot.com
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