When he checked the results, every 'voter' using the normal one-page ballot had punched the hole for the candidate they intended to vote for. And the truth is, this kind of ballot is confusing and causes errors. The only way to be sure of spotting confusion on a document is to test it practically on the intended audience rather than survey opinions. Even a design that seems 'obvious' can cause confusion if it is unfamiliar. The most effective designs are logical ones.
People naturally read lists in straight lines rather than skipping back and forth.
Settling for a form that 'most' people understand correctly is not good enough. Even a small error rate can have a very significant result. With most forms, a mistake can be corrected at a cost. With a ballot paper, there is no second chance. Westminster waffle watch The politicians are back at work, and we're pleased to say that they aren't all being silenced by gobbledygook.