Patent ID: 8261986

Claim:
Apparatus for reading an optically readable markable sheet, the markable sheet having selection mark spaces and voiding mark spaces thereon, wherein each of the voiding mark spaces is associated with a corresponding one of the selection mark spaces, and wherein a selection mark space is markable for indicating a selection and the voiding mark space associated with that selection mark space is markable for voiding a selection marked in the corresponding selection mark space, the markable sheet also having a sheet identifier thereon that relates to a template defining the locations of the selection mark spaces and the voiding mark spaces on the markable sheet, said apparatus for reading an optically readable markable sheet comprising: a memory storing an image of the markable sheet including the selection mark spaces, the voiding mark spaces and the sheet identifier; a processor decoding the sheet identifier from the image of the markable sheet for selecting the template and decoding the selection mark spaces and the voiding mark spaces from the image of the markable sheet in accordance with the selected template; said processor determining marked selection mark spaces in the decoded selection mark spaces of the markable sheet and marked voiding mark spaces in the decoded voiding mark spaces of the markable sheet in accordance with the selected template, said processor voiding a selection marked in a selection mark space if the voiding mark space associated therewith is marked; and wherein a record of at least the unvoided determined marked selection mark spaces is stored in said memory, whereby the selections marked on the markable sheet are recorded in accordance with a template corresponding to the sheet identifier for the markable sheet and are voided by marks in the associated voidable mark spaces of the markable sheet.