Patent ID: 8066184

Claim:
An optical reader for reading an optically readable markable ballot sheet having a ballot sheet identifier and an anti-copy feature thereon, the optical reader comprising: an imager for imaging the ballot sheet wherein the image includes the ballot sheet identifier, the anti-copy feature and voting selections marked in mark spaces on the ballot sheet; a processor for determining from the anti-copy feature in the image of the ballot sheet whether the ballot sheet is an original ballot sheet, and, if the ballot sheet is an original ballot sheet: the processor for decoding from the image of the ballot sheet the ballot sheet identifier for selecting a template defining locations of mark spaces, and the processor for decoding from the image of the ballot sheet the mark spaces in accordance with the selected template for recording the voting selections marked on the ballot sheet, whereby the voting selections marked on an original ballot sheet are decoded and recorded in accordance with the template corresponding to the ballot sheet identifier.