Journal of Election Administration, Research & Practice

Introduction: The Politics of Ambiguity and Intent

You cannot “find 11,780 votes” when an election jurisdiction relies on ballotmarking devices (BMDs). There are no votes to find because voter intent is unambiguous. There are no stray marks. No Xs or slashes to cross out mistaken or unwanted choices. No checkmarks instead of filled bubbles. And if appropriately configured, there are no overvotes, and undervotes are more readily assumed to be intentional. In short, a BMD ballot displays only the voter’s intent. When every ballot reflects clear voter intent, there is no need for mind-reading that accompanies

double-blind, bipartisan adjudications or costly court interventions. No Florida 2000 or Minnesota 2008. All that remains are unambiguous ballots—clearly marked paper records printed at the voter’s direction.