System and method for decoding an optically readable markable sheet and markable sheet therefor

A method for decoding 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 may be marked for indicating a selection and the voiding mark space associated with that selection mark space may be marked for voiding the selection marked in the corresponding selection mark space, the markable sheet 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,

• the method for decoding an optically readable markable sheet comprising:
• storing an image of the markable sheet including the selection mark spaces, the voiding mark spaces and the sheet identifier in a memory;
• 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;
• 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,
• voiding a selection marked in a selection mark space if the voiding mark space associated therewith is marked;
• and
• storing a record of at least the determined marked selection mark spaces that are not voided in a 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.

An optically readable markable sheet comprising:

• a sheet of material having an identifier region with an optically readable sheet identifier therein and having selection mark spaces and voiding mark spaces thereon,
• wherein the selection mark spaces are markable for making selections and each of the voiding mark spaces is associated with a corresponding selection mark space and is markable for voiding the marking of the associated corresponding selection mark space,
• wherein marking a selection mark space indicates a selection and marking the voiding mark space associated with a corresponding selection mark space indicates not making that selection;
• and
• wherein the identifier region, the selection mark spaces and the voiding mark spaces are in defined locations on the optically readable markable sheet, and the sheet identifier, the selection mark spaces and the voiding mark spaces are optically readable.