Coding Process

NORC coders were provided with special coding forms for the three major types of ballot used in Florida: Votomatic, Datavote, and optical scan technologies. Each Florida county was represented by a FIPS code (Federal Information Processing Standards). In addition, each type of ballot technology was assigned its own set of codes. When working in counties that use Votomatic technology, coders were provided with lightboxes to help them decide whether "sunlight" was visible through a dimple or not.

These are cards on which voters make selections by pressing a lever that punches out the chads mechanically. These punchcards have the candidate names and party information on them. The chads on these cards are not numbered. The codes for absentee datavote ballots are the same as the codes for votomatic ballots. For non-absentee ballots, the codes are as follows:

For detail see Datavote Coding Form and Datavote Coding Form Codes.)

There are two types of optical scan ballots. The first contains an oval for each candidate. Voters fill in the oval that corresponds to his/her vote choice. The second scan ballot features a set of broken arrows. The voter completes the center section of the arrow that points to his/her candidate’s name. On both types of optical scan ballot, a machine reads the filled selections electronically. Codes for optical scan ballots are as follows:

(For detail, see Optical Scan Coding Form and Optical Scan Coding Form Codes.)

These are cards on which the chad for each vote selection is punched out manually. These punchcard ballots have no candidate names or identification on them. Chads have only numbers. The codes for a votomatic ballot are listed below, ordered from the least detached chad state to the most detached chad state:

(For detail on the coding forms, see Votomatic Coding Form, Extended Votomatic Coding Form for Duval Country, Extended Votomatic Coding Form for Indian River County, and Votomatic Coding Form Codes.)