The problem

Traditional ballot papers are given to voters along with a pencil to mark their vote with an X (or 1,2,3,4 etc if a proportional vote). This has led, in the last few years to many questioning the potential risk of a ballot being altered or arguments over people marking ballots with their own pens.

It is understandable that the electoral commission would seek to give voters the opportunity to rub out a selection in the event that they have made an error on the ballot paper, in an attempt to reduce such errors. However, the question still arises over the potential for a ballot to be altered.

The Solution

The electoral commission should implement a new type of ballot paper, which would continue to allow voters the opportunity to vote using a pencil for the above reasons, however by implementing a new security measure, they can also allay fears over the potential alteration of ballots and at the same time increase security.

This can be achieved with the addition of an anti-tamper strip added to the ballot paper with ready adhesive and a paper backing to stop it sticking before a ballot being cast. After the voter has cast their ballot in pencil, they simply peel the backing from the anti-tamper strip and pull it over the voting selection boxes pressing it firmly against the paper.

The security of such a strip can be further enhanced with existing anti-tamper strips which when peeled away from a surface, have perforations which destroy the strip in the process (e.g like electrical retailers use on product sealing strips)

This solution would allow voters to use a pencil, stop arguments over the use of pen and at the same time add security to the ballot process. 

In addition

Anyone accidentally sealing the ballot paper then realising that they have made a mistake, can return to the polling officer and ask for another. At this point the electoral officer would be required to destroy the ballot by tearing it into tiny pieces or using a shredder. He or she would then provide the voter with a new ballot paper and both the officer and the voter would be required to sign a sheet specifying the destroyed ballot paper number, the new ballot paper provided number, and signing to confirm that the old ballot had been destroyed and the new one issued.