Thread by @mattblaze

The narrowly rigid language policing that voting activists are demanding of the terminology used by experts who share their ostensible goals is, to put it gently, counterproductive and misguided.

In particular, “hand marked” ballots is a reductive phrase that doesn’t always fit.

I dislike it because it fails to capture the need that some voters have for assistive ballot marking technology (though I dislike systems that require this tech for all voters). I try to make my usage clear from context.

I understand some people disagree. That’s fine.

But just please don’t automatically assume that people who aren’t using your preferred phrasing for something are evil, “compromised”, ignorant, or misinformed. Take the time to dig in to what they’re saying before attacking them (or worse, urging others to do so). Thanks.