I am not saying it is difficult to understand. However, everything is about the margin, and the marginal voter might be confused that he is suddenly using numbers on his ballot where he previously used checkmarks. Maybe that drops turnout from 69% to 67%.
Is it so absurd to think that it is possible that 2% of the voting age population really is that stupid?
1. Yes, it is absurd. Voters are not incapable of simple reading comprehension. That some voters weigh or factor in different characteristics of a candidate or policies does not make them
these people. Even the Bernie/Trump/LaPage/King voters.
2. Are you saying that you think 2% of voters will drive to their precinct, wait in line, get their ballot look at it and just throw up their hands and drive home? By that point they've already gone through all the effort that keeps people on the other side of the margin at home. More likely than any drop in voter turnout I'd expect a lot of voters who just ignore the new system and only preference one person; it makes more sense than giving up after taking the half an hour or so to vote in the first place.
