+# input files can be in any order and should contain lines like:
+#
+# <votername> :: <PREF>, (<PREF>=<PREF>), <PREF>, ....
+# V: <tallyprefs> <votername>
+# <ABBREV> = <description...>
+# <ABBREV> = <description...> [<rat>:<io>]
+# <ABBREV> = <description...> [default]
+# nodefault
+# quorum = <quorum>
+#
+# where
+#
+# <votername> is any non-whitespace characters
+#
+# <ABBREV> and <PREF> are abbreviations for choices on the ballot.
+# They must be ASCII alphanumeric. Numeric preferences are
+# not recommended as they are confusing (particularly when
+# tally sheets are in use).
+#
+# It is best to avoid FD, SQ and NOTA except for the default
+# option; if no default option is specified, it will default
+# to one of these unless a "nodefault" line is found.
+#
+# In the "::" form, the commas are optional. Either ( ) or = may
+# be used to indicate a set of equal preferences.
+#
+# <tallyprefs> is a tally sheet preference order: that is,
+# a single uppercase base36 digit for each ballot choice,
+# (in the order they were specified by "=" lines), giving
+# the voter's preference rank for that option. The numbers
+# need not be distinct or contiguous. "-" may be used for
+# unranked preferences.
+#
+# <rat>:<io> is the majority ratio for the option
+#
+# <quorum> is the quorum
+#
+# and also allowed are
+#
+# #-comments } all
+# blank lines } ignored
+# lines starting with whitespace }