U.S. patent number RE40,449 [Application Number 11/062,351] was granted by the patent office on 2008-08-05 for auto-verifying voting system and voting method.
Invention is credited to Michael R. McDermott, Anthony I. Provitola.
United States Patent |
RE40,449 |
Provitola , et al. |
August 5, 2008 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Auto-verifying voting system and voting method
Abstract
A voting system provides for a computer-prepared and
computer-printed election ballot generated by input from the voter,
and provides for auto-verification whereby the voter has the
opportunity and the responsibility to inspect the computer-printed
ballot with his or her votes. The voting system also provides for
correction of the votes of the voter in the computer station and
correction of the votes of the voter shown on the printed ballot if
such votes are not shown on the printed ballot as intended by the
voter. Ultimately, the voter is presented with a printed ballot
prepared by the voting station and its connected printer which
accurately presents the votes of the voter for submission by the
voter for final tabulation.
Inventors: |
Provitola; Anthony I. (DeLand,
FL), McDermott; Michael R. (DeLand, FL) |
Family
ID: |
24943085 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/062,351 |
Filed: |
February 14, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
09732324 |
Dec 7, 2000 |
06769613 |
Aug 3, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
235/386; 235/51;
705/12 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07C
13/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G06K
17/00 (20060101); G06F 11/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;235/50,51,56,57,375,386
;705/12 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
Rebecca Mercuri, "A Better Ballot Box?," IEEE Spectrum, vol. 39,
No. 10, Oct. 2002, U. S. A. cited by other .
Rebecca Mercuri, "Voting Automation (Early and Often?)," Inside
Risks, Communications of the Association for Computing Machinery,
vol. 43, No. 11, Nov. 2000, U. S. A. cited by other .
Rebecca Mercuri, "Corrupted Polling," Inside Risks, Communications
of the Association for Computing Machinery, vol. 36, No. 11, Nov.
1993, U. S. A. cited by other .
Rebecca Mercuri, "Electronic Voting", (from www.notablesoftware.com
copyrighted 2000-2005), Updated Sep. 2005, U. S. A. cited by other
.
Rebecca Mercuri, "The Business of Elections," 3rd Conference on
Computers, Freedom and Privacy, Mar. 1993, U. S. A. cited by other
.
Rebecca Mercuri, "Voting-Machine Risks," Inside Risks,
Communications of the Association for Computing Machinery, vol. 35,
No. 11, Nov. 1992, U. S. A. cited by other .
Michael Stanton (Translator), Agencia O Estado de Sao Paulo, "The
Importance of Recounting Votes", (on website
http://www.estadao.com.br/technologia/), Nov. 2000, Brazil. cited
by other .
Ted Selker and Sharon Cohen, Caltech/Mit Voting Technology Project,
"An Active Approach to Voting Verification", VIP Working Paper #28,
May 2005, U. S. A. cited by other .
Rebecca Mercuri, "Electronic Vote Tabulation Checks &
Balances", Ph.D. Dissertation Defense, University of Pennsylvania,
Oct. 2000, U. S. A. cited by other .
Rebecca Mercuri, "Statement on Electronic Voting", (from
www.notablesoftware.com), Copyright 2001, U. S. A. cited by other
.
Rebecca T. Mercuri, "Physical Verifiability of Computer Systems,
"5th International Computer Virus and Security Conference, Mar.
1992, U. S. A. cited by other .
United States of America 108th Congress, 1st Session, H. R. 2239, A
Bill, "Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2003",
Section 4. cited by other.
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Primary Examiner: Paik; Steven S.
Assistant Examiner: Taylor; April A
Claims
What we claim as our invention is:
1. A self-verifying voting system comprising: one or more voting
stations comprising: (a) one or more computer programs which
operate in a computer to display general voting instructions, at
least one election ballot showing the candidates and issues to be
voted on, and directions to the voter for operation of the system;
present the election ballot for voting and input of votes by the
voter; accept input of the votes from the voter; print out the
election ballot according to which the voter voted with the votes
of the voter printed thereon, so that the votes of the voter are
readable on said election ballot by the voter and readable by a
tabulating machine; record the votes in the computer; and compare
the votes read by a ballot scanning machine with the votes recorded
in the computer; (b) a computer with at least one display device,
at least one device to accept voting input from a voter, at least
one data storage device, and sufficient memory to provide for the
operation of said computer program in which said computer program
runs; (c) a printer connected to said computer for printing the
election ballot according to which the voter voted; (d) a ballot
scanning means for reading the votes on the printed ballot printed
according to the election ballot which the voter voted so that the
votes shown on the printed ballot are compared by the computer
program with the votes recorded in the computer for the voter; (e)
means for connecting said ballot scanning means to said computer;
and a means for tabulating the printed ballots generated by said
one or more voting stations.
2. The voting system of claim 1 wherein the computer is a standard
personal computer.
3. The voting system of claim 1 wherein the display device is a
visual display device.
4. The voting system of claim 1 wherein the display device is an
auditory display device .[.such as a sound card.]. with speakers or
earphones.
5. The voting system of claim 1 wherein the computer is a
.[.standard personal.]. .Iadd.central .Iaddend.computer .Iadd.with
terminals.Iaddend..
6. The voting system of claim 1 wherein the computer is a standard
personal computer which is connected to a local area network within
the voting precinct.
7. The voting system of claim 1 wherein the election ballot
presented is displayed in increments of each candidate or issue to
be decided upon.
8. The voting system of claim 1 wherein the computer holds the
recorded votes in memory until comparison of the printed ballot as
read by .[.the.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.tabulating machine with the
votes recorded in memory confirms that such votes are
identical.
9. The voting system of claim 1 wherein the computer program causes
the votes to be recorded on said data storage device of the
computer.
10. The voting system of claim 1 wherein one of said at least one
input device is a pointing device.
11. The voting system of claim 1 wherein one of said at least one
input device is a keyboard.
12. The voting system of claim 1 wherein one of said at least one
input device is a touch-screen.
13. The voting system of claim 1 wherein one of said at least one
of the data storage devices is a fixed disk.
14. The voting system of claim 1 wherein one of said at least one
of the data storage devices is removable media.
15. The voting system of claim 1 wherein the .[.printer is a laser
printer.]. .Iadd.printed ballot closely resembles the ballot
published in advance of the election.Iaddend..
16. The voting system of claim 1 wherein the .[.computer station,
at least one display device, and at least one input device, and the
printer are in one machine case.]. .Iadd.the printed ballot has the
same appearance as the ballot published in advance of the
election.Iaddend..
17. The voting system of claim 1 further comprising at least one
master tabulating machine for the precinct which reads the election
ballot according to which the voter voted with printed indication
of the votes of the voter printed thereon for tabulation of the
voters votes.
18. The voting system of claim 1 wherein the master tabulating
machine is connected to a master network for the political
subdivision conducting the vote.
19. The voting system of claim 1 wherein the ballot scanning
machine is equipped with a means for marking a voter verified
ballot as validated.
20. The voting system of claim 1 wherein the ballot scanning
machine is equipped with a means for marking a printed ballot as
valid for counting by the means for tabulating the printed
ballots.
21. The voting system of claim 1 wherein the ballot scanning
machine is equipped with a means for marking a voter verified
ballot as invalidated.
22. The voting system of claim 1 wherein the ballot scanning
machine is equipped with a means for marking a printed ballot as
invalid for counting by the means for tabulating the printed
ballots.
23. The voting system of claim 1 wherein the means for tabulating
the printed ballots generated by said one or more voting stations
will accept only printed ballots which are validated by a ballot
scanning machine.
24. The voting system of claim 1 further comprising a braille
printer for embossing a printed ballot with a braille translation
of the election ballot and the votes of the voter so that said
printed balloon and the votes of the voter are readable in
braille.
25. A self-verifying voting system comprising: one or more voting
stations comprising: (a) one or more computer programs which
operate in a computer to display general voting instructions, at
least one election ballot showing the candidates and issues to be
voted on, and directions to the voter for operation of the system;
present the election ballot for voting and input of votes by the
voter; accept input of the votes from the voter; print out the
election ballot according to which the voter voted with the votes
of the voter printed thereon, so that the votes of the voter are
readable on said election ballot by the voter and readable by a
tabulating machine; record the votes in the computer; and compare
the votes read by a ballot scanning machine with the votes recorded
in the computer; (b) a computer with at least one display device,
at least one input device, at least one data storage device, and
sufficient memory to provide for the operation of said computer
program in which said computer program runs; (c) at least one
computer terminal with at least one display device, and at least
one device to accept voting input from a voter connected to said
computer; (d) a printer connected to said computer terminal for
printing the election ballot according to which the voter voted;
(e) a ballot scanning means for reading the votes on the printed
ballot printed according to the election ballot which the voter
voted so that the votes shown on the printed ballot are compared by
the computer program with the votes recorded in the computer for
the voter; (f) means for connecting said ballot scanning means to
said computer; and a means for tabulating the printed ballots
generated by said one or more voting stations.
26. The voting system of claim 25 wherein the computer is a
standard personal computer.
27. The voting system of claim 25 wherein the display device is a
visual display device.
28. The voting system of claim 25 wherein the display device is an
auditory display device .[.such as a sound card.]. with speakers or
earphones.
29. The voting system of claim 25 wherein the computer is a
.[.standard personal.]. .Iadd.central .Iaddend.computer .Iadd.with
terminals.Iaddend..
30. The voting system of claim 25 wherein the computer is a
standard personal computer which is connected to a local area
network within .[.the.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.voting precinct.
31. The voting system of claim 25 wherein the election ballot
presented is displayed in increments of each candidate or issue to
be decided upon.
32. The voting system of claim 25 wherein the computer holds the
recorded votes in memory until comparison of the printed ballot as
read by the tabulating machine with the votes recorded in memory
confirms that such votes are identical.
33. The voting system of claim 25 wherein the computer program
causes the votes to be recorded on said data storage device of the
computer.
34. The voting system of claim 25 wherein one of said at least one
input devices is a .[.graphical cursor.]. .Iadd.pointing
.Iaddend.device.
35. The voting system of claim 25 wherein one of said at least one
input devices is a keyboard.
36. The voting system of claim 25 wherein one of said at least one
input devices is a touch-screen.
37. The voting system of claim 25 wherein one of said at least one
of the data storage devices is a fixed disk.
38. The voting system of claim 25 wherein one of said at least one
of the data storage devices is removable media.
39. The voting system of claim 25 wherein the .[.printer is a laser
printer.]. .Iadd.printed ballot closely resembles the ballot
published in advance of the election.Iaddend..
40. The voting system of claim 25 wherein the computer
.[.station.]. , at least one display device, and at least one input
device, and the printer are in one machine case.
41. The voting system of claim 25 further comprising at least one
master tabulating machine for the precinct which reads the election
ballot according to which the voter voted with printed indication
of the votes of the voter printed thereon for tabulation of the
voters votes.
42. The voting system of claim 25 wherein .[.the.]. .Iadd.a
.Iaddend.master tabulating machine is connected to a master network
for the political subdivision conducting the vote.
43. The voting system of claim 25 wherein the ballot scanning
machine is equipped with a means for marking a voter verified
ballot as validated.
44. The voting system of claim 25 wherein the ballot scanning
machine is equipped with a means for marking a printed ballot as
valid for counting by the means for tabulating the printed
ballots.
45. The voting system of claim 25 wherein the ballot scanning
machine is equipped with a means for marking a voter verified
ballot as invalidated.
46. The voting system of claim 25 wherein the ballot scanning
machine is equipped with a means for marking a printed ballot as
invalid for counting by the means for tabulating the printed
ballots.
47. The voting system of claim 25 wherein the means for tabulating
the printed ballots generated by said one or more voting stations
will accept only printed ballots which are validated by a ballot
scanning machine.
48. The voting system of claim 25 further comprising a braille
printer for embossing a printed ballot with a braille translation
of the election ballot and the votes of the voter so that said
printed ballot and the votes of the voter are readable in
braille.
49. A method of voting providing for self-verification of .[.the.].
.Iadd.a .Iaddend.ballot comprising the steps of: (a) voting by a
vector using a computer voting station programmed to present an
election ballot, accept input of votes from the vector according to
the election ballot, temporarily store the votes of the voter; (b)
printing of the votes of the voter from the votes temporarily
stored in the computer for the voting station; (c) comparison by
the voter of the printed votes with the votes temporarily stored in
the computer for the voting station; (d) decision by the voter as
to whether .[.the.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.printed ballot is acceptable
or unacceptable; (e) inputting of information as to the
acceptability of .[.the.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.printed ballot by the
voter; and (f) submission of .[.acceptable ballots.]. .Iadd.an
acceptable printed ballot .Iaddend.for tabulation.
50. The method of voting of claim 49 further comprising destruction
of ballots which are unacceptable.
51. The method of voting of claim 49 wherein the printing of the
votes of the voter is on a pre-printed election ballot.[.;.]. .
52. The method of voting of claim 49 wherein the printing of the
votes of the voter is concurrent with the printing of .[.the
election.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.ballot .[.and on the same paper as the
election ballot is printed:.]. .Iadd.which closely resembles the
ballot published in advance of the election.Iaddend..
53. The method of voting of claim 49 further comprising the
tabulation of the votes of the voter with the other votes cast in
.[.the.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.voting precinct.
54. The method of voting of claim 49 further comprising .[.the.].
.Iadd.a .Iaddend.final storage of the votes stored in the computer
for the voting station for further processing.
55. The method of voting of claim 49 further comprising the
comparison by the computer for the voting station of the votes of
the voter temporarily stored in the computer for the voting station
with the votes of the voter shown on the printed ballot which have
.Iadd.been .Iaddend.read to the computer by a ballot scanning
machine.
.Iadd.56. A self-verifying voting system comprising: one or more
voting stations comprising: (a) one or more computer programs which
operate in a computer to display general voting instructions, at
least one election ballot showing the candidates and/or issues to
be voted on, and directions to the voter for operation of the
system; present the election ballot for voting and input of votes
by the voter; accept input of the votes from the voter; print out
the election ballot according to which the voter voted with the
votes of the voter printed thereon, so that the votes of the voter
are readable on said election ballot by the voter and readable by a
ballot scanning machine; and record the votes in the computer; (b)
at least one computer with at least one display device, at least
one device to accept voting input from a voter, and sufficient
memory to provide for the operation of said computer program; (c) a
printer connected to said computer for printing the election
according to which the voter voted; (d) a ballot scanning machine
for reading the votes on the printed ballot printed according to
the election ballot which the voter voted and a means for
tabulating the printed ballots generated by said one or more voting
stations. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.57. The voting system of claim 56 wherein said at least one
computer has at least one data storage device. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.58. The voting system of claim 57 wherein said at least one
data storage device is connected to said at least one computer
through at least one terminal connected to said at least one
computer. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.59. The voting system of claim 56 wherein said at least one
device to accept voting input from a voter is connected to said at
least one computer through at least one terminal connected to said
at least one computer. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.60. The voting system of claim 56 wherein the ballot scanning
machine is connected to a voting station so that the votes shown on
the printed ballot are compared by the computer program with the
votes recorded in the computer for the voter. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.61. The voting system of claim 60 wherein said one or more
computer programs compares the votes read by the ballot scanning
machine with the votes recorded on the computer. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.62. The voting system of claim 56 wherein the computer is a
standard personal computer. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.63. The voting system of claim 56 wherein the display device
is a visual display device. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.64. The voting system of claim 56 wherein the display device
is an auditory display device with speakers or earphones.
.Iaddend.
.Iadd.65. The voting system of claim 56 wherein the computer is a
central computer with terminals. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.66. The voting system of claim 56 wherein the computer is a
standard personal computer which is connected to a local area
network within a voting precinct. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.67. The voting system of claim 56 wherein the election ballot
presented is displayed in increments of each candidate or issue to
be decided upon. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.68. The voting system of claim 56 wherein the computer holds
the recorded votes in memory until comparison of the printed ballot
as read by a tabulating machine with the votes recorded in memory
confirms that such votes are identical. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.69. The voting system of claim 56 wherein the computer
program causes the votes to be recorded on a data storage device of
the computer. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.70. The voting system of claim 56 wherein one of said at
least one input devices is a pointing device. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.71. The voting system of claim 56 wherein one of said at
least one input devices is a keyboard. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.72. The voting system of claim 56 wherein one of said at
least one input devices device is a touch-screen. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.73. The voting system of claim 56 further comprising at least
one data storage device. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.74. The voting system of claim 56 wherein a data storage
device is a fixed disk or removable media. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.75. The voting system of claim 56 wherein the printer is a
laser printer. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.76. The voting system of claim 56 wherein the computer, at
least one display device, and at least one input device, and the
printer are in one machine case. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.77. The voting system of claim 56 further comprising at least
one master tabulating machine for a precinct which reads the
election ballot according to which the voter voted with printed
indication of the votes of the voter printed thereon for tabulation
of the voters votes. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.78. The voting system of claim 56 wherein a master tabulating
machine is connected to a master network for.[.the.]. a political
subdivision conducting the vote. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.79. The voting system of claim 56 wherein the ballot scanning
machine is equipped with a means for marking a voter verified
ballot as validated. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.80. The voting system of claim 56 wherein the ballot scanning
machine is equipped with a means for marking a printed ballot as
valid for counting by the means for tabulating the printed ballots.
.Iaddend.
.Iadd.81. The voting system of claim 56 wherein the ballot scanning
machine is equipped with a means for marking a voter verified
ballot as invalidated. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.82. The voting system of claim 56 wherein the ballot scanning
machine is equipped with a means for marking a printed ballot as
invalid for counting by the means for tabulating the printed
ballots. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.83. The voting system of claim 56 wherein the means for
tabulating the printed ballots generated by said one or more voting
stations will accept only printed ballots which are validated by a
ballot scanning machine. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.84. The voting system of claim 56 further comprising a
braille printer for embossing a printed ballot with a braille
translation of the election ballot and the votes of the voter so
that said printed ballot and the votes of the voter are readable in
braille. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.85. A method for voting providing for self-verification of a
ballot comprising the steps of: (a) voting by a voter using a
computer voting station programmed to present an election ballot,
accept input of votes from the voter according to the election
ballot, temporarily store the votes of the voter; (b) printing of
the votes of the voter from the votes temporarily stored in the
computer for the voting station; (c) comparison by the voter of the
printed votes with the votes temporarily stored in the computer for
the voting station; (d) decision by the voter as to whether a
printed ballot is acceptable or unacceptable; and (e) submission of
an acceptable printed ballot for tabulation. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.86. The method of voting of claim 85 further comprising
inputting of information as to the acceptability of the printed
ballot by the voter prior to submission of acceptable ballots for
tabulation. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.87. The method of voting of claim 85 further comprising
destruction of ballots which are unacceptable. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.88. The method of voting of claim 85 wherein the printing of
the votes of the voter is on a pre-printed election ballot.
.Iaddend.
.Iadd.89. The method of voting of claim 85 wherein the printing of
the votes of the voter is concurrent with the printing of the
election ballot and on the same paper as the election ballot is
printer. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.90. The method of voting of claim 85 further comprising a
tabulation of the votes of the voter with the other votes cast in
the voting precinct. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.91. The method of voting of claim 85 further comprising a
final storage of the votes stored in the computer for the voting
station for further processing. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.92. The method of voting of claim 85 further comprising the
comparison by the computer for the voting station of the votes of
the voter temporarily stored in the computer for the voting station
with the votes of the voter shown on the printed ballot which have
been read to the computer by a ballot scanning machine.
.Iaddend.
.Iadd.93. A self-verifying voting method comprising the steps of:
(a) voting by a voter using a computer voting station programmed to
present an election ballot, accept input of votes from the voter
according to the election ballot, store the votes of the voter; (b)
printing of the votes of the voter from the votes stored in the
computer for the voting station; (c) examination by the voter of
the printed votes for correctness and comparison with the votes the
voter input; (d) decision by the voter as to whether the printed
votes are acceptable or unacceptable; (e) recording of the
acceptable votes stored in the computer; (f) submission of the
acceptable printed votes; and (g) tabulation of the acceptable
recorded and/or acceptable printed votes. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.94. A self-verifying voting system comprising: one or more
voting stations comprising: (a) at least one computer with at least
one display device, at least one device to accept voting input from
a voter, and sufficient memory to provide for the operation of one
or more computer programs; (b) a printer connected to said computer
for printing the votes of the votor; (c) one or more computer
programs which operate in a computer to: present the election
ballot for voting; accept input of the votes from the voter; store
the votes of the voter in the computer; print the votes of the
voter so that the votes of the voter are readable by the voter and
comparable by the voter with the votes the voter input; accept
input of the voter as to whether the printed votes are acceptable
or unacceptable; and record the votes stored in the computer which
are acceptable; and a means for tabulating the acceptable votes of
the voter recorded and/or printed in said one or more voting
stations. .Iaddend.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable
REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX
Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Current mechanical and electronic voting systems that do not
involve physical alteration of ballot material by the voter do not
provide for voter verification of the correctness of his or her own
vote. Current voting systems that do involve physical alteration of
ballot material by the voter to effect voting are subject to
erroneous or incompetent handling by the voter. When such erroneous
or incompetent handling by the voter occurs, the mechanical or
electronic means for counting the votes on the ballot are affected,
and the ballot may be rejected or the counting otherwise rendered
inaccurate or suspect. The circumstance of ballot rejection or
inconsistent mechanical tabulation in the case of erroneous or
incompetent handling by the voter often requires manual examination
of ballots, which is not only laborious and subject to its own
inaccuracies, but is also inherently fraught with difficulty in
maintaining the integrity of the election process. The principal
object of the present invention is to provide a voter with a
printed ballot prepared by a computer station and printer from
input by the voter which completely and accurately presents the
votes of the voter, and which is in a familiar form for easy review
of his or her vote by the voter, so that machine and human error
may be detected and corrected before the ballot is finally
submitted by the voter for tabulation with the votes of other
voters.
There is no prior art that this invention builds upon except its
generic relationship to the well-known concept of electronic and
mechanical voting machines, including those which produce a
permanent paper record in addition to direct electronic and
mechanical tabulation. However, there does not appear to be any
prior art which combines accurate electronic or mechanical
preparation of a printed ballot with an opportunity for review of
the ballot by the voter and mechanical or electronic comparison of
the printed ballot with the data stored from the voter input.
The present invention has elements that may be considered to be
covered generally by class 235, particularly subclass 51 covering
machines employed for casting and counting votes.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a voting system and method which provides
for auto-verification, auto-verification meaning here the process
by which the voter has the opportunity and the responsibility to
verify that the ballot with which he or she votes shows the votes
as he or she intended. The voting system also provides for
correction of the votes of the voter by the voter if the election
ballot produced by a computer voting station from his or her voting
input does not show the votes as he or she intended, such
correction being effected by repeating the voting process and
producing another printed ballot. The present invention provides a
voter with a printed ballot prepared by a computer voting station
with a printer from input by the voter which accurately presents
the votes of the voter in a familiar form, and which the voter than
submits as his or her votes.
The present invention employs a computer voting station which is a
computer to which a display, an input device, and a printer are
connected, and which is running a computer program for directing
the voting process for the voter and for vote counting. A ballot
scanning machine which is capable of reading ballot selection
markings, such as the filled-circle, filled-oval, or
filled-rectangle types of voting markings, may also be connected to
the voting station. The computer program for the voting system
displays the ballot for voting together with instructions for
voting and provides for input of votes by the voter. The voter
votes by selecting his or her preference in candidates or issue
positions by means of an input device recognized by the computer
program, and the computer program temporarily stores such vote
information in memory or on storage media. A printed ballot
produced by the computer voting station which shows the votes of a
voter is then presented to the voter and either compared by the
voter, or by operation of the computer program for the voting
system with a ballot scanning machine, the machine capable of
reading ballot selections, with the votes of the voter temporarily
stored in the computer. The result of the comparison is then judged
acceptable or unaccceptable by the voter, in the case of comparison
by the voter, or by the computer program for the voting system
using the ballot scanning machine so that only printed ballots
which show votes by the voter identical to the votes of the voter
stored in the computer voting station will be accepted for final
tabulation. Such final tabulation is then made by a tabulation
machine for the precinct.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a voting station used in the voting
system of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example of a voting system
configuration of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram of the relation between the steps of the voting
method using the voting system of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a voting system which provides for
auto-verification, auto-verification meaning here the process by
which the voter has the opportunity and the responsibility to
verify that the printed ballot which he or she finally presents as
his or her votes shows the votes he or she intended. The voting
system also provides for correction of his or her vote if the
printed ballot by which he or she voted is not as he or she
intended, such a correction being effected by repeating the
operation of the voting station in the voting process. Although the
voting system which is the present invention is complete as the
instrument by which an election process may be carried out, the
voting process is ultimately founded upon the law which governs
elections and the manner in which the voting system is managed and
operated. Thus, there may be many variations in the process that
will be effective and equivalent in the management and operation of
the voting system which is the present invention that will produce
an accurate count of votes which have been individually verified by
the voters themselves.
The principle object of the present invention is to provide a voter
with a printed ballot prepared by a voting station with a printer
from input from the voter which accurately presents the vote of the
voter, and which is in a familiar form for easy review by the
voter, so that machine and human error may be detected and
corrected before the ballot is submitted by the voter for
tabulation with the votes of the other voters.
The present invention is a voting system and method which,
referring to FIG. 1, employs a computer voting station 1 which
includes a computer 2 to which a display device 4, input device 3,
and printer 5 are connected. The computer 2 may be a mainframe, a
central computer with terminals, a standard personal computer, or a
combination thereof. Such computers may be linked by local area
networks 20, or networks linking several locations, or internet,
with various types of direct connection, such as digital or
acoustical telephonic, fibreoptic, satellite, or microwave. Such
computers 2 may have internal memory, such as mainframes and
personal computers, or may be terminals, with or without memory
independent of the memory of the computer to which they are the
operating interface. Such computers 2 may have data storage
devices, such as fixed disk drives, or removably media drives, such
as floppy drives, optical drives, bernoulli drives, or magnetic
hard disk drives, all of which may be internal or external to the
computer 2, depending on the hardware configurations selected. The
display devices 4 referred to may include standard visual displays,
such as computer cathode ray tube monitors, TFT displays, plasma
displays, and liquid crystal displays, and auditory displays, such
as speakers and earphones, connected to sound wave generating
interfaces in the computer. The input device 3 may include a
keyboard, standard or braille for vision impaired voters, a
pointing device, such as a computer mouse or trackball, a
touchscreen, joysticks, or buttons such as on a video game
controller.
In the example of the auto-verifying voting system schematically
shown in FIG. 2, the system operates through individual voting
stations 1 that include individual computers 2, such as personal
computers, or terminals for a central computer, or a combination
thereof, to each of which is connected a printer 5 with graphics
capability. The preferred embodiment of the voting system would use
a laser printer with a minimum resolution of 600 by 600 dots per
inch, and which is capable of printing a paper ballot on which the
selection of votes can be represented by filled-circles or other
ballot selection markings, such as filled-ovals or
filled-rectangles. Such a paper ballot should closely resemble the
ballots normally published in advance of an election to inform the
electorate of their choices and to create familiarity with the
layout of the ballot. Also connected to the computer 2 in the
voting station 1 may be a machine 6 which is capable of reading
ballot selection markings previously described, either directly,
through a master computer 7, or network 20 to which the computer 2
for the voting station 1 is connected. Such a machine will
hereinafter be referred to as a "ballot scanning machine" 6 and is
essentially an electro-optical sensing device from the well-known
art. Such a ballot scanning machine 6 may be interfaced with the
computer 2 in the voting station 1 to scan the paper ballot printed
by the printer 5 as voted by the voter. The printed ballot produced
by the computer voting station 1 which shows the votes of a voter
presented to the voter may either be compared by the voter, or by
operation of the computer program 2a for the voting system with a
ballot scanning machine 6, the machine capable of reading ballot
selection markings, or by both methods, with the votes of the voter
temporarily stored in the computer 2. The vote stored in the
computer 2 is either in memory or on disk, also by operation of the
computer program 2a for the voting system running in the computer
2. The result of the comparison is then judged acceptable or
unacceptable by the voter, in the case of comparison by the voter,
or by the computer program 2a for the voting system, in the case of
comparison with the ballot as read by the ballot scanning machine 6
in the voting station 1, which is the preferred embodiment, so that
only printed ballots which show votes by the voter identical to the
votes of the voter stored in the computer 2 for the voting station
1 will be accepted for final tabulation 19, as shown in the
schematic illustration of the voting method in FIG. 3. However,
again referring to FIG. 3 such a comparison may also be made
visually or in braille 13 by the voter, without the use of a ballot
scanning machine 6, resulting in a determination by the voter 15 of
the acceptability of the printed ballot with the votes of the voter
for final tabulation 19. Such final tabulation 19 may then be made
by a tabulation machine 9 for the precinct (or other legally chosen
voting subdivision) which, in a preferred embodiment, is one which
has the same ballot scanning machine mechanism as the ballot
scanning machine 6 which scanned the printed paper ballot for
comparison 14 with the vote temporarily stored in the voting
station 1 computer 2 memory.
The computer program 2a for the voting system may be running in a
master computer 7 of which the voting stations 1 are terminals, or
locally stored in each computer 2 for a voting station, which may
be a stand-alone computer 2, depending on the hardware
configuration chosen to implement the voting system. The computer
program 2a by which the voting system is operated, running in the
computer 2 for a voting station 1, functions to cause the computer
2 for a voting station 1 to display voting information and
instructions to the voter, as well as instructions and information
as to the operation of the voting system. Such voting instructions
may be presented by the program 2a visually or audibly, with
various options for languages other than English for selection by
the voter, and may include practical and legal warnings about
voting and the abuse of the voting right. The type of display
device 4, visual or auditory, as would be necessary for voters
whose sight was impaired, may be selected by the vector before
commencing the operation of the voting station 1 by program 2a
selection or by prior arrangement with election officials. Such a
selection may be implemented by directing the voter to a voting
station 1 specifically equipped for the selection, or by an opinion
available in the computer program 2a in appropriately configured
computer 2 voting stations 1.
The computer program 2a also displays the ballot for voting and
provides for input of votes by the voter, the type of display
device 4 again being selected in advance of commencing operation of
the voting station. Again referring to FIG. 3, the voting method
proceeds as the voter votes 10 by selecting his or her preference
in candidates or issue positions by means of the input device 3
provided and recognized by the computer program 2a, and the
computer program 2a temporarily stores such voting information in
memory or on storage media. The computer program 2a may provide for
review and correction of votes during the operation of the voting
station 1 by the vector.
Upon or following temporary storage of the vote of the voter by the
computer program 2a in the computer 2 for the voting station 1, the
vote of the voter is then presented to the voter in the form of a
paper ballot 11, 12 printed by the printer 5 for that voting
station 1, the paper ballot being produced by the printer 5 in the
printing process by the computer program 2a from the information
concerning the vote of the voter stored in memory, such vote being
represented on the printed ballot by filled-circles or other ballot
selection markings related to the choices of the voter made upon
voting. The printed ballot may be produced by the printer 5 by
printing the votes of the voter on a pre-printed election ballot,
or by printing the votes of the voter concurrently with the
printing of the election ballot on the same paper as the election
ballot is printed. The printed ballot may be embossed in braille
directly by a braille printer for reading and verification by a
sight-impaired voter 12, or translated and overprinted with the use
of a machine using well-known technology for character recognition
and braille printing. The voter then has an opportunity to examine
the printed ballot for correctness with regard to the preferences
expressed by his or her voting 13. If upon inspection of the
printed ballot produced by the printer 5 for the voting station 1
used by the voter 13, the voter observes that the printed ballot
correctly represents the votes of the voter 15, the ballot may be
submitted by the voter 16 for processing to a ballot scanning
machine 6 interfaced with that voting station 17. Such processing
may proceed in the computer program 2a by comparison of the votes
represented by ballot selection markings on the printed ballot with
the votes stored in the computer 2 for the voting station 1. If the
votes shown on the printed ballot are identical to the votes stored
in the computer 2 for the voting station 1, the ballot is returned
to the voter for presentation by the voter 16 for final tabulation
19 by one of the tabulating machines 9 for the voting precinct (or
other legally chosen voting subdivision), and the vote data which
was temporarily stored in the voting station 1 computer 2 is
finally stored 19 for processing by the computer program 2a.
A ballot scanning machine 6 may also be programmed through the
computer 2 for the voting station 1 to imprint the printed ballot
with a validation marking or code which the tabulation machines 9
for the precinct require for acceptance of the printed ballot for
tabulation. If the votes of the voter as shown on the printed
ballot are not identical to the votes of the voter stored in the
computer for the voting station 1 computer 2, the printed ballot
presented to the voter may then be invalidated 14, 17, which may be
evidenced by defacement or other treatment of the ballot, and the
ballot may either be returned to the voter for reference, or
destroyed 18. Such a ballot scanning machine 6 would in a preferred
embodiment render such an invalidated ballot unacceptable by the
tabulation machine 9 for the precinct, so that the votes on such an
invalidated ballot could not be accepted as final votes for
tabulation 19 with other votes. The vote information temporarily
stored in the voting station 1 computer 2 would then be erased, and
not stored for further processing with other final votes stored in
the computer 2 for the voting station 1. Upon the occurrence of
such an invalidation of a printed ballot the voting system would
become subject to diagnostic review to determine the cause of the
discrepancy, which may require the temporary closure of the system.
If the hardware configuration permits, only the voting station 1
involved which produced the discrepancy would be shut down for
diagnostic review, with the voter being directed to another voting
station 1 to repeat the voting process.
The processing of the individual votes of the voters may include
continuous tabulation 19 by inclusion of the vote of the voter in
the total of votes cast in selection of the candidates or on the
issue positions, database recording of the anonymous voting of each
voter, real time read-out of voting information, and continuous
comparison with the results of the vote counting by the tabulating
machine 9 for the voting precinct. All of the voting activity of
the computers 2 the voting stations 1, and the tabulations 19 by
the voting precinct (or other legally chosen voting subdivision)
may be recorded for later review. Such voting activity may also be
monitored in real-time, so that if discrepancies appear between the
tabulation of the votes cast as shown from the totals available
from the computer program 2a for the voting stations 1 and the
tabulation 19 of the votes cast by the tabulating machine 9 of the
precinct, (or other legally chosen voting subdivision) those
discrepancies may be brought to the attention of election
officials, present to or removed from the precinct (or other
legally chosen voting subdivision).
* * * * *
References