AUTOMATED VOTING SYSTEM

• US 20010013547A1
• Filed: 02/13/1998
• Published: 08/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fidlar Acquisition Co.
• Original Assignee: Fidlar Acquisition Co.
• Inventors: ANDERSON, RALPH J., KOTOB, MOUTAZ, BENNETT, JAY C. Jr., STEIL, DAVID J., VANCAMP, PAUL T.
• Granted Patent: US 6,799,723 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/386
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 13/00 Voting apparatus

Abstract

An automated voting system comprising single or multiple voting stations for controlling and being a voting station simultaneously. The voting system includes an integrated pointing device with graphical user interface for displaying the ballots.

The voting stations may or may not be interconnected and indeed may operate as a single unit as a complete polling station. The voting system will track the number of votes and continuously display the number of votes cast on a counter system as it clearly displays the voter intent.

The automated voting system also provides security for the voter and the system both internal and external. The external security system may be controlled by the polling authorities while the internal security system operates independently.

The automated voting system is also capable of providing multiple ballot styles in one or more voting units and provides a touch electronic keyboard for write-in candidates. The automated voting system will also print on separate printers the tally results at the polling place and/or transmit the tally to a central collection position. The automated voting system also allows the voter to void the ballot prior to casting of the vote and then permit re-establishment of the voting unit.

Claims

1. An automated voting device comprising:

a) a voting station having an integrated computer program using an integrated pointing device;

b) a graphical user interface for displaying information and ballots;

c) a counter for counting votes;

d) said counted votes displayed on said interface;

e) said computer program includes the ability for the voter to write in votes and record the write in votes;

f) said votes stored in multiple places in said program for retrieval;

g) test programs to verify the accuracy of the voting station pre and post election.

2. The automated voting device of

claim 1

wherein said voting station includes at least two (2) security check operations.

3. The automated voting device of

claim 2

wherein one (1) of said security operations is an external device inserted into said voting device to activate said voting device.

4. The automated voting device of

claim 2

wherein one (1) of said security operations is the entry of an internal password provided by the election authority.

5. The automated voting device of

claim 2

wherein a seal provided by the election authorities is a fixed to said voting device, said seal numbers recorded separately from said station.

6. The automated voting device of

claim 1

wherein the touch screen is the only interface between the voter and the automated voting station.

7. The automated voting station of

claim 1

wherein the computer program permits the voter to void his ballot prior to casting.

8. The automated voting device or

claim 1

wherein the automated voting device is interconnected to other like stations and one of said automated voting stations selected to control the remaining voting stations.

9. The automated voting device of

claim 1

wherein the computer program includes more than two (2) languages and the voter can access the language of choice.

10. The automated computer device of

claim 1

wherein the voter confirms on said interface all selections made by poll watchers and as portrayed on the interface.

11. The automated voting device of

claim 1

wherein a printer connected to said voting station for printing results of the vote on said station.

12. The automated voting device of

claim 8

wherein the plurality of interconnected voting stations are controlled as to the selection of valid information by the controlling voting station.

13. The automated voting device of

claim 8

wherein said controlling voting station is programmed to transfer data regarding the voting to other locations while maintaining the vote results from individual voting devices separate.

20. The method of

claim 13

and further comprising the step of inactivating and removing the security signals from individual stations.

14. The method of using individual computer voting stations and computer networking of said voter stations for automated voting comprising the steps of:

a) activating each of said individual computer voting stations utilizing security operations;

b) testing for program accuracy with preelection check program;

c) authorizing by code for each voter activation of a ballot on an individual voting station;

d) interactively displaying ballot information on screens and receiving voter input from said individual computer station.

15. The method of

claim 14

and further comprising the step of recording and tabulating each vote entered by each voter in said voting station.

16. The method of

claim 14

further comprising the step of inactivating the vote capability of each individual station.

17. The method of

claim 14

further comprising the step of transferring information to a related printer and printing out the recorded information from said individual voting station.

18. The method of

claim 14

and further comprising the step of inactivating said individual voting stations.

19. The method of

claim 14

and further comprising the step of testing the individual voting units for post election accuracy.

21. The method of

claim 14

and further comprising the step of interconnecting a plurality of said individual voting stations.

22. The method of

claim 21

and further comprising the step of selecting one (1) of the individual voting stations to become a controlling poll official station.

23. The method

claim 21

wherein comprising the further step of said controlling poll official station authorizing the code for each voter activation of the ballot on an individual voting station.