Ballot marking system and apparatus utilizing pivotal touchscreen

• US 20040246281A1
• Filed: 06/04/2003
• Published: 12/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Election Systems & Software Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Election Systems & Software Incorporated
• Inventors: Vanek, Joseph M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,063,885 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 13/00 Voting apparatus

Abstract

A ballot marking system and apparatus for marking a paper ballot listing a plurality of candidates which includes a marking space for each candidate which can be either hand-marked by a voter, or machine-marked by the marking apparatus. The marking apparatus includes a touchscreen device on which the voter can enter his selections. The touchscreen is pivotally mounted atop the ballot marking apparatus such that it fits within a recess in the apparatus housing when in its closed position, and is ergonomically presented to the voter when in its open position.

Claims

1. A ballot marking apparatus adapted to mark a user-readable ballot containing a plurality of races in accordance with the selections made by a voter, each of the races having a plurality of candidates, said apparatus comprising:

a housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front surface and a rear surface;

a display screen viewable by the voter;

said housing including a recess in said top surface for receiving said display element; and

said display element being pivotally mounted to said housing so as to pivot from a retracted position wherein said display element is substantially entirely contained within said housing, to an extended position wherein said display element is positioned generally perpendicular to said top surface near said front surface of said housing.