Electronic initiative petition

• US 20070265909A1
• Filed: 04/05/2007
• Published: 11/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gula Consulting Limited Liability Company (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Gregory Piccionelli
• Inventors: Piccionelli, Gregory
• Granted Patent: US 7,890,364 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/12
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 13/00 Voting apparatus

Abstract

Preferred embodiments of the instant invention are directed to a system, method and apparatus for providing an efficient means for qualifying a petition, referendum or initiative on a ballot on a network. Users on the network access the petition qualifying system via a user interface and requests petitions or initiatives in the user'"'"'s relevant voting area. After the user has reviewed the petition, the user can endorse the petition by providing the petition qualifying system endorsement indicia. The petition qualifying system verifies the eligibility of the user. The petition qualifying system compiles the received endorsement indicia, and presents such indicia to the relevant agency to secure placement of the initiative on the appropriate ballot.

Claims

1. A system for collecting user signatures for an initiative or referendum on a computer network having a provider computer and a user computer, the initiative or referendum being provided by a third party to a provider computer, wherein the provider computer includes a user interface, the system comprising:

means to access a user registrar database, wherein the user registrar database contains information regarding a user pertaining to the user'"'"'s eligibility to endorse the initiative or referendum;

an interface for presenting the initiative or referendum to the user computer, the interface being configured to receive user identification information and to present a text of the initiative or referendum to a user;

means for receiving a digital signature of a user to approve the initiative or referendum;

means for operating the provider computer to compare the user identification information with the user registrar database to determine the user'"'"'s eligibility to vote;

means for compiling a digital signature file comprising digital signatures of users approving the initiative or referendum; and

means for transmitting the digital signature file.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for notifying the user of ineligibility.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a counter for determining the number of user digital signatures received.

4. A method for collecting user signatures for an initiative or referendum on a computer network having a provider computer and a user computer, the initiative or referendum being provided by a third party to the provider computer, wherein the provider computer includes a user interface, the method comprising:

receiving, from the user computer, a request for the transmission of a text of the initiative or referendum;

presenting the text of the initiative or referendum to the user computer for display to a user;

receiving, from the user computer, user identifying information;

receiving, from the user computer, a user digital signature, wherein the user digital signature signifies an approval of the initiative or referendum;

confirming the eligibility of the user providing the user digital signature;

adding the user digital signature to a digital signature file; and

submitting the digital signature file to a receiving agent.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, further comprising transmitting notification to the user computer that the user digital signature does not represent an eligible user.

6. A method as claimed in claim 4, further comprising increasing a count of the number of user digital signatures upon the addition of the user digital signature to the digital signature file and providing the count to the receiving agent.

7. A system for collecting signatures for an initiative or referendum, the initiative or referendum to be submitted to voters in a jurisdiction, on a computer network having a provider computer and a user computer, the initiative or referendum being provided by a third party to a provider computer, wherein the provider computer includes a user interface, the system comprising:

means to access a user registrar database, wherein the user registrar database contains information regarding a user pertaining to the user'"'"'s eligibility to endorse the initiative or referendum;

an interface for presenting the initiative or referendum to the user computer, the interface being configured to receive user identification information and to present a text of the initiative or referendum to the user;

means for receiving a digital signature of a user to approve the initiative or referendum;

means for operating the provider computer to compare the user identification information with the user registrar database to determine the user'"'"'s eligibility to vote;

means for compiling a digital signature file comprising digital signatures of users approving the initiative or referendum; and

means for transmitting the digital signature file together with a copy of the initiative or referendum to an appropriate governmental authority in the jurisdiction in which the initiative or referendum is to be submitted to voters.

8. A system as claimed in claim 7, further comprising means for notifying the user of ineligibility.

9. A system as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a counter for determining the number of user digital signatures received.

10. A method for collecting user signatures for an initiative or referendum, the initiative or referendum to be submitted to voters in a jurisdiction, on a computer network having a provider computer and a user computer, the initiative or referendum being provided by a third party to the provider computer, wherein the provider computer includes a user interface, the method comprising:

receiving, from the user computer, a request for the transmission of a text of the initiative or referendum;

presenting the text of the initiative or referendum to the user computer for display to a user;

receiving, from the user computer, user identifying information;

receiving, from the user computer, a user digital signature, wherein the digital signature signifies an approval of the initiative or referendum;

confirming the eligibility of the user providing the user digital signature;

adding the user'"'"'s digital signature to a digital signature file; and

submitting the digital signature file together with a copy of the initiative or referendum to an appropriate governmental authority in the jurisdiction in which the initiative or referendum is to be submitted to voters.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising transmitting notification to the user computer that the user signature does not represent an eligible user.

12. A method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising increasing a count of the number of signatures upon the addition of the user digital signature to the digital signature file and providing the count to the governmental authority.