Manual recount process using digitally imaged ballots
First Claim
1. A method for counting or for recounting or for counting and recounting selections marked on an optically readable sheet having one or more regions of choices and a plurality of mark spaces in each region in which one or more selections may be marked for each of one or more choices, each mark space being a space defined for marking a selection therein, the method comprising:
- receiving an image of a sheet having one or more choice regions and a plurality of mark spaces thereon wherein the image of the sheet includes all of the mark spaces for the choice regions thereon and is in an image format;
displaying the image of the sheet on a display in human-perceivable form, whereby a human may view the image of the sheet including the one or more choice regions and the mark spaces thereon, including mark spaces that are marked;
receiving information decoded from the sheet of the mark spaces thereon that are marked;
determining from the image of the sheet that is displayed the mark spaces of the image of the sheet that are marked; and
in addition to said receiving an image of a sheet;
imaging the sheet for obtaining an independent image of the sheet, whereby the independent image is independent of the received image of the sheet;
decoding the independent image of the sheet for determining marked mark spaces thereon; and
comparing the received information of marked mark spaces decoded from the image of the sheet, the marked mark spaces determined from the displayed image of the sheet and the marked mark spaces determined from the independent image of the sheet, or any two thereof, to determine any differences there between.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for counting or recounting an optically readable sheet may comprise receiving an image the sheet and displaying the received image of the sheet for determining from the displayed image of the sheet the marking of mark spaces therein. Indications of information decoded therefrom may be superimposed and/or provided by highlighting. The counting and/or recounting need not require handling of the original sheets.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method for counting or for recounting or for counting and recounting selections marked on an optically readable sheet having one or more regions of choices and a plurality of mark spaces in each region in which one or more selections may be marked for each of one or more choices, each mark space being a space defined for marking a selection therein, the method comprising:
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receiving an image of a sheet having one or more choice regions and a plurality of mark spaces thereon wherein the image of the sheet includes all of the mark spaces for the choice regions thereon and is in an image format; displaying the image of the sheet on a display in human-perceivable form, whereby a human may view the image of the sheet including the one or more choice regions and the mark spaces thereon, including mark spaces that are marked; receiving information decoded from the sheet of the mark spaces thereon that are marked; determining from the image of the sheet that is displayed the mark spaces of the image of the sheet that are marked; and in addition to said receiving an image of a sheet; imaging the sheet for obtaining an independent image of the sheet, whereby the independent image is independent of the received image of the sheet; decoding the independent image of the sheet for determining marked mark spaces thereon; and comparing the received information of marked mark spaces decoded from the image of the sheet, the marked mark spaces determined from the displayed image of the sheet and the marked mark spaces determined from the independent image of the sheet, or any two thereof, to determine any differences there between. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for counting or for recounting or for counting and recounting selections marked on an optically readable sheet having one or more regions of choices and a plurality of mark spaces in each region in which one or more selections may be marked for each of one or more choices, each mark space being a space defined for marking a selection therein, the method comprising:
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receiving an image of a sheet having one or more choice regions and a plurality of mark spaces thereon wherein the image of the sheet includes all of the mark spaces for the choice regions thereon and is in an image format; displaying the image of the sheet on a display in human-perceivable form, whereby a human may view the image of the sheet including the one or more choice regions and the mark spaces thereon, including mark spaces that are marked; receiving information decoded from the sheet of the mark spaces thereon that are marked; determining from the image of the sheet that is displayed the mark spaces of the image of the sheet that are marked; and comparing the received information of marked mark spaces decoded from the image of the sheet and the marked mark spaces determined from the displayed image of the sheet to determine any differences there between; and
further comprising;generating a recount sheet; wherein said receiving information determined from the displayed image of the sheet includes; marking the information determined from the displayed image of the sheet on the recount sheet; imaging the marked recount sheet; and decoding from the image of the marked recount sheet the information determined from the displayed image of the sheet. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A method for counting or for recounting or for counting and recounting selections marked on an optically readable sheet having one or more regions of choices and a plurality of mark spaces in each region in which one or more selections may be marked for each of one or more choices, each mark space being a space defined for marking a selection therein, the method comprising:
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receiving an image of a sheet having one or more choice regions and a plurality of mark spaces thereon wherein the image of the sheet includes all of the mark spaces for the choice regions thereon and is in an image format; decoding from the received image of the sheet the mark spaces thereon that are marked; displaying the received image of the sheet on a display in human-perceivable form, highlighting or superimposing or highlighting and superimposing on the displayed received image of the sheet an indication of at least the marked mark spaces decoded from the received image of the sheet; whereby a human may view the received image of the sheet including the one or more choice regions and the mark spaces thereon, including the marked mark spaces; receiving information determined from the received image of the sheet relating to marked mark spaces of the received image of the sheet, the received information being independent of said decoding from the received image of the sheet; comparing the marked mark spaces decoded from the received image of the sheet and the received information determined from the received image of the sheet independently of said decoding from the received image of the sheet to determine any differences there between; and recording at least the differences between the marked mark spaces decoded from the received image of the sheet and the received information determined from the displayed image of the sheet independently of said decoding from the received image of the sheet. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for counting or for recounting or for counting and recounting selections marked on an optically readable sheet having one or more regions of choices and a plurality of mark spaces in each region in which one or more selections may be marked for each of one or more choices, each mark space being a space defined for marking a selection therein, the method comprising:
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receiving an image of a sheet having one or more choice regions and a plurality of mark spaces thereon wherein the image of the sheet includes all of the mark spaces for the choice regions thereon and is in an image format; decoding from the received image of the sheet the mark spaces thereon that are marked, wherein said decoding includes a first decoding employing a first threshold and a second decoding employing a second threshold; displaying the received image of the sheet on a display in human-perceivable form, highlighting or superimposing or highlighting and superimposing on the displayed image of the sheet a first indication of at least the marked mark spaces decoded from the received image of the sheet; highlighting or superimposing or highlighting and superimposing a second indication near each mark space on the displayed image of the sheet for which the first and second decodings employing first and second thresholds, respectively, differ; whereby a human may view the image of the sheet including the one or more choice regions and the mark spaces thereon, including the marked mark spaces; receiving information determined from the received image of the sheet relating to marked mark spaces of the received image of the sheet, the received information being independent of said decoding from the received image of the sheet; comparing the marked mark spaces decoded from the received image of the sheet and the received information determined from the displayed image of the sheet to determine any differences there between; and recording at least the differences between the marked mark spaces decoded from the received image of the sheet and the received information determined from the displayed image of the sheet. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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Specification