Auto-verifying voting system and voting method

• US RE40,449 E1
• Filed: 02/14/2005
• Issued: 08/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Anthony I. Provitola, PA, Michael R. Mcdermott
• Original Assignee: Anthony I. Provitola, PA, Michael R. Mcdermott
• Inventors: Provitola, Anthony I., McDermott, Michael R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Paik; Steven S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TAYLOR, APRIL ALICIA
• Application Number:
  US11/062,351
• Time in Patent Office: 1,268 Days
• Field of Search: 235/50, 235/51, 235/56, 235/57, 235/375, 235/386, 705/12
• US Class Current: 235/386
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 13/00 Voting apparatus

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.

Claims

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 central computer with terminals.

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 a 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 printed ballot closely resembles the ballot published in advance of the election.

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 the printed ballot has the same appearance as the ballot published in advance of the election.

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 central computer with terminals.

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 a 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 pointing 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 printed ballot closely resembles the ballot published in advance of the election.

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 a 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 a 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 a printed ballot is acceptable or unacceptable;

(e) inputting of information as to the acceptability of the a printed ballot by the voter; and

(f) submission of acceptable ballots an acceptable printed ballot 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 a ballot and on the same paper as the election ballot is printed:

which closely resembles the ballot published in advance of the election.

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 a voting precinct.

54. The method of voting of claim 49 further comprising the a 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 been read to the computer by a ballot scanning machine.

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.

57. The voting system of claim 56 wherein said at least one computer has at least one data storage device.

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.

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.

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.

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.

62. The voting system of claim 56 wherein the computer is a standard personal computer.

63. The voting system of claim 56 wherein the display device is a visual display device.

64. The voting system of claim 56 wherein the display device is an auditory display device with speakers or earphones.

65. The voting system of claim 56 wherein the computer is a central computer with terminals.

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.

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.

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.

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.

70. The voting system of claim 56 wherein one of said at least one input devices is a pointing device.

71. The voting system of claim 56 wherein one of said at least one input devices is a keyboard.

72. The voting system of claim 56 wherein one of said at least one input devices device is a touch-screen.

73. The voting system of claim 56 further comprising at least one data storage device.

74. The voting system of claim 56 wherein a data storage device is a fixed disk or removable media.

75. The voting system of claim 56 wherein the printer is a laser printer.

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.

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.

78. The voting system of claim 56 wherein a master tabulating machine is connected to a master network forthe a political subdivision conducting the vote.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

87. The method of voting of claim 85 further comprising destruction of ballots which are unacceptable.

88. The method of voting of claim 85 wherein the printing of the votes of the voter is on a pre-printed election ballot.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.