Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
235386000 | Voting machine | 64 |
20080237342 | ACCEPTANCE TRAY FOR AN ELECTION BALLOT PRINTING SYSTEM - An election ballot printing system includes a printer and electronic imaging device operatively coupled to a computer. The electronic imaging device images a ballot outputted by the printer in response to an indication provided by the computer. The electronic imaging device flows information corresponding to the ballot to the computer. | 10-02-2008 |
20080272194 | Scan-integrity election systems - A paper-ballot voting system is disclosed in which voters can retain symbols printed adjacent to the particular candidates or ballot question positions that they mark. Including ballot serial numbers on the forms allows voters to check online the symbols recorded for their ballots while maintaining ballot secrecy. In case of dispute, a physical resolution procedure lets voters establish whether the recorded symbols are correct with respect to the actual physical ballots. Some examples allow forms to be obtained online and voted by physical or facsimile delivery. Voters who cannot read ballots or cannot mark ballots can nevertheless vote while maintaining ballot secrecy. The overall integrity of the outcome is provided transparently. | 11-06-2008 |
20080277470 | Voting authentication and administration - A device, method and system for voting are disclosed herein. The exemplary voting device may be comprised of a paper ballot unique to each voter, an ink pen which also houses an optical scanning device, multiple redundant electronic storage media devices whereupon cast votes and other information are recorded, and a voting management system used by voters to validate their selections and by poll workers and election judges to authenticate the ballot and resolve voting booth issues such as spoiled ballots. The device may facilitate the casting of votes and ensure their secure and accurate tallying. | 11-13-2008 |
20080283598 | Election - Voting System - This system includes modified ATM machine, resetting machine and voter's log. This system integrates the stages of voter's verification, casting, collecting votes, prevents voter's fraud, has safeguard in place to prevent multiple voting, creates hard copy for possible recount, and verifies that every vote counts and counts correctly without exposing the selection of candidate to any person other than the voter. This system tracks and verifies votes in four different ways. 1st by hard copy of the votes, 2 | 11-20-2008 |
20080290163 | Voting System And Method - Systems and methods are disclosed for enabling a voter to vote at any single official polling place in the state (jurisdiction) even if it lies outside the boundaries of his local voting location (division of the jurisdiction). The systems and methods disclosed also prevent voter fraud, including a single voter voting more than once, at any polling place anywhere in the jurisdiction. | 11-27-2008 |
20080296375 | Method for assigning voter identifications in a vote by mail system - A method of conducting an election including storing a signature image for each voter, providing a plurality of return envelopes, providing an indicium having a barcode on each of the return envelopes, for each of the return envelopes, associating the barcode of the indicium with a respective one of the voters, and mailing each return envelope and a ballot to the voter with which the barcode data of the indicium of the envelope has been associated. When each return envelope including a completed ballot and a written signature thereon is received, the method includes obtaining from the return envelope the written signature and the barcode of the indicium provided thereon, using the obtained barcode to access the stored authorized signature image of the voter with which the barcode is associated, and comparing the obtained written signature to the authorized signature in the accessed image. | 12-04-2008 |
20080308633 | Integrated Voting System and Method for Accommodating Paper Ballots and Electronic Ballots - An integrated voting system and method for accommodating paper ballots and electronic ballots. The voting system comprises a processing circuit operable to determine whether the voting system is operating in an electronic ballot mode or a paper ballot mode. In the electronic ballot mode, an electronic ballot is displayed to the voter and, in response, the voter enters one or more voting selections via an input device. The entered voting selections are then stored in a memory device and tabulated by the processing circuit. In the paper ballot mode, a scanner assembly is operable to scan a paper ballot with one or more voting selections marked by a voter. The processing circuit is operable to decode the marked voting selections and, preferably, any irregularity associated with the paper ballot (such as an undervote or overvote) is displayed to the voter for possible correction. The marked voting selections are then tabulated by the processing circuit. | 12-18-2008 |
20080308634 | Integrated Voting System and Method for Accommodating Paper Ballots and Audio Ballots - An integrated voting system and method for accommodating paper ballots and audio ballots. The voting system includes a voting device operable to scan a paper ballot with one or more marked voting selections and tabulate the marked voting selections. The voting system also includes an accessible voting station in communication with the voting device. The accessible voting station comprises a voting console operable present an audio ballot to a voter via headphones, and receive one or more voting selections entered in response to the audio ballot from the voter. A printer is also provided to print a printed ballot that includes the entered voting selections. The voting device is operable to tabulate the printed voting selections by scanning the printed ballot or receiving voting selection information extracted from the printed ballot from the accessible voting station. | 12-18-2008 |
20080308635 | AUTOMATED POSTAL VOTING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A voting indicium product including a human-readable portion to represent a unique vote identification element for a specific ballot choice by a specific voter. The voting indicium further including a bar-coded portion to represent the unique vote identification element for the specific ballot choice by the specific voter, the bar-coded portion encoding at least the unique vote identification element. | 12-18-2008 |
20090020606 | ELECTRONIC VOTING METHOD AND SYSTEM EMPLOYING A MACHINE READABLE BALLOT ENVELOPE - A method for reading a sheet or a paper ballot enclosed in a ballot envelope comprises decoding a machine readable envelope identifier from each ballot envelope, displaying at least the decoded envelope identifier and a signature from each ballot envelope for determining from the envelope identifier, the signature, or both, whether a valid sheet or ballot is presented. If the sheet or ballot is valid, then the sheet or ballot is removed from its envelope and the selections marked on the sheet or ballot may then be determined and processed. | 01-22-2009 |
20090026264 | Entrustee information transmitting program, entrustee information transmitting apparatus, and entrustee information transmitting method - An entrustee information transmitting method includes an entrustment managing storage storing entrustment relationship information indicating correspondence between entrusters who are voters performing entrustment and entrustees who are voters entrusted by the entrusters in an entrustment managing storage unit; an attendance managing storage storing attendance information of respective voters in an attendance managing storage unit in units of bills; an indirect-entrustment voter extracting operation of extracting one or more indirect-entrustment voter who indirectly entrust an attendee by using the entrustment relationship information and the attendance information; an entrustee determining operation of determining attendees who are indirectly entrusted by the indirect-entrustment voters to be recommended entrustees; and an entrustee information transmitting operation of transmitting information of the recommended entrustees. | 01-29-2009 |
20090032591 | ELECTRONIC VOTING SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED METHOD - An electronic voting system includes a vote security device (VSD), a user interface for presenting a ballot to a voter, and an audit trail printer operatively coupled to the VSD. The printer prints an audit trail ballot only in response to verifying encrypted and/or digitally signed messages received from the VSD that indicates the voter's ballot selections. The printer is structured to allow the voter to view but not access the audit trail ballot. The voter is able to accept or reject the audit trail ballot using the user interface. If the ballot is rejected, the VSD causes the printer to print a rejection indicator on the ballot, and if the voter accepts the ballot, the VSD causes the printer to print an acceptance indicator on the ballot. A digitally signed record of the voter's ballot selections is generated and stored. | 02-05-2009 |
20090065581 | Automated System For Verifying Electronic Election Results - A reader for automatically reading electronic voting machine paper audit records containing voting information encoded into barcodes printed on the audit records. The reader includes an optical imager for capturing images of barcodes printed on the audit records and a sensor for triggering the capture of images at the appropriate time. The reader further includes a drive mechanism for automatically advancing the audit records and stopping the records at the appropriate location so that the barcodes containing the voting information may be decoded. The reader is programmed to decode and interpret the encoded voting information and then provide the information to a host device. Once receipt of the information by the host has been confirmed, the reader automatically advances the audit record and repeated the decoding process. | 03-12-2009 |
20090072030 | SYSTEM FOR PAPER-FREE VERIFIABLE ELECTRONIC VOTING - An apparatus for a paper-free, verifiable, electronic voting system, comprising an electronic voting machine including at least one direct recording electronic device, at least one ballot summary, where each of the ballot summaries representing selections of a voter, at least one ballot verification subsystem that creates, displays, and stores said ballot summaries, at least one ballot summary storage repository for storing said ballot summaries as saved ballot summaries, and an optional network for communication among components of the electronic voting system. | 03-19-2009 |
20090072031 | METHOD FOR PAPER-FREE VERIFIABLE ELECTRONIC VOTING - A method for a paper-free, verifiable, electronic voting system, the method comprising the steps of submitting votes by a voter using a direct-recording electronic voting machine, requesting a ballot summary from the direct-recording electronic voting machine, creating a ballot summary in a verification subsystem, displaying the ballot summary by the voting machine, casting a ballot by the voter, tallying votes by the electronic voting system, requesting the ballot summary be saved by the voting machine, saving the ballot summary securely by the verification subsystem, and displaying a cast ballot message on the voting machine. | 03-19-2009 |
20090072032 | METHOD FOR ELECTRONIC VOTING USING A TRUSTED COMPUTING PLATFORM - A method for voting in a trusted electronic voting system under the control of an election authority, the method comprising: casting a ballot having ballot information, the ballot information representing votes by a voter; receiving a request to cast the ballot by a voting machine, the voting machine running as a trusted computing platform; tallying the votes in a tally module; displaying the status of the vote tallying on the voting machine. | 03-19-2009 |
20090121018 | VOTING METHOD - A voting method. A ballot paper is received. The received ballot paper includes a recorded vote. The recorded vote includes candidate/party information for an election held on a voting day in a jurisdiction. The ballot paper includes a burnable radio frequency identification (RFID) tag including an on-tag fuse that is not blown. The recorded vote is not revealable while the fuse is not blown and is revealable in response to the fuse being subsequently blown. After the ballot paper is received, the ballot paper is authenticated and the fuse is blown to reveal the recorded vote, followed by counting the ballot paper and directing the ballot paper to a candidate box. | 05-14-2009 |
20090121019 | VOTING SYSTEM AND BALLOT PAPER - A ballot paper and a voting system. The paper ballot is initially a voted ballot paper including: a recorded vote including candidate/party information for an election on a voting day in a jurisdiction, a burnable radio frequency identification (RFID) tag including a fuse not blown, and a basic RFID tag storing the jurisdiction's signature. The recorded vote is not revealable while the fuse is not blown and is revealable responsive to the fuse being blown. The voting system includes a ballot box and a ballot counting machine. The ballot box is configured to receive and authenticate the voted ballot paper and to generate a verified ballot paper. The ballot counting machine is configured to receive and authenticate the verified ballot paper, to effectuate a blowing of the fuse to reveal the recorded vote and to subsequently count the ballot paper and direct the ballot paper to a candidate box. | 05-14-2009 |
20090127335 | ELECTION SYSTEM ENABLING COERCION-FREE REMOTE VOTING - Election system enabling coercion-free remote voting wherein a remote voter transmits his/her selected vote to the election authority through a data transmission network such as the Internet network by using a host computer having a card reader, the vote being transmitted after the voter has introduced an identifying smart card into the card reader. At least one secret code is recorded into the smart card at the location of the election authority at the moment when the latter delivers the smart card, the secret code having to be input by the voter into the host computer when the voter wants to vote during an election in order for the vote to be transmitted to the election authority and validated by the election authority. | 05-21-2009 |
20090152350 | Systems, methods, and programs for voter information initialization and consolidation - Systems, methods, and programs allow for the secure compilation of vote data from electronic voting machines at a voting location. Systems, methods, and programs provide the secure electronic transmission of the vote data to a central location for tabulation. provide a vote data consolidation function that can collect and consolidate vote data from a plurality of types or generations voting machines. Systems, methods, and programs provide a vote data transmission function that can communicate with a server in a central tabulation headquarters to securely transmit vote data that has been consolidated from a plurality of voting machines. Systems, methods, and programs provide a voter initialization function, wherein, after establishing a voter's identity, a voter authorization card may be initialized for the voter to gain access to a voting machine. | 06-18-2009 |
20090166417 | System and Method for Independently Auditing a Paper Record of Votes Cast on a Voting Machine - A system for independently auditing a paper record of votes cast on a voting machine includes an automated reading device and a computing device. The automated reading device comprises a transport mechanism operable to move the paper record across a paper transport area, and a reader operable to read at least a portion of the paper record as it moves across the paper transport area. Preferably, the automated reading device includes a control panel that allows a user to operate the transport mechanism, and a viewing window that allows a user to view the paper record as it moves across the paper transport area. The computing device is operable to receive data from the automated reading device, process at least a portion of the data to generate vote tallies for the voting machine, and output at least a portion of the data and/or vote tallies for review by a user. | 07-02-2009 |
20090200375 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PREPARATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF ELECTRONIC VOTING - The invention discloses a method for preparation and implementation of electronic voting by means of an automated system according to the invention comprising a control terminal, an official person workstation at a voting precinct and terminals of voting places used for input, saving, display and output of information, creation of local databases in a dynamic mode, said databases comprising voting data blocks, data blocks of modes of functioning of the built-in terminals and devices including a voting device, as well an condition for access to the voting device, display devices and to devices for documenting the persons whose access right is identified by comparing their access codes sent to the automated system terminals with the access codes stored in a local memory. The system automatically tracks the performance of the devices, switches them according to the installed order of operations, while providing an access according to the established rules of operations, provides automatic processing of the voting process and the voting results, and forms protocols on the voting summary by an approved form in an authorized access mode. The documentation of the voting results and protocols is carried out on the same non-volatile carrier. | 08-13-2009 |
20090230192 | VOTING SYSTEM - This system includes modified ATM machine, resetting machine and voter's log. This system integrates the stages of voter's verification, casting, collecting votes, prevents voter's fraud, has safeguard in place to prevent multiple voting, creates hard copy for possible recount, and verifies that every vote counts and counts correctly without exposing the selection of candidate to any person other than the voter. This system tracks and verifies votes in four different ways. 1st by hard copy of the votes, 2 | 09-17-2009 |
20090283597 | Electronic Voting Device, and Corresponding Method and Computer Program Product - A secure electronic voting device includes a reading device for reading electronic voting ballots carrying an item of voting information; an insertion device inserting a voting ballot into the reading device and preventing withdrawal of the ballot; a checking device checking validity of said voting ballot, issuing a signal transferring the voting ballot to a ballot box, after the item of voting information has been taken into account, when the voting ballot and/or the voting conditions are considered valid; a processor processing the item of voting information read by the reading device; a transfer device automatically transferring the voting ballot, after receipt of said signal confirming it has been taken into account and without human intervention, to the ballot box, allowing double counting of the voting information, one using data read by the reading device, and another performed in a deferred manner, by reprocessing voting ballots kept in the ballot box. | 11-19-2009 |
20090289115 | OPTICALLY READABLE MARKING SHEET AND READING APPARATUS AND METHOD THEREFOR - A ballot or sheet having an anti-copying feature provides for detecting from an image of the ballot or sheet whether the ballot or sheet is an original or is a copy. The anti-copying feature may lighten or darken, or both, when copied and may or may not be evident to the human eye. A reader comprising an imager and a processor is for reading the ballot or sheet and for determining whether the ballot or sheet is an original or is a copy, and for determining selections marked thereon. A method for reading the ballot or sheet is for determining from an image of the ballot or sheet whether the ballot or sheet is an original or is a copy, and for determining selections marked thereon. | 11-26-2009 |
20090294533 | COMPUTER ENHANCED VOTING SYSTEM INCLUDING VOTER VERIFIABLE, CUSTOM PRINTED BALLOTS IMPRINTED TO THE SPECIFICATIONS OF EACH VOTER - An apparatus and method for creating and recording both an electronic and printed ballot for each voter during voting. The system can employ a variety of vote selection techniques, all of which can lead to the generation of an electronic tally of the vote in addition to the printing of a paper ballot. The printed ballot includes only the names of the candidates for whom the voter has voted in a form that is easily readable by both humans and machine. This unambiguous printed ballot makes it easy for voters to verify the accuracy of their intended vote and can subsequently be used to cast the voter's official vote or saved to provide an audit trail for subsequent confirmation of the electronic tally. These and other features accelerate the initial tabulation of results while providing multiple safeguards against fraud through the printing of a paper record for verifying voter intent. | 12-03-2009 |
20090308922 | Hidden-code voting and marking systems - A paper ballot voting system is described that allows voters to verify that their ballots are correctly counted and provide substantiating evidence if they are not. The systems work whether or not automation is available in the polling place. In other aspects special pens and printing provide protection of voter privacy and against marks being added after ballots are cast. Further aspects of the approach include robust ballot scanning and improved transparency of the voter check-in process. | 12-17-2009 |
20100001070 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETECTING POTENTIAL COERCION OR VOTE BUYING IN VOTE BY MAIL SYSTEMS - Organized coercion or buying of votes can be detected based upon information associated with the return of vote by mail ballots, and more specifically an induction parameter related to the location where and time at which vote by mail ballots are inducted into a carrier system for return to the election officials. Upon receipt of the vote by mail ballots by election officials, at least one induction parameter is obtained from the envelope. The data that is collected can be analyzed to detect situations that indicate potential coercion or vote buying by comparing it with expected induction parameters. If a situation that indicates potential coercion or vote buying is detected, those voters whose ballots are involved can be contacted by the election officials, before the votes are tallied, to ensure that the specific voters have not been coerced or sold their vote. | 01-07-2010 |
20100006649 | Secure Ballot Box - A secure ballot box includes a main compartment for receiving ballots, a case including a base and a cover supported by the main compartment, and a scanner supported within the base. The cover is coupled with the base and is moveable between a closed position enclosing the scanner and an open position exposing at least a portion of the scanner. The case and scanner are removable from the main compartment for easy transport. A sensor, operable to detect the height of the ballots collected within the main compartment, is coupled with the scanner to switch the scanner to an off mode such that additional ballots will not be accepted when the height of ballots within the main compartment reaches a predetermined threshold level. | 01-14-2010 |
20100019036 | ELECTRONIC VOTING APPARATUS THAT IS ACCESSIBLE TO DISABLED VOTERS - The invention is a tamperproof electronic voting machine with intuitive user interfaces that is accessible and usable by voters with a wide range of disabilities, including those voters that are blind, deaf, blind deaf, or have dexterity disabilities. The voting machine preferably records votes through a button based interface or an ink probe interface. The invention accommodates cumulative voting and instant runoff voting. | 01-28-2010 |
20100025466 | Method and System for Verifying Election Results - The invention pertains to a method and system for verifying election results, in association with an election process and a particular election. One useful embodiment of the invention is directed to a method, wherein a plurality of voters are each authorized to cast a ballot by using a specified voting device of a voting system, wherein the specified device may have one of a number of states, and the process is under the supervision of an Election Authority (EA). The method includes the step of publishing a number of certificates, wherein each certificate corresponds to one of the specified device, and contains one or more public keys associate with its corresponding device and also contains an Election Configuration (EC) that indicates the expected state of its corresponding device during the election process. The method further includes generating a voter authorization token (VAT) for each authorized voter, wherein each VAT enables one of the authorized voters to anonymously cast only one of the ballots in the particular election. A set of voting results is generated in response to the use of a given one of the VATs to cast a given ballot, wherein the set of voting results includes the given VAT, the cast given ballot, and the state of the voting device when the given ballot was cast. The set of voting results is also signed by a unique private key that corresponds to one of the public keys that is associated with the specified voting device. A further step of a method comprises publishing a set of items that include at least lists of all VATs and all sets of voting results that are respectively generated in connection with the particular contest, wherein the published items are available, together with the published certificates, for use by members of the public to verify election results. | 02-04-2010 |
20100032483 | Digital Polling System and Method - A method and system for digitally capturing polling data for one or more candidate options is provided wherein a voter is provided with a physical ballot form ( | 02-11-2010 |
20100133340 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USE OF LOTTERY TERMINALS AS ELECTRONIC VOTING MECHANISMS - A system and method for conducting elections using a networked system of lottery terminal units involves outfitting terminal units with peripheral devices configured to receive voting input from a user. Ballot scanners and/or control panels receive voter identification and selection information, while cameras, biometric sensors, card readers or other devices obtain additional identification information for verification of voter identity. Voter selections are provided as output to a user via a printed receipt or screenshot for obtaining confirmation or optional designation of changed selections. Storage areas for physically storing voter ballots, incorrect receipts, etc. may be provided. Processing features associated with a terminal unit controller execute software instructions programming the controller to selectively store and/or electronically communicate data corresponding to voter information and selections to one or more central remote locations, such as designated based on voting jurisdictions. | 06-03-2010 |
20100170948 | METHOD FOR DECODING AN OPTICALLY READABLE SHEET - An optically readable sheet has plural mark spaces and has at least two fiducial marks defining the orientation and scaling of the sheet. A method for reading an optically readable sheet may comprise imaging the sheet and decoding the fiducial marks from the image of the sheet for scaling the image of the sheet and decoding the mark spaces therein. Scaling the image may include comparing the locations of the decoded fiducial marks from the image of the sheet and the predetermined locations of the fiducial marks on the sheet. | 07-08-2010 |
20100230491 | Ballot Tabulation Device and Method for Tabulating Paper Ballots Printed According to Ballot Style - A ballot tabulation device and method for tabulating paper ballots that have been printed according to ballot style. In an exemplary embodiment, the ballot tabulation device includes an input device, such as a touch screen display, that enables a user to enter a precinct identification code for a paper ballot. The device also includes a scanner operable to scan the paper ballot, and a processing circuit operable to decode one or more voting selections marked on the paper ballot. The processing circuit is further operable to tabulate the decoded voting selections and include the tabulated voting selections within the vote tally associated with the precinct identification code. Other exemplary embodiments are also disclosed. | 09-16-2010 |
20100252628 | MANUAL RECOUNT PROCESS USING DIGITALLY IMAGED BALLOTS - 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. | 10-07-2010 |
20110017822 | Ballot Processing System - A ballot processing system for processing a plurality of ballots having one or more voting selections marked thereon. The system includes an input area configured to receive a stack of ballots to be processed, an output area configured to store the processed ballots, and a transport path operable to transport each of the ballots from the input area to the output area. In an exemplary embodiment, the transport path comprises a planar section positioned between a first curve section and a second curve section to form a generally S-shaped path. The length of the transport path allows each of the ballots to be processed prior to reaching the output area. | 01-27-2011 |
20110017823 | Ballot Processing System for Printing Identifiers on Paper Ballots - A ballot processing system for processing paper ballots having one or more voting selections marked thereon. The system includes an input area configured to receive a stack of ballots to be processed, a processor operable to determine the voting selections marked on the ballots, and an output area configured to store the processed ballots. In an exemplary embodiment, a printing device is operable to print a unique identifier on each of the ballots during each pass through the system. A detector is operable to detect the printed identifier so as to verify that each of the ballots was processed during a previous count of the ballots and/or to prevent double-processing of the ballots. The system also includes a printer operable to print a report that identifies ballot information in relation to the unique identifier for at least a portion of the processed ballots. | 01-27-2011 |
20110089236 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DECODING AN OPTICALLY READABLE MARKABLE SHEET AND MARKABLE SHEET THEREFOR - An optically readable markable sheet has selection mark spaces and has voiding mark spaces associated with the selection mark spaces. An apparatus and a method for reading the optically readable sheet may comprise a processor decoding a sheet identifier and the mark spaces from an image of the sheet and determining the mark spaces that are marked. Marking a voiding mark space voids a selection marked in the selection mark space with which the voiding mark space is associated. Sheet images and a record of marked mark spaces are stored in a memory, preferably a non-volatile memory. Sheet images may be provided by an optical imager that images the sheet and/or by an optical mark reader that reads the sheet. | 04-21-2011 |
20110114724 | ELECTRONIC VOTING METHOD AND APPARATUS - The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for electronic voting performed in response to insertion of an electronic ballot by a voter into an electronic voting machine. The method includes storing candidate information in a candidate database, issuing an electronic ballot by a ballot dispenser in response to a ballot issuance request of a voter, displaying by the electronic voting machine a list of candidates from the candidate database when the electronic ballot is inserted into the electronic voting machine, and printing by a printer vote data related to a selected candidate on the electronic ballot, followed by dispensing the printed electronic ballot when the voter selects the candidate whom the voter wishes to vote from among the list of candidates. The electronic ballot is printed with a barcode corresponding to vote information containing at least one of data for authentication, precinct ID and polling place ID. | 05-19-2011 |
20110139872 | System and Method for Capturing Write-In Selections on a Paper Ballot - A system for separating write-in entries from the paper ballots electronically without resorting to manual or mechanical separation is configured to detect when a write-in selection is made in a designated write-in area of a paper ballot as a paper ballot is read through a digital scanner or other imaging device. An image of the write-in entry area (a sub-image of the total ballot) is then extracted and stored with appropriate data keys on a storage medium for later retrieval and processing by qualified personnel. | 06-16-2011 |
20120037701 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SECURED VOTING TRANSACTIONS - A secured electronic system and method for taking and counting votes. A database of unique ballot security codes, each ballot security code consisting of a ballot code representing the ballot selections of a voter and a security code derived from sensing with a biometric sensor a biometric presentation of a biometric feature of the voter. Each ballot security code is checked before entry into the database to verify that the security code component is not within a voter template of the security code component for any prior ballot security code, to prevent multiple votes being cast by any voter. Recounts are validated by verifying the uniqueness of the security code component of each ballot security code and verifying that each security code is not within a voter template of any other security code. Each ballot security code may also be checked against a registration data base thereby verifying that the voter is registered. | 02-16-2012 |
20120061468 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TRANSACTIONAL BALLOT PROCESSING, AND BALLOT AUDITING - A voting unit and a ballot transaction processing system for processing a voting session. The voting unit includes an optical ballot scanner and a printer that is capable of printing a non-human readable barcode on ballots that are fed into the voting unit. The ballots are filled out (or cast) by the voter before being inserted into the voting unit. The voter can confirm the voting unit's interpretations of his/her selections on the scanned ballot via a display and confirm that the interpretations are correct via an input section on the voting unit. The ballot transaction processing system is also capable of generating, assigning and communicating to a plurality of voting units a set of unique transaction codes. In so doing, the ballot transaction processing system maintains voter secrecy, prevents ballot stuffing and provides a one-to-one correspondence between images of optically scanned ballots and the ballots themselves. | 03-15-2012 |
20120080522 | Advanced Voting System and Method - An advanced voting system is provided that includes one or more computing devices. The computing devices receive input of authentication data and utilize the authentication data to determine whether a voting session by a voter is authorized and to unlock ballot information specific to the voter or a group of voters. Furthermore, same device used to unlock said ballot information. In addition, the receive accessibility input data on the same device used to unlock said ballot information. In addition, the computing devices present ballot questions to the voter if the voting session is authorized based on the received authentication data and receive interactive voter selections from the voter. Furthermore, the system includes a record generator that generates records containing the voter selections. | 04-05-2012 |
20120111940 | BALLOT IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VOTING MACHINES - A ballot processing system and method processes paper ballots, such as by optically scanning or optically reading those ballots. The ballot image processing system corrects for, or is able to differentiate valid voting marks from, ballot printing errors such as skewed printing, incorrect sizing, and speckling. Further, the ballot image processing system, after determining whether each of the voting marks is valid or not, associates audit data with the ballot that corresponds to the decision regarding each voting mark. | 05-10-2012 |
20120111941 | BALLOT BOX CART - A utility cart for storage, transport and setup of voting devices into a completely-operational configuration, ready for use, while still on the cart. The utility cart employs a deployable privacy curtain that erects a 360 degree private voting environment around the equipment using the voting equipment. When loaded with a tabulator/ballot box, the cart may be wheeled from storage into a usable position in the precinct, onboard equipment plugged in, the utility cart deployed and privacy curtain erected, and the precinct is then ready for voting traffic. All the loaded equipment is fully protected during transport and restrained against lateral motion, and yet when deployed full access is given to the control panels, doors, etc. Moreover, the particular design maximizes strength and usability, and yet keeps weight to a minimum with a framework that is as light weight as possible. | 05-10-2012 |
20120145784 | BALLOT LEVEL SECURITY FEATURES FOR OPTICAL SCAN VOTING MACHINE CAPABLE OF BALLOT IMAGE PROCESSING, SECURE BALLOT PRINTING, AND BALLOT LAYOUT AUTHENTICATION AND VERIFICATION - A ballot authentication system uses a plurality of security features embedded in and/or printed on the paper stock used to print a ballot on which election-choice-information is printed and a voting unit that includes at least a scanner that is configured to detect the plurality of security features that are embedded in and/or printed on the ballot and authenticate the ballot based on the read information. The voting unit of the ballot authentication system can be configured to verify and confirm that the various security features embedded in and/or printed on the ballot is correct for a particular precinct of an election. The security features of the ballot authentication system can include static, dynamic and data security features. | 06-14-2012 |
20120168502 | Visualizing and Auditing Elections and Election Results - Disclosed are methods, systems, and computer program products for visualizing results of elections. A set of ballots, each including one or more areas for expression of intent, are received and analyzed with a computerized image analysis tool. The image analysis tool provides a score associated with the areas for expression of intent for one or more of the set of ballots. The analyzed areas are displayed on an image-display device according to a predetermined criterion. | 07-05-2012 |
20120187188 | Ballot Tabulation Device with Internal Tote Bin - A ballot tabulation device with internal tote bin includes a ballot box having a main compartment for receiving ballots and a tote bin configured to fit securely within an inner cavity of the main compartment. A ballot receptacle in the main compartment receives ballots and directs them downwardly into the tote bin so that the ballots stack into the tote bin. The tote bin includes two hingedly attached flaps that open upwardly to rest against the sides of the internal cavity to form a hopper-like receptacle for the ballots. The tote bin may also include one or more locking mechanisms to secure the lid flaps, and a telescoping handle and wheels for transporting the bin. In an alternative embodiment, a sensor in the inner cavity detects the presence of ballots in the tote bin and provides an alert to an operator when the tote bin is nearly full. | 07-26-2012 |
20120217299 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR THE PROTECTION OF VOTING OPTIONS FOR REMOTE VOTING - The method includes using a voting computer to represent the user selected voting options gathered by a voting application running in the voting computer, using an element that has a machine readable format such as a barcode, recording then the element in a physical media using a printing device connected to the voting computer, so that it is suitable to be delivered by the user using a physical channel such as a postal service to the electoral officers. Once the delivered physical media is received by the intended destination (e.g., election officials), the method introduces the step of reading the element information contained in the physical media using a reading device connected to a retrieving computer. Finally, the method introduces a process for generating a physical ballot in the retrieving computer using the information delivered by the voter and a printing device. | 08-30-2012 |
20120248185 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REMAKING BALLOTS - Voter-generated ballots created using consumer-grade printers are remade to ballots scannable by specialized ballot scanners. The voter-generated ballots include a machine-readable indicia, such as a two-dimensional barcode, that encodes ballot information. The ballot information includes choices made by the voter and information for use in remaking the ballot. Voters wish to submit their votes using printouts from non-specialized printers such as those found at their homes or offices; yet election officials wish to tabulate votes using scanners that require specialized, high-quality ballots. The disclosed systems and methods bridge this gap. | 10-04-2012 |
20120261470 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR THE PROTECTION OF VOTING OPTIONS FOR REMOTE VOTING - The method uses a computer voting selection application suitable for execution in a remote environment by a remote user for obtaining in a local site a marked ballot from the voting selections made by the remote user. It includes generating using a remote voting computer an element representing in a machine readable format an information of the voting selections made by the remote user, recording this machine readable element in a first physical support, and sending this first physical support through a physical delivery channel to the local site where the machine readable element from the physical support is read using a reading device, and the voting selections made by the remote user are retrieved using a retrieving computer. A record representing the remote user voting selections retrieved is then obtained and processed by an electronic counting device that counts voting selections from images obtained from the obtained record. | 10-18-2012 |
20130048725 | System for Processing Folded Documents - A system for processing folded documents is disclosed. The system includes an input hopper configured to receive a stack of folded documents and an imaging area in which each of the documents is imaged. A pick-up mechanism is configured to transport each of the folded documents from the input hopper to the imaging area. The pick-up mechanism includes first and second barriers that are spaced apart to define a gap through which each of the folded documents is passed, wherein the gap is dimensioned to prevent passage of more than one of the folded documents. Preferably, the system also includes a detection system that is operable to detect the passage of more than one of the folded documents through a detection zone. | 02-28-2013 |
20130248599 | Integrated Voting System and Method for Accommodating Paper Ballots and Audio Ballots - A voting system includes an accessible voting station and a tabulation device. The accessible voting station presents an audio ballot to a voter and receives one or more voting selections entered in response to the audio ballot from the voter. The accessible voting station also prints a ballot that includes the entered voting selections and scans at least a portion of the ballot to determine the voting selections printed thereon. The accessible voting station further presents an audio representation of the scanned voting selections to the voter and receives a confirmation of the audio representation of the scanned voting selections from the voter. The tabulation device tabulates the voting selections printed on the ballot by scanning the printed ballot or receiving voting selection information extracted from the printed ballot from the accessible voting station. | 09-26-2013 |
20130306724 | ELECTRONIC CORRECTION OF VOTER-MARKED PAPER BALLOT - Methods, systems, and devices are described for electronically correcting votes made on voter-marked paper ballots. An optical scan system may image a paper ballot and allow vote modification by the voter following the imaging. Such a modification may be necessary, for example, if a voter has improperly voted (e.g., voted for two candidates for one office), if a definitive determination of the intention to cast a vote cannot be made (e.g., partially filed-in bubble associated with a candidate, erasure, stray marks), if a write-in candidate is included on the ballot, or if a voter has changed their mind or otherwise wishes to cast a different vote than initially indicated. After correction, the corrected ballot may be re-imaged. | 11-21-2013 |
20140048600 | LANDING LIGHTS FOR MULTI-PURPOSE CONFIGURABLE VOTING SYSTEM - A ballot processing device flashes one or more lights of the ballot processing device in a first color when the ballot processing device is ready to receive a ballot. The ballot processing device lights a portion of the one or more lights of the ballot processing device in a second color when the ballot processing device is not ready to receive a ballot. | 02-20-2014 |
20140054377 | IDENTITY VERIFICATION AND DOCUMENT VALIDITY PROCESSING SYSTEM - An advanced record production system includes one or more devices operable to print machine readable indicia on tangible documents. The machine readable indicia include date information and automatically assigned information that is used to prevent the tangible document from being valid for more than one use. The advanced record production system also includes a registration system operable to read the tangible documents and to process the tangible documents. The registration system is further operable to maintain a record of the machine readable indicia of the tangible documents that have been processed to prevent the tangible documents from being valid for more than one use. | 02-27-2014 |
20140231512 | COMPUTERIZED VOTING SYSTEM - Officials using computers research and create lists of Certified Registered Voters and Proxies whom are sent computer encoded ballots and return containers. Each Ballot and correlated Receipt(s) share a unique Random Symbolic Identifier (RSID) and use embedded Security Elements to prevent counterfeiting. For privacy, before voting, Voters-Proxies optionally exchange ballots and return containers within their Voting Region, validating ballots electronically or in-person by submitting Ballot Validation RSID to Officials. Voter-Proxy completes ballot(s), adds Personal Security Identifier(s), receives ballot receipt, delivery receipt upon sending ballot to Officials via postal mail, Interactive Television, Internet, Telephone, Fax, Email, In-person. Received ballots are electronically-optically recorded; if timely and authentic, voter selections are extracted, tallied if properly marked, and published to Voters' private data area accessed via Receipt RSID. Official devices, communications computer processing partially managed and optimized by computers running artificial intelligence software programs. After voting ends, Officials publish all data for integrity verification. | 08-21-2014 |
20140231513 | UNIVERSAL VOTING STATION AND TABULATION DEVICE - A voting system including a universal voting station and a tabulation device. The voting station is operable to receive an activation card on which it prints a voter's voting selection. The voter may choose to have the voting station transmit the voting selection to the tabulation device and deposit the activation card into a ballot box, or return the activation card to the voter. The tabulation device is operable to scan and tabulate the voting selections on both marked paper ballots and printed activation cards. The ballot box is preferably a common ballot box that is positioned to receive activation cards from the voting station and paper ballots and activation cards from the tabulation device. | 08-21-2014 |
20140263637 | System and Method for Decoding Marks on a Response Sheet - A ballot tabulation device includes a scanner operable to obtain an image of at least a portion of a paper ballot that includes a voter response area. A processor applies a virtual template to the image to identify a center point for the voter response area. The virtual template comprises a set of characteristic points positioned in predetermined locations in relation to the center point of the voter response area, wherein the characteristic points comprise points that are common to a plurality of sample ballot images. The processor also defines a response window that is centered on the center point of the voter response area, and analyzes the response window to determine if the voter response area is marked by a voter. | 09-18-2014 |
20140263638 | System and Method for Monitoring Precinct-Based Ballot Tabulation Devices - A system for remotely monitoring a plurality of ballot tabulation devices is provided. The ballot tabulation devices are located at a plurality of polling locations, each of which is operable to process a plurality of marked paper ballots and maintain health status information for the device. The system includes a central server located remotely from the ballot tabulation devices that is operable to periodically receive the health status information for each device and generate an alert that identifies any irregularities associated with each device based on the received health status information. Preferably, the health status information is encoded in a machine-readable code that is displayed on a display screen of the ballot tabulation device, and a reading device is used to read the machine-readable code from the display screen and transmit the health status information to the central server. | 09-18-2014 |
20140263639 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REPORTING ELECTION RESULTS - A system for reporting election results from a plurality of ballot tabulation devices to a central server is provided. Each ballot tabulation device is operable to generate a machine-readable code that encodes the election results for the ballot tabulation device and present the machine-readable code by either displaying the machine-readable code on a display screen or printing the machine-readable code on a printable medium. The system also includes a plurality of reading devices each of which is used to read the machine-readable code presented by the ballot tabulation device and transmit the election results for the ballot tabulation device to the central server. | 09-18-2014 |
20150076228 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REMAKING BALLOTS - Voter-generated ballots created using consumer-grade printers are remade to ballots scannable by specialized ballot scanners. The voter-generated ballots include a machine-readable indicia, such as a two-dimensional barcode, that encodes ballot information. The ballot information includes choices made by the voter and information for use in remaking the ballot. Voters wish to submit their votes using printouts from non-specialized printers such as those found at their homes or offices; yet election officials wish to tabulate votes using scanners that require specialized, high-quality ballots. The disclosed systems and methods bridge this gap. | 03-19-2015 |
20180025566 | system and method providing enhanced security ballot image records | 01-25-2018 |