Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
13~ 999
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This inVentiQn relates to voting and selection indication systems
in general, and particularly to an electro-mechanical system for such
purposes which is inexpensive to build and operate and wherein the pos~
sibility of fraud is eliminated.
For several years efforts have been underway to substitute elec~
tronic voting systems for purely mechanical ones because of the higher
cost of purchase, maintenance, and operation of the latter. In accord-
ance with this goal, at least one system has been developed and is in
use in which voters are given a card upon which small punched holes are
iO made to register a vote, and the cards are then taken by an election of~
ficial and placed in a computer`which reads the cards and records the re~
sults In another voting system, a voter marks a substantially standard
type of paper ballot, and the ballot is electronically read. Neither of
these systems has pr~ven to be satisfactory inasmuch as there is reintro-
duced paper (or cardboard) baliots which can be altered, thrown away~ oradditional ones introduced by a crooked election official just as was the
case before mechanical voting machines were introduced. Further, and the
most significant disadvantage with both of these systems~ i5 that the
accuracy of reading a ballot depends upon voters physically effecting a
ballot in a sufficiently u~iform manner to meet the criteria of the
electronic reader, a condition that is not highly reliable.
Another proposed solutlon to the problem has been to simply con-
vert or add electrical switches to a voting keyboard connected to a
computer terminal~ As far as is known, this type of system has not
been found acceptable, one reason being that it requires a computer
terminal for each keyboard, increasing costs to a point where little
or no advantage is reflected over mechanical voting machines.
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It is the object of this invention to overcome the afoxesaid and
other disadvantages of existing and proposed votlng machines and to
provide an impro~ed voting system which is less costly to purchase,
operate, maintain, and store than previous voting equipment, and which
S i$, most importantly, fraud~proof.
In accordance with this invention, a voter would enter votes on
a small, hand-held kallot or voting board, entering-votes by means of
effecting a uniform change on the board, such as by moving a slider
uncovering an "X" beside the name of a candidate or a proposition,
for examplel an amendment. When all votes have been entered to the
satisfaction of the voter, the voting board is immediately inserted
into a vote accumulator, and the mechanical state of the vote indica~
to~s is ascertained by optical or other means~ Electrical outputs of
votes cast are compared with a valid combination of votes for that
election, and if proper, the votes are electrically recorded and
counted. In the event of an improper vote, such as where too many
ballots are cast in a particular contest, a signal would inEorm the
voter of this, and the voter would have an opportunity to correct his
ballot before it is registered,
Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of
example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-
Fig, 1 is a top view of a vote indicator board as contemplated
by this invention.
Fig. 2 is a side edge view of a vote indicator board and a por-
tion of a mechanism employed to handle write-in ballots.
Fig. 3 ls a pictorial view of two of the vote indicators of the
vote indicating board.
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Fig. 4 is a Pictorial view illustrating a raceptacle in the voting
board for receiving write-in ballots,
Fig. 5 is a pictorial view illustrating the insertion of a voting
board in a voting console.
Fig. 5a is a Pictorial view of an alternate voting board,
Fig, 6 is a pictorial view, partially broken away, of the voting
console shown in Fig. 5 together with a voting board, and illustrating
a portion of the system for resetting the voting board and method of
handling write-in ballots,
Fig. 7 is a partial sectional view of a voting board taken along
iine 7-7 of Fig. 6,
Fig. 8 is a schematic illustration of an optical reader for read-
ing votes fram a vote indicating board.
Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of Fig. 5, and
additi~nally illustrating schematically a modification of the invention
in which the voting indicators are read by mechanicaily operated switches.
Fig, 10 is an electrical schematic illustration of the system of
this invention.
Fig. 11 is a pictorial view, partially broken, illustrating a modi-
fied form of a vote indicator which includes an electrical switch for
registering votes.
Fig. 12 is an electrical schematic illustration of a modification
of the system shown in Fig, lO wherein a substantial portion of elec-
tronic circuitry is contained within a voting board.
Fig. 13 is an exploded view of an alternate form of a voting board.
Fig, 14 is a pictorial view, partly in section, of the portion of
a voting board as shown in Fig. 13.
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g~9
Fig. lS is a sectional view illustrating the relationship between
a voting board, light source, and light sensor.
Fig. 16 is a pictorial view of a vote reading assembly for reading
votes entered on a voting board of the type shown in Fig. 13.
Fig. 17 is a schematic block diagram generally illustrating an
electronia process employed wherein more than one ballot may be pro~
cessed, and particularly adapted for interface with the assembly shown
in Fig. 16 and the voting board shown in Fig. 13.
Referring i~itially to Figs. 1 and 2, ~here is illustrated a vote
1~ indicator board 10 as contemplated by this invention. It would be
constructed of a size, for example, 1 inch by 8~2 inches by 15 inches,
accommodating~ on its face 12, 26 rows and seven or less columns.
Typically, first column 14 would be used to identify the offices or
propositions being voted on, and the succeeding columns 15-21 would
be used to list candidates~ names or propositions and to house vote
indicators 22, there being one each of these indicators for each of
rows 23-47 of each col~unn beyond first column 14, Additionally,
there would be provided straight ticket indicators 50 at the top of
each column under the party or other column designations 58, As shown
in Fig, 3, a vote indicator 22 contains a ~liding plate 60 operated by
a small knob 62 by which plate 60 is slid left and right in housing 64
on board 10 by a voter to cover or uncover "X" mark 66, "X" mark 66
(or the space 68 around it) is of a distinctive pattern or color from
the outer top surface 70 of sliding plate 60, enabling it to appear
distinctive to a voter so that he may clearly see his choices, and to
enable a substantial contrast between a vote and a non-vote condition
to achieve accurate reading of the vote by optical reader 72 (Fig. 8).
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It is to be appreciated that in contrast to marking a paper ballot~
which when once marked'stays marked, a voter'may change his mind after
moving one of sliding piates 60 to cast a vote ~or one candidate and
move that sliding plate back to a closed or "no vote"~position and vote
for a second candidate. ~is seiections are not final until the board
is placed in console 74 ~Fig. 5) for reading by optical reader 72 tFig.
8) or switches 220~ as shown in Fig. 9t
Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, a voter indicator baard 10 is read by
inserting it in slot 76 of console 74, there being locking groove 78
in yoting board 10 and complementary mating surface 82 in console 74
in order to precisely position voting board 10 in console 74, When'
voting board 10 is fully inserted, it operates "board in" switch 86,
which operates solenoid 88 to operate armature 90 into a slot 92 in
board 10, locking board 10 in place, indicating by a light 94 (Fig~ 5)
to a ~oter and election officials that the board is properly positioned
a-nd a ballot is being processed. Switch 86 also initiates the elec
trical and electronic portions of the system, including optical reader
72 (Fig. 8).
Although the employment of a single board having all of the races
in an election on it is illustrated and described thus far, it is to be
appreciated that two boards, board A (Fig. 5) and board B (Fig. 5a) may
be employed, each covering part of the total ballot of an election. In
such case, each board would have a discrete coding member, such as a
desirably positioned knob, Kl as shown in Fig. 5 and K2 as shown in
Fig, 5a, and coordinate decoding indentations Dl and D2 and board de-
~tectors, e~g.~ switches, in reading console 74 to effect necessary mem~
ory selections, e.g., from two each of the permissible votes each race
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memory 148 and race groups and votes per group memory 140, and which
would include coding to correctiy designate and record permissible
votes from each board,
Referring to Fig. 8, optical reader 72 contains lights 96 which
5 illuminate board 10. Lens 98 projects the face 12 of board 10 onto a
matrix 100 of photodiodes or other form of light sensors, there being
at least one photodiode positioned to receive light from each position
on the face of the indicator board wherein a vote indicating area 102
~Fig. 1) may appear. This includes in addition to the vote indicators
for each voting position in columns 15-21 and straight ticket vote in-
dicators 50 regions 52 in column 14 wherein a write~in ballot 110 (Fig.
4) may be inserted, having the same readable surface 68 (Fig. 4) as one
of the other vote indicating areas illustrated in Fig. 3t
As an alternate system to that employing a matrix of photodiodes,
an X-Y oscillographic type of scanning may be used wherein vertical and
horizontal scanning mirrors would be serially arranged in a single
light path and varied in angle to scan each of the vote indicator areas
or positions on the vote indicator board, With such a system, only a
single photodiode or other type of photosensor is requiredt
While the indicating region around the "X" of each vote indicator
is shown as being of a dark color, an opposite contrast may be employed.
Further, where it appears necessary to further improve the efficiency
of the reading process, the vote indicating areas may be specially
coated, as with phosphorus, to effect radiation in a relatively narrow
band of wavelengths, and a coordinate optical filter would be used
over the light sensing element or elements~ Or, by employing a type of
light sensing element particularly responsive to the wavelength of emis~
'~' , .
sion from the phosphorus~ the filter could be omitted~ The light source
in such a system would provide a wavelength of light particularly adap-
ted to stimulate t~e radiation from the phosphorus which may be of a
different wavelength than that of the light source,
Referri~g again to Fig~ 8, we will assume that there is a photodiode
positioned to observe, via lens 98, each one of the indicating regions
102 (Fig. 1~ sn board 10. Each photodiode is encoded with a discrete
number as an address. For example, we will assume that there is a total
of 215 addresses, and a like number of photodiodes, one for each of 26
candidates for each of the seven columns, one for each of seven straight
ticket voting positions 50, and 26 write-in indicator positions 52, We
will further assume by way of example that the column of write~in indi-~
cator positions, from top to bottom, are encoded with the numerals Vl~
V26 and that indicators in the following seven columns, from top to bot~
tom, are similarly coded, sequentially, with first column 15 positions
being coded V27-V52, column 16 candidate positions coded V52-V78, and
so on, with the seventh column 21 candidate positions being aoded V183
V208. Finally~ the straight ticket vote indiaators, we will a~sumer
are encoded, from left to right, V209-V215.
Where an X-Y oscillographic type scanning is employed for a given
~Y" position, ~or example, row 44, an "X" mirror would scan each column
position for that row which, in terms of addresses, may be regarded as
X44, Y14, then X44, Y15, and so on, to address X44, Y21. Next, the "Y"
mirror would step to row 45 and repeat the procedure. This system, of
course, requires only one photodiode instead of 215. Alternately~ a
photodiode might be used to cover each of the "X" addresses and use only
a "Y" mirror to take care o the vertical scan of all addresses.
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To examine the operation of the system of the inventi~n thus far de-
scribed, we will assume that a voter has operated the indicators on board
10 to vote, indicating a straight ticket vote under the party of column
15 by operating indicator V209'and a write-in ballot in the twenty-third
5 row ~Fig. 1) by inserting a paper insert 110 (Fig, 4) in a receptacle 112
identifying the office being voted for. Under the system of this inven-
tion, a single vote in any one of the rows, in addition to a straight
ticket vote, would simply reject the straight ticket'candidate for that
office. However, if there is a third vote in a given row, there would
be an obvious amblguity as to the voter's intent. If there is no straight
ticket vote, then any two votes in a given row would indicate an error.
These conditions are dealt with in the following description of operation.
Upon the full insertion of voting board 10 into console 74~ "board
in" or initiate switch 86 is operated to energize board locking solenoid
lS 88, locking board 10 in place and electrically initiating operation of
the electronic system of the invention as shown in Fig. 10. Thus, matrix
scanner 120, an aadress counter, is operated on wlth fast-slow ~can switch
122 in a fast mode ~ox normal operation, matrix scanner 120 commences
providing numerical coded outputs El-E215, which operate like aoded gates
connected to the outputs of photodiodes of optical reader 72 viewing
like numerically coded indicator~ on board 10. Firstr with counts 1-26
occurring in this sequence, optical reader 72 scans the write-in column
of indicator positions Vl-V26, and as further stated, we will assume
that there is a write-in ballot or tab 110 (Fig. 4~ appropriately marked
and placed in receptacle 112 in board 10 to provide at an indicator
position V~3 a particular write-in vote Accordingly, an output from
optical reader 72 of the row in question is fed to write-in row detector
-10 .
124. It then provides a blocking output to a row gate of row gates 126
corresponding to the row in which the write-in occurs. A row gate then
operates to block any ~ote output of reader 72 through switch 127 to
buffer memory 128 which is otherwise indicated by a voter in that row.
This prevents double voting at such time as the optical reader is scanned
through the balance ~f the voting board, as will be further explained.
Assuming that a response from reader ?2 provides a l-volt output
(it may be another value) responsive to the appearance o$ a positive
vote state from one of the vote indicators of board 10, then column vote
generator 130 would provide such an output which would be switched
through a discrete switch, one for each of vote indicators V209~V215,
through row gates 126 to a memory location in buffer memory 128 for each
row of the selected column not blocked by row gates 126~ Next, matrix
scanner 120 (Fig. 10) commences general scanning of the board, scanning,
for example, in the numerical sequence described to accomplish column
scanning. Alternately, scanning could be by rows.
Wheneyer a vote indicator indicates a vote, a signal is passed
through row gate 126 to buffer memory 128, except in a situation where
a voter has entered a write-in ballot as described above, and in which
case the row gate for that row would block a vote for a second candidate
in that row. 8uffer memory 128, also controlled by matrix scanner 130,
internally routes the votes in memory 128 to like arranged memory loca-
tions to that of the ballot and optical reader 72. Buffer memory 128
e$fects temporary storage. Following the scanning of the last vote in-
dicator position in column 21, optical reader 72 is caused to scanstraight ballot vote indicators V209-V215; and as stated above, it is
assumed that a straight ballot has been indicated by the operation of
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indicator v210~ When this indicator is scanned, column vote generator
130 generates an outpu~ similar to the output of each of the photodiodes
of matrix 100, which is fed through gates 132 to each of the memory
positions in memory 128 corresponding to each row in that column, except
where a gate has been closed, as follows.
R~W detector 134 detects rows in which votes have been cast by the
operation of one of the indicators in columns 15-21, and when a vote in
a particular row is detected, an output is provided to gates 132, pre~
venting any entry of an additional vote from column or straight ticket
vote generator 130 to that row. Additionally~ write~in row detector 124
provides a row blocking signal to gate 132 to block a vote signal from
reaching a row location in memory 128 corresponding to a row in which
there has been a write-in vote as previously described. Thus, in this
manner, a straight ticket vote effects a vote for all candidates in a
given column, except where the voter has indicated another choice.
Row detector 124 will typically have an input position or channel
for each of the indicators or indicator positions Vl-V26 of optical
reader 72. Thus, by s.imple amplitude detection, the presence of a sig-
nal by one of these channels provides an indication of a row in which
there is a write-in ballot. Similarly, row gates 126 have an electrical
channel for each row of indicators on board 10 and through which all sig-
nals for that row are routed, and in each channel there exists a row gate
or switch which, responsive to an output from row detector 124, closes a
row gate, preventing votes from being passed for that row~ At this
point, buffer memory 128 will have been loaded with votes cast at par-
ticular memory locations corresponding to the designation of the vote
indicator on board 10,
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The problem with certain of the electronic systems thus far pro-
posed is that of assurance that election rules as to the number of votes
which may be cast in a given race are observed without the necessity of
throwing out a yoter's vote in a race where he makes a mistake. For
example, where baiiots are marked at one time and checked later, which
is tha case with certain types of electronic systems, if a ballot is im-
properly marked with respect to a race, a vote or votes in that race are
simply thrown out, With the present system, this is avoided as follows.
First, from the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that buf~
fer memory 128 has been'loaded with ~otes entered by a voter on board 10.
Thus, for example, for each memory location there will be stored a coded
designation of a vote indicator and a "~1" or a "0~'~ indicating a vote or
no-Vote by that indicator. As described above~ these indications would
be coded to represent indicators V27-V208. Prior to an election, a mem~
ory 140~ labelled Race Groups and Indicators Per Group Memory, would be
programmed to arrange in a scannable sequence groups of indicators. Each
group would correspond to a race for a given office, and the indicators
assignea to that group would be those beside the names of candidates
running in that race, Thus~ in a simple case, there might be 26 races,
which would call for 26 groups, Gl-G26, requiring 26 memory locations,
and at each location there would be a "permissible vote number" stored
~t a coded location representative of the group designation, Memory 140
may be a single memory unit handling a single ballot or board, or may
have two or more memory units adapted to take care of different ballots,
25' such as ballot A or ballot B, as will be further'discussed below. Mem-
ory 140 would also contain conventional locations scannable between
groups to provide any necessary operational instructions to the other
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units with which it is associated to effect delays between groups
scanned to effect or enable operations necessary to check the contents
of memory 128. Instruction counter 142, responsive to the order of
groups and indicators in groups also stored in memory 140, would thus
scan, for example, the indicators corresponding to group 1 in buffer
memory 128 (e.g., indicators 27, 53, 79, 105, 131, 157, and 187) to thus
provide an output to "One Race Memory" 144 of the "ones"~ or votes cast
in race 1, and memory 144 would include a register to provide a sum of
votes cast as an output to comparator-register 146. Thus, for example,
assuming that a voter properly casts only one vote in row 23 for the of-
fice indicated in column 14 of that row, there would be applied to com-
parator 146 a 1. At the same time, instruction counter 142 would inter-
rogate memory 148 a "permissible-votes-each-race" memory~ Where two
ballots, one in board A tFlg. 5) and one in board B (Fig. 5a) are used,
the discrete one of these used is detected by an appropriate one of
switch type detectors 5a or 5b (Fig. 10)~ Thus, if board A, switch
type detector A is operated, it provides an operating signal to gates
Gl and G2 interconnecting memory 140 and instruction counter 142 to in-
terconnect one of two appropriate units of memory 140. Similarly, sig~
nals from detector 5a are provided to gates G3 and G4 to interconnect
an appropriate memory unit of memory 148 to instruction counter 142 and
to comparator 146. If a board B were detected by the operation of switch
type detector 5b, the gates would be operated to interconnect instruction
counter 142 and comparator 146 to other, appropriate, memory units of
memories 140 and 148. Switches 5a and 5b are positioned within console
74 (Fig. 5) and adapted to be operated, for example, by knobs Kl or K2
~Figs. 5 and 5a).
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Memory 148, whethex it is a single memory or has two memory units
to take care of separate ballots, would be programmed in terms of groups
in the same arrangement as would be memory 140, and would contain in
memory 26 coded locations at which the group designation and number of
per~issible votes for that group would be stored, Thus, in the illus~
trated caSe~ assuming that in group Gl that one vote was permissible,
then memory 148 would provide to comparator 146 a "l" at a time when
memory 144 had provided its sum output for that race group to comparator
146~ Thus, there being a proper vote~ comparator 146 would subtract
like group designated outputs of memories 144 and 148, and thus where
identical, there would be provided a "0" output, indicating a correct
vote for a particular group. Instruction counter 142 would step through
the balance of the groups and, assuming that all instances of voting were
correct, and responsive to a pulse from instruction counter 142 corres-
ponding to the comparison of the last group, an output would be applied
from comparator 146 to gate 150, which would then gate through the con-
tents of buffer memory 128~ through switch 208, to accumulator 152 where
the votes would be stored in discrete registers, one for each voting posi-
tion V27-V208, Additionally, the vote output of buffer memory 128 would
also be supplied to permanent record recorder 154, such as a tape recorder,
enabling a per~anent record, particularly of value in the event of a power
failure or a recount. At the same time, comparator 146 would provide
pulse outputs to resettable counter 156 and non~resettable counter 159~
Such counters are typically required by statute, non-resettable counter
159 being set to 0 at the time the equipment is put in usage, and it
registers throughout the life of the equipment each time a vote is cast.
Resettable counter 156 is reset at the commencement of an election and
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sealed with a lead car seal. Counter 159 is permanently sealed at the
time the equipment is furnished to a purchaser.
In the event that ~One Race Memory" 144 receives more votes than per-
missible for any race group, as indicated by memories 144 and 148 to com-
S parator i46, comparator 146 provides an error output to AND gate 153,
"Board in" switch 86 provides a second input to AND gate 153,'and thus
there is provided an output to error indicator 158 which'indicates'a sig-
nal, e.g~, by an alarm or light (Fig. 5), the case of an error until
board 10 is removed~ which would be the case so that a voter could correct
his mist4ke and reinsert the board. The nature of the error may be
polnted out by a general instruction prominently displayed on console 74
In the event that it is desired to indicate the race or race group in
which a voter has erred, error indicator 158 would include a digital dis-
play responsive to the digital output of instruction counter 142 repre~
sentative of each race group as that group is checked for error, and upon
the occurrence of an error, a gating output from comparator 146 would
gate on the display to thus display the race designation wherein the er-
ror occurred In order to remove the board, the error signal from com-
parator 146 is provided as an unlocking signal input to board locking
solenoid 88~ enabling the board to be removed without being otherwise re~
set, Additionally, the voting error signal from comparator 146 is sup-
plied to reset generator 160, which then provides a reset output to in-
struction counter 142 to reset it, to enable the checking process to be
repeated when the voter reinserts the voting board or a new'voter votes.
When a correct vote is indicated by virtue of an output on compara-
tor line 147, this output is additionally provided to an input of AND
gate 162, enabling~ upon the operation of board reset switch 163,'pro~
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viding a second input to AND gate lG2, the reset of solenoids 164 (Flg.
6) and i66 ~Fig. 7) effecting indicator reset and the ejection of write-
in votes, respectively~ These solenoids include means of indicating
completion of their operation by an output, and these respective outputs
are provided to AND gate 168, which provides a "completion of vote" out-
put signal to "reset'complete" 170, which then provides a board unlocking
signal to board locking solenoid 88, unlocking it, and enabling a voting
board to be removed'for use by the next voter,
Figs, 6 and 7 illustrate the'mechanisms for resetting the boards
and ejection of the boards of write-in ballots. Thus, upon the opera-
tion of board reset switch 163, solenoid 164 is operated, moving arma-
ture 172 to the left ~Fig. 7) against spring 174, and thereby reset plate
176 positioned within board 10, Plate 176 has a slot 178 for each indi-
cator and is adapted to receive a reset arm 180 of an indicator which,
when moved to the dashed line position 182, resets indicator 22 to the
"no vote"'position shown for indicator 22a, as illustrated in Fig. 3.
At the same time, an output of switch 163 ls applied to write-in solenoid
166, whereupon armature 190 is caused to move to the right~ pressing
against tab 194 of any write-in ballot 110, causing the ballot to drop
down into one of write~in ballot bins 196, the one just lmder the write-'
in ballot. In this fashion~ the bins are encoded in terms of the office
being voted on and properly allocate a vote for the man named on the
write-in ballot to that office or race, Alternately~ a single bin would
be employed, and the voter would simply enter on his write-in ballot the
number appearing beside the office for which he casts a ~ote, A discrete
such number would appear in each row of colu~n 14.
The output of vote accumulator 152 would be made available to a con-
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ventional telephone interface device which would supply on demand of an
address counter the accumulated votes to a central vote tabulation cen~
ter for tabulation with votes recorded at other voting precincts or tabu-
lation centers. Display 204, in the form of a light type display or
printed display, is also connected to the output of vote accumulator 152,
and it may be employed to display the totals in vote accumulator 152 by
operation of address counter 203, causing vote totals to be fed to and
displayed by display 204~ Additionally, display 204 is also connected
to receive an output of optical reader 72 in order to enable a test of
the system~ which would be conducted as follows.
A test indicator board with ballots cast for each candidate or
proposition is placed in reader 72. Test switch 206, interconnecting
reader 72 and display 204, would be closed, and switch 127 between op~
tical reader 72 and buffer memory 128 would be opened, With the test
board applied to optical reader 72~ fast-slow scan switch 134 would be
operated to provide a slow scan rate (e.g,, one photodiode scanned per
five seconds), As will be noted, a scan signal input is also provided
to display 204 through test switch 206 and thereby display 204, typic-
ally a cathode array display. The latter would contain a writing cir-
cuit to display a number corresponding to the diode address in optical
reader 72 which would correspond to a numerical designation for a candi-
date on the voting board indicator, as explained above. Thus, a readout
could be effected which would indicate a candidate coded number (V27-
V208~ and opposite that a vote ~some form of mark) for each of the can-
didates or propositions on the ballot. This would thus verify that ifa vote is cast in any position on the ballot, it will be registered.
Additionally, straight ticket voting would be checked by such a test vote
9~
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by the operation of straight ticket indicators V209-V215, This test
would typicaliy be performed at the beginning of a balloting period
and at the end of a balloting period, ana in this way there would be a
clear indication that equipment commenced operating properly and con-
tinued operating properly
Alternately, or additionally, in order`to check that the electionrules as defined by memories 140 and 148 are proper~ switches 206 and
208 would be open, and switch 209 would be closed, and improper votes
entered on board 10 with display energized to confirm the casting of
the votes as improper, indicator 148 should operate to announce the
same, establishing its operability.
Fig, 9 illustrates a modification of the vote reading system illus~
trated by Fig, 8. Thus, instead of optically reading the position of
indicators 22, a position is registered by a matrix of switches or switch
indicators 220 mounted on plate 222 in console 74, shown in the operate
position in Fig. 9. Coupling tabs 224 would be positioned through open-
ings in plate 222 to switch 220 to provide coupling between indicator
knobs 62 ~he normal position of plate 222 would be below the position
shown, it being shown raised by vote read solenoid 226, plate 222 nor-
mally supported in a plurality of guide assemblies 228 with solenoid
226 or ~ plurality of such solenoids being coupled through an appro~
priate iinkage 229 to effect raising and lowering of plate 222 Sole-
noid 226 would typically be operated by an output from "board in"
switch 86 ~Figs 6 and 10~ through "engage switch" or relay 232 ~y
means of switch contacts 234, closable upon the operation of solenoid
226 to raise plate 222, a signal would be provided to read detector
236, which in turn would provide a signal to scanner 120 to, in this
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case, scan switches 220 to prRyide an output to buffer memory 128
Reset of the system reqyires additionally that comparator 146 sup~
ply an open or disengaged signal through line 147 to "engage switch"
232, ca~sing solenoid 226'to lower'plate 222. When this is accomplished,
relay contacts 234'~re opened, and the open'or "0"~ state of these contacts
is applied through inverter 240 to AND gate 242, to which is also applied
an output of board xeset switch 163 ànd an output from comparator 146~
The output of AND gate 242 is then applied as a reset input to gate 163
(Fig. 10), enabling solenoids 164 and 166.
Fig. 10 illustrates the employment of discrete electro~ic units
which may be employed to fabricate a voting system as contemplated by
this invention. Alternately, this figure, together with the description,
functionally describes information from which a programmer familiar with
a general purpose computer can program it to provide the decisions re-
lS quired for signal flow from board reader 72 through to vote accumulator
152 and the performance of the error detéction function as described.
Such would also be the case for the system illustrated in Fig. 12.
Figs. 11 and 12 lllustrate a modification of the invention wherein
the electrical system of the invention is split between being housed
within voting board 249 and in console 74. Thus, in this case, each of
indicators 250 would include a switch, for example~ a switch 252 (Fig~
11)~ having a toggle 254 extending into a slot 256 in slider 258, where-
by the switch is operated "on" when the slider is to the left, indicat~
ing a vote, and "off" when it is to the right, indicating a non-vote.
Thus, voting board matrix 260 (Fig. 12) would consist of a plurality of
switches 252 corresponding to the number of indicators, and in order to
register a write;in ballot, knob 251 would be positioned, when voting,
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at a position as shown for knob 251 in Fig. 11. Board 249 contains all
circuitry necessary to store in buffer memory 128 a correct vote or in-
dicate an error in voting in error indicator 158. Upon the entering of
votes on a board as previously described, the voter would operate vote
complete switch 262, whereupon the operation of the circuitry shown in
Fig. 12 of board 249 follows tha~ of the circuitry shown in Fig. 10 to
the extent indicated by like designated numbers.
"Board in" switch 86 signals that a board is placed in console 74
(Fig. 12) for reading, providing this signal to one input of AND gate
264 tFig. 12), A second and enabling input to this AND gate is provided
from b3ard 249 in the form of a "proper vote"~ output of comparator 146.
This enables the operation of gate 150 to effect loading of votes into
vote accumulator 152 and to record or selectively display them as dis-
cussed above. Similarly, counters 156 and 159 are operated from the
same output of AND gate 264~ Further, an output from AND gate 264 is
pxovided to resét 160, which effects a reset of instruction counter 142,
enabling it to be ready for the next reading of a voting board. ~oard
reset is accomplished in the s~me manner as the system illustrated in
Fig, 10! with the exception that OR gate 162 is omitted and no unlocking
signal is provided to board locking solenoid 88 from indicator 158 since
error indication occurs before the insertion of a board in console 74~
In the basic embodiment of this invention, all electronic circuitry
is eliminated in the voting board itself, and at the same time, vote in-
dications are entered in a foolproof and fraudproof manner. The vote in-
dicating board is relatively simple in construction and thus more economi-
cal to produce than complete discrete voting machines, whether they be
either electronic or mechanical. There are no punch cards which may be
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incorrectly punched or paper ballots other than a relatively small num-
ber of write-in ballots which must be handled by hand, and thus there
is in reality no real chance of ~raud or mistake in the counting process.
me voter is not committed to vote until he elects to be committed by en_
tering the voting board into the voting console. A second basic embodi~
ment of the invention incorporates a portion of the system into the vot~
ing board and offers, at some additional expense, the same basic safe~
guardS and conveniences as described as the other embodiment.
Figs. 13-15 illustrate an alternate form of vote board 300 wherein
a paper ballot 301 includes openings 302 opposite each candidate or prop~
osition, and the ballot is sandwiched between a bottom sheet 304 and top
sheet 306 of clear rigid material, such as Plexlglass (a registered
trademark for widely distributed clear plastic material). These elements
are held together by spacers 320 and 322 glued between sheets 304 and
306, and thus providing space for the insertion of ballot 301. Top plas-
tic sheet 306 has a plurality of slide buttons 308 positioned in slots
310 wherein, when in a right position (Fig~ 14~, the side button would
cover opening 302 ln ballot 301, this being indicative oE a "no vote"
position; and when shi~ted to a right position, openings in ballot 301
would be exposed, indicating a positive or "yes vote" position for a
candidate or proposition preceding that slider.
Additionally ~Fig. 13), there are sliders 308a-30Bf located in
positions corresponding to straight ticket voting positions of ballot
301~
As a means of facilitating the reading of boards as, for example,
by vote ~eader 311, shown in Fig. 16, there is included openings 312
extending vertically in column 314 (Fig 13) which indicate the posi-
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tion of each row on the b~llot to row light sensor 316a (Fig. 16) of
reader 311 ~dditionally~ an opening or openings, illustrated by open-
ing 318a, would be positioned at a discrete location or locations in a
column or columns of the ballot to identify a particular ballot~ In the
example to be described, the system is adapted to read, selectively,
ballot A or B, Thus, in the illustration (Fig. 13), an opening 318a
would indicate a ballot A and~ for example, an opening at point 318b
instead would indicate the presence of a ballot B.
Referring now to Fig. 16, there is shown a cut~away view of a bal-
lot reader 311, particularly adapted to accept and read voting board 300.
Reader 311, having the cover removed, includes slot 404 formed in
front panel 40, through which voting board 300 is inserted, and thus is
in place to be interpreted by optical scanner 410.
Board 300 is supported and guided within reader 311 by elongated
channel members 412 and 414, Channel 412, supporting left edge 416 of
board 300, has a flat connecting web 418, whereas channel 414 is con-
flgured to accept longitudinal V~shaped groove 420 formed in edge 422
of boæd 300, Since board 300 is thus polarized, it may only be ln-
serted with sliders 30~ faclng downward in reader 311, as shown~
When thus supported~ vote buttons or sliders 308 are engaged with
reset assembly 426~ Reset assembly 426 includes longitudinal bars 428
which extend the length of board 300, being positioned adjacent to each
column of vote select tabs 308, Bars 428 are in turn supported by lat-
eral members 432, 434, and 436, which are slidably supported below side
rails 412 and 414. Reset is accomplished by riser cam 438 supported
between rail 414 and pin 440 of lateral member 434~ being actuated by
solenoid 442 and spring 444.
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When board 300 is properly inserted, it operates 'Iboard in" switch
446, which activates solenoid 448, pulling lever 4S0 to the left and en-
gaging pin 452 with hole 454 in board 300, thus locking board 300 in
place.
"soard in" sw1tch 446 also initiates the electrical and electronic
portions sf the system, inciuding optical scanner 410~
Optical scanner 410 is in the form of a carriage which is supported
by spaced tubular bearings 454 and 456, which are slidably supported by
elqngated rods 458 and 460, respectively.
Bearings 454 and 456 are interconnected by rectangular bars 462 '
and 464 (Fig. 15) which are supported above and below vote board 30'0~
Upper bar 462 mounts seven light sources 465-471 spaced so as to
illuminate columns 472-478 of voting board 300. Lower bar 464 mounts
seven light sensors including row sensor 316a and vote sensors 316b-
316g, which are positioned'to receive light from an associated light
source of bar 462, Scanner 410 is driven by chain 482, which is at-
tached by clamp 484 to bearing 456 and is supported at one end by idler
sprocket 486 and at the opposite end by sprocket 488 of drive motor 490.
Limit switches 294 and 494 detect travel limits of scanner 410.
20 ' Openings 496 and 498 in top plastic sheet 306 and bottom sheet
3Q4, respectively (Fig. 13), enabie a lead seal to ~e placed through
these holes and a pierced hole in ballot 301, and thus assure that the
ballot ls n~t tampered'with.
Fig. 17 illustrates a modification of the electronic system`for
vote processing shown in Fig, 10, particularly adapted to read board
300, treating distinctively a ballot A or s Initially, control logic
500 has gate 502 off. Strobe (row) detector 504 (Flg 16) (left-hand
9~
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edge of ballot holder) provides the sync control pulse from board reader
311 required for gates 502 to accept the seven pulses to be fed to an
eight bit input/output (I/0~ port contained therein. "Board in" switch
506 switches on central control logic 500 when activated by inserting a
vote board and subsequently turning on board scanner drive 490 (Fig. 16)
to move scanner 410 across board 300~ Its election independent controls
are read from the program contained within permanent system memory 510.
Progra~ming module 512 containc the software instructions which varies
from election to election to operate the remainder of the system when
read by reader 311 and fed to central control logic 500,
Signals from the specific ballot, type switch 514, are fed to gate
516 which specifies the program for permissible ballot memories 518 or
51~ for ballot A or B, The system has now been readied to read the bal-
lot and compare it to the permissible vote contained in the specified
race memory ~checks for over votes). Voting board 300 is inserted into
the machine, activating locking solenoid 448, caused to be activated by
the board being sensed by "in" switch 446 when it is in position. A
signal is fed to switch 520, which positions locking solenoid 448. ~oard
reader 311 sends out "voted~ pulses as the board is moved across the
seven columnal optical readers. This time central control logic 500 has
been satisfied, and gate 502 has a control signal to pass the "voted"
pulse signals. The vote consists of seven or more possible signals, de-
pending on the number of columns used. They are received simultaneously
by an eight bit I/O port at the output of gates 502 if the strobe row
detector 504 signal and the control logic 500 signal are present to allow
gates 502 to pass the signal pulses~ Row detector 504 sends a row signal
to buffer memory 522 corresponding to the particular row signals received
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~1t~31;9~9
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from gates 502. The vote board row of pulses is then registered on buf-
fer memory 522~ and the eight bit I/O port is now ready to receive the
data from the next row on the vote board as it is moved across the op-
tical sources and sensors to generate the next set of signal pulses~
Buffer memory 522 contains the voted ballot when the last row is read
that was specified by central control logic 500 from a signal from com-
parator 524 based on named race memory 518. Votes in the buffer memory
are then com,pared to the legal or permissible vote in specified permis-
sible race memory 518, If an "over vote" or other error is detected,
error indicator light 530 flashes from the error signal produced by com~
parator 524 fed to override 526, A signal in parallel is fed to switch
520 through OR gate 528 which releases solenoid 448 to permit vote board
300 to be returned to the voter to have the errors corrected, ~f the
voter has indicated a "non-ballot" return error option, the race contain_
ing over votes has all its signals set to zero for a non-vote. This pre~
vents over voting and does not affect the other race results where this
condition was not detected. Comparator 524 error signals are translated
nto an errQr message, which is printed by printer 532 through control
switch 534 and supplie~ to the voter in terms of the type of error and
its location on the vote board if the "ballot return" error option is in~
dicated. Comparator 524 indicates the error to centrai control 500,
which requires a signal from "ballot return" 535, an error option se-
lected by the voter~ to return the vote board for corrections or count
all legal voted races and ignore over voted races. The ballot return
option in the return position would have central control logic 500 zero
buffer memory 522, It then sends a signal to vote board drive 490 to
return vote board 300, A signal is then sent to comparator 52~ to re-
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lease the error signal to override 526 and error indicator light 530.
The specific error or error signals, by position, are fed to printer
532 to provide the voter information about the row and column (race)
position of the error. If ballot return 535 is in non-return position,
control 500 sends a logic signal to comparator 524, which activates
biocking of all over vote signals previously indicatea by the action of
memory 518 and gate 516 Board 300, when removed from the machine,
either "b~ard in" switch 506 of "board out" switch 536, will be activated
and sends a signal to vote board drive 490 to turn off the drive. A re-
set logic signal is produced from "board out" switch 536, which is then
fed to buffer memory 522 to cause it to be reset.
An override 526 on the control of the ballot counter, if activated,
will require the races containing over votes to "no vote" and tbe votes
to feed vote accumulator 538. When the votes are fed to vote accumula-
tor 538, comparator 524 sends a signal to turn on board reset solenoid
442 to return all sliders 308 to the "no vote" position. A time delayed
signal is fed to switch 520 through O~ gate 528, which releases locking
solenoid 448 to permit reset board 300 to be moved. An alternative ap-
proach would have a fixed mechanical means positioned to return the
sliders by the movement of the board, If a power failure occurs, the
results on vote accumulator 538 is loaded on tape recorder 540 before
the Qmall battery pack contained as an auxiliary power supply runs down
Switch 542 on the vote counter (talley) box can cause all votes to be
recorded on tape on command by the polling officials,
After the polls close, switch 534 is activated to release the tal-
ley frcm vote accumulator 538 and cause it to be listed on printer 532.
The program logic contained within the printer covers the candidates'
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names and is identified to the particular board by the signal feed from
central control logic 500, which is shared by vote accumulator 524. A
synchronous telephone interface 540:, when queried by a coded telephone
live signal, sends a command signal to vote accumulator 538 to transmit
the vote talley back over the telephone line, Column vote detectors 542
could be phototransistors in a Darlington circuit, if necessary, to pro-
yide a 5-volt signal pulse. ~echanical non-resettable and resettable
counters 544 and 546, respectively, are the same as before.
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