Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
WO 2021/183677
PCT/US2021/021761
METHOD OF SECURING A VOTING TRANSACTION
Dartanyon A. Williams
I. CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.
62/987,396, filed March 10, 2020, which is hereby incorporated by reference in
its
entirety.
H. TECHNICAL FIELD
An embodiment of the invention is in the field of election and voting systems,
and
can include features to protect the integrity and security of elections.
III. BACKGROUND
1.0 Election security and integrity has been and continues to be an
important aspect of
elections of all types. Efforts have been made to increase the security and
integrity of
elections.
IV. BRIEF DISCLOSURE OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the invention can include initiating a voting transaction;
1.5 verifying the identity of a voter; generating a passcode by the voting
system; transmitting
the passcode from the voting system to the voter over the telecommunication
network;
entering the passcode into a voting station; making one or more voting
selections by the
voter; transmitting the one or more voting selections from. the voting station
to the voting
system over the telecommunication network; transmitting the passcode from the
voting
20 station to the voting system over the telecommunication network; verifying
the
authenticity of the passcode by the voting system; and declining to include
the one or
CA 03170878 2022- 9- 7
WO 2021/183677
PCT/US2021/021761
more voting selections in a vote count unless the passcode transmitted to the
voting
system by the voting station is verified authentic.
V. BRIEF DESCRIPTK)N OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a schematic showing the direction of the transfer of information
in an
embodiment described herein.
Figure 2 is a flow chart showing the steps of an embodiment described herein.
VI. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE BEST MODE
As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed
herein.
However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely
exemplary of
the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. As such, any feature(s)
used in
one embodiment can be used in another embodiment. Therefore, specific
structural and
functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but
merely as a
basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in
the art to
variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed
structure.
1.5 Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be
limiting, but rather, to
provide an understandable description of the invention. While the
specification
concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded
as novel, it
is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration
of the
following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like
reference
numerals are carried forward.
Alternate embodiments may be devised without departing from the spirit or the
scope of the invention. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary
embodiments
of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not
to obscure the
relevant details of the invention.
- 2 -
CA 03170878 2022- 9- 7
WO 2021/183677
PCT/US2021/021761
Before the present invention is disclosed and described, it is to be
understood that
the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular
embodiments only
and is not intended to be limiting. The terms "a" or "an," as used herein, are
defined as
one or more than one. The term "plurality," as used herein, is defined as two
or more
than two. The term "another," as used herein, is defined as at least a second
or more.
The terms "including" and/or "having," as used herein, are defined as
comprising (i.e.,
open language). The terms "connected" and/or "coupled," as used herein, are
defined as
connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily
mechanically.
Relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like may be
1.0 used solely to distinguish one entity or action from. another entity or
action without
necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order
between such
entities or actions. The terms "comprises," "comprising," or any other
variation thereof
are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method,
article, or
apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those
elements but may
1.5 include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such
process, method, article, or
apparatus. An element proceeded by "comprises . . . a" does not, without more
constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the
process,
method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.
As used herein, the term "about" or "approximately" applies to all numeric
20 values, whether or not explicitly indicated. These terms generally refer
to a range of
numbers that one of skill in the art would consider equivalent to the recited
values (i.e.,
having the same function or result). In many instances these terms may include
numbers
that are rounded to the nearest significant figure.
- 3 -
CA 03170878 2022- 9- 7
WO 2021/183677
PCT/US2021/021761
The terms "prop-am," "soft-ware application," and the like as used herein, are
defined as a sequence of instructions designed for execution on a computer
system. A
"program," "computer program," or "software application" may include a
subroutine, a
function, a procedure, an object method, an object implementation, an
executable
application, an applet, a servlet, a source code, an object code, a shared
library/dynamic
load library and/or other sequence of instructions designed for execution on a
computer
system.
Herein various embodiments of the present invention are described. in many of
the different embodiments, features are similar. Therefore, to avoid
redundancy,
1.0
repetitive description of these similar features may not, be made in some
circumstances.
It shall be understood, however, that description of a first-appearing feature
applies to the
later described similar feature and each respective description, therefore, is
to be
incorporated therein without such repetition.
Described now are exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Referring
1.5 now
to the drawings, in Figs. 1. and 2 an exemplary embodiment of a method of
securing
a voting transaction is shown and described.
In one embodiment, the disclosed system may be used to protect elections by
securing voting transactions. In some embodiments, securing voting
transactions can
include features including, but not limited to verifying the identify of
voters 50, verifying
20 the
authenticity of votes cast, encrypting voter information, voting selections,
and other
information, and minimizing or eliminating fraud. For example, in some
embodiments
the system may be used to secure a voter's 50 voting selections by encrypting
a voter's
50 voting selections prior to transmitting the voting selections from a voting
station 40 to
- 4 -
CA 03170878 2022- 9- 7
WO 2021/183677
PCT/US2021/021761
the voting system 30. In an embodiment, the voting station can include
computers,
voting booths, mobile devices, apps, web pages, voting ballots, or other
devices or
platforms on which the voter 50 is capable of making a voting selection.
In various embodiments, the disclosed system may consist of or include a
telecommunications network enabled to communicate with a voter's 50 mobile
devices
(e.g. cell phones, smart watches, tablets, computers, etc.), a database of
voter information
(e.g. name, address, voting precinct, etc.), and individual voting stat.ions.
In some
embodiments, the database of voter information can include biometric data that
can be
used to verify the voter's identity by biometric identifiers such as iris
recognition, facial
1.0 recognition, voice recognition and fingerprint recognition..
In some embodiments, the system can require three out of four biometric
identifiers to authenticate and verify the identity of the voter 50. In other
embodiments,
the system can require more or less than three out of four biometric
identifiers to
authenticate and verify the identity of the voter 50. In some embodiments, a
pictorial
1.5
identification (e.g. driver's license, passport, state ID, etc.) can be used
as an additional
method to authenticate and verify the identity of the voter 50. For example, a
bat-code on
the back of a voter's 50 pictorial identification can be scanned by the voting
station 40
(e.g. a voter's 50 mobile device) and transmitted over a telecommunications
network to
the voting system 30.
20 In
the case of either biometric identifiers or pictorial identification, the
voter's
personal identifiable information (e.g. iris pattern, facial pattern, voice
pattern,
fingerprint, or pictorial identification information) can he maintained in a
database, and
can be compared to corresponding personal identifiable information provided by
the
- 5 -
CA 03170878 2022- 9- 7
WO 2021/183677
PCT/US2021/021761
voter 50 during or after the initiating of the voting transaction. In an
embodiment, the
database that maintains the voter's 50 personal identifiable information can
be encrypted.
In some embodiments, the disclosed system may protect an election system by
encrypting registered voter information. In various embodiments, the disclosed
system
may use blockchain technology to store encrypted information, where the system
updates
the blockchain, for example, every millisecond. In at least one embodiment,
the
disclosed system may send a passcode to a registered voter upon the registered
voter's
arrival and checking in at a voting site. In one embodiment, the disclosed
system sends
the passcode via text message, email, phone call, or other like communication
methods,
1.0 to the registered voter's mobile device.
In an embodiment, the passcode is a randomly generated number that is
generated
by the voting system 30, and is a unique passcode that is assigned only to a
single voter
50. The passcode can be encrypted at various stages of the system, and the
passcode can
be unencrypted (e.g. prior to encryption or as a result of being decrypted) at
various
1.5 stages of the system. For example, the passcode can be encrypted (i.e.
in an encrypted
state) during the transmission of the passcode from the voting system 30 to
the voter 50
over a telecommunication network. When the passcode reaches the voter, the
passcode
can be unencrypted, and the voter 50 can enter the passcodc into the voting
station 40.
The voter 50 can then make one or more voting selections. The passcode can
then be re-
20 encrypted prior to transmitting the passcode back to the voting system
30 along with the
voter's 50 voting selections, such that the passcode (and in some embodiments,
the
voting selections) is encrypted during the transmission of the passcode from
the voting
station 40 to the voting system 30.
- 6 -
CA 03170878 2022- 9- 7
WO 2021/183677
PCT/US2021/021761
In some embodiments, such as in some embodiments used in governmental
elections, the voting system 30 does not store or otherwise retain any
information that can
be used to associate the voter 50 with any voting selections made by the voter
50. In
other embodiments, such as in some embodiments where elections are held by
businesses
or other non-governmental entities, the voting system 30 may store and/or
retain
information that can be used to associate the voter 50 with the voting
selections made by
the voter 50.
In some embodiments, the voter's 50 mobile device receives the passcode and
the
voter enters the passcode into a voting station 40 before the voting station
40 authorizes
1.0 the
voter to make a voting selection (e.g. a selection in. an election). In
various
embodiments, once the registered voter makes a selection in the election, the
disclosed
system may enter the voting selection onto one or more election blockchains,
where a
first blockchain may store only the voting selection, to be used for counting
votes, and a
second blockchain may store the registered voter's information and election
selection.
1.5 In
at least one embodiment, the disclosed system may authenticate the registered
voter's voting selection by reading the information from the second
blockchain,
generating a communication that shows the voter's 50 voting selection, and
sending the
communication to the voter's 50 mobile device via text message, email, phone
call, or
other communication methods. In one embodiment, once the disclosed system
receives
20 the voting selection from the voter 50, the disclosed system may store
information
locally, wait for a specified period of time, then generate and send a
communication to
the voter's 50 mobile device, where the registered voter 50 can then confirm
with the
system that the voting selection is correct by sending a communication back to
the voting
- 7 -
CA 03170878 2022- 9- 7
WO 2021/183677
PCT/US2021/021761
system 30, where the system then enters the voter's 50 voting selection into
the one or
more blockchains.
In some embodiments, the voter 50 is able to capture and maintain a record of
the
voter's voting selection after the voter 50 has cast their vote(s). For
example, in an
embodiment, after the voter 50 has submitted their voting selections, an
email, text
message, or other communication can be generated by the voting system. 30 and
transmitted to the voter 50 that shows the voting selections that the voter 50
made, which
can allow the voter 50 to verify the accuracy of the voter's 50 voting
selections as
recorded by the voting system 30. In an embodiment, the voter 50 can have the
option of
1.0 receive an encrypted copy of their marked ballot showing the voter's 50
voting
selections. In some embodiments, the record of the voter's voting selections
can be
generated locally, such as at or by the voting station 40. In an embodiment,
the voter 50
is able to print and keep a copy of their marked ballot showing the voter's 50
voting
selections. In some embodiments, end-to-end voter verification can be
accomplished,
1.5 such
that the voter 50 can check and verify that their voting selections are
correct, and
others are able to confirm that all ballots from all voters have been
correctly recorded and
counted.
In an embodiment, the system can be used to reduce or eliminate the potential.
for
voter fraud. For example, in some embodiments, such as the embodiment
discussed
20
above where the registered voter confirms with the system that the election
selection is
correct by sending a communication back to the system, if the election
selection is
incorrect, the registered voter can send a communication back to the system
that notifies
the system that the election selection is incorrect. In such an event, the
matter can be
- 8 -
CA 03170878 2022- 9- 7
WO 2021/183677
PCT/US2021/021761
investigated to determine if voter fraud has occurred, or if instead it is a
result of voter
error or other issues. In som.e embodiments, an investigation is triggered
even if only one
voter reports that their election selection is incorrect. In other
embodiments, an
investigation is only triggered once a threshold number of voters have
reported that their
election selection is incorrect.
In other embodiments, there is no communication that is generated and sent to
the
voter 50 that shows the voter's 50 voting selection. Also, in some
embodiments, the
voter 50 is not provided with an opportunity to confirm with the system that
the voting
selection is correct by sending a communication back to the voting system 30.
1.0 In
some embodiments, in addition to the voter 50 having the ability to print a
copy
of the voter's 50 marked ballot showing the voter's voting selections. the
voting system
30 is also capable of printing a copy of some or all of the marked ballots in
an election.
By printing a copy of all marked ballots in an election, the voting system 30
is able to
provide a printable audit trail of all voting selections made i.n an election,
which can be
1.5 used to verify the accuracy of vote counts, to allow for recounts, or
for other purposes.
In an embodiment, the system can satisfy and accommodate any jurisdictional
requirements, laws, or regulations as to ballot design, language, or election
programming.
For example, in some embodiments, the system can allow for multi-language
support as
may be required by applicable law. As another example, in some embodiments,
the
20 system can comply with the Americans with Disabilities act. The system
can also allow
for data import and export in a variety of formats (e.g. PDF, Excel, Text,
etc.) in order to
accommodate the varying formats that may he used across different
jurisdictions and
elections.
- 9 -
CA 03170878 2022- 9- 7
WO 2021/183677
PCT/US2021/021761
In operation of an embodiment, a method of securing a voting transaction can
begin with the initiation of a voting transaction 1. For example, a voting
transaction can
be initiated 1 by detecting the arrival of a voter 50 at a voting station 40.
Detecting the
arrival of a voter 50 at a voting station 40 can be accomplished, for example,
via onc or
more sensors scanning and recognizing biometric data of the voter 50, by using
device-
based location identification technology (e.g. the voter 50 carries devices
such as RFID
tags, mobile devices, etc. that is located by other devices), or by other
means. In an
embodiment, the voter can initiate the voting transaction 1 by checking in at
the voting
station 40, or by otherwise activating the voting station 40.
1.0
Next, the system attempts to verify the identity 2a of the voter 40. For
example,
the voting system 30 can maintain a database of voter information, which can
include
personally identifiable biometric information of the voter 50. The system can
attempt to
verify the identity 2a of the voter 50 by using the biometric data of the
voter 50, such as
by comparing voter biometric data provided by the voter 50 (e.g. biometric
data provided
1.5 by
the voter during the initiation of the voting transaction 1) to the voter's 50
corresponding biometric data contained in the database of the voting system
30.
If the system is not able to verify the identity of the voter 50 (e.g. if the
biometric
data provided by the voter does not match the corresponding biometric data
contained in
the database of the voting system 30), the voting transaction ends without any
of the
20
voter's voting selections being included in the vote count of the election. If
however the
system is able to verify the identify of the voter 50, the voting transaction
proceeds to the
next step, in which the voting system 30 generates a random and unique
passcode, which
the voting system 30 then transmits 4 to the voter 50 over a
telecommunications network
- 10 -
CA 03170878 2022- 9- 7
WO 2021/183677
PCT/US2021/021761
(such as by sending the passcode over a telecommunications network to the
voter's 50
mobile device).
Next, the voter 50 enters the passcode into the voting station 5. hi some
embodiments, this can result in the voting station 40 issuing (e.g.
displaying) a ballot on
which the voter 50 can make voting selections. The voter 50 can then proceed
to make
one or more voting selections 6. The voter 50 can then submit the ballot,
which results in
the transmission of the one or more voting selections from the voting station
to the voting
system 7 over a telecommunications network. Either separately or
contemporaneously
with the transmission of the one or more voting selections, the passcode can
be
1.0 transmitted from. the voting station to the voting system over the
telecommunications
network 8. The authenticity of the passcode is then verified by the voting
system 9, such
as by the voting system 30 checking if the passcode transmitted to the voting
system by
the voting station 8 matches the passcode generated by the voting system.
If the voting system 30 fails to verify the authenticity of the passcode (e.g.
if the
1.5
passcode transmitted to the voting system 30 by the voting station 8 does not
match the
passcode generated by the voting system 30), the voting transaction ends
without any
voting selections being included in the vote count 10b. If however the
passcode
transmitted to the voting system. 30 is verified by the voting system to be
authentic 9, the
one or more voting sections of the voter 40 are included in the vote count
10a.
20 The
foregoing description and accompanying drawings illustrate the principles,
exemplary embodiments, and modes of operation of the invention. However, the
invention should not. be construed as being limited to the particular
embodiments
discussed above. Additional variations of the embodiments discussed above will
be
- 11 -
CA 03170878 2022- 9- 7
WO 2021/183677
PCT/US2021/021761
appreciated by those skilled in the art and the above-described embodiments
should be
regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Accordingly, i.t should be
appreciated that
variations to those embodiments can be made by those skilled i.n the art
without departing
from the scope of the invention.
- 12 -
CA 03170978 2022- 9- 7
