GB2056146A - Voting machines - Google Patents

Abstract

A counting apparatus especially for use in factory gate ballots comprises an input arranged to verify a token such as a card by checking an that an identification on the token is valid and has not been used before in the count, a second input enabled by the first input to identify a plurality of options (the voter selecting between the options) and a plurality of output counters to count the votes cast for each option. The apparatus includes a monitoring arrangement for checking the option selected is a valid selection (i.e. that the voter has not tried to cast an excessive number of votes) and may have a delay associated with the second input and the output counters so that a vote can be cancelled and altered at any time until the voter signs off by, for example, removing the token.

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to counting apparatus The present invention concerns counting apparatus especially for use in secret ballots to count votes.

The present system of ballots demands that each voter has either to identify himself to a polling officer before being given a polling paper and allowed into a polling booth or has to receive and return ballot papers by post at great expense.

The present invention aims at providing an electronic voting machine capable for local council elections and the like but at the same time inexpensive enough to be used at factory gates and pitheads.

According to the present invention, a counting apparatus for counting votes comprises an input device for receiving a token identifying an operator and verifying the operator has authority to use the apparatus and that he has not previously operated the apparatus, a second input arrangement identifying a plurality of options and on operation generating a unit output, and a plurality of output counters representing the votes cast for each option and receiving the respective unit outputs under the control of the second input arrangement.

Preferably the apparatus includes anti-cheat provisions which in the simplest form would invoive a jump back to to the first input device once a single option had been selected so that the token is no longer valid for a second selection; this is preferably modified so that the unit outputs can be temporarily stored and if need be cancelled if the voter changes his mind until he 'signs off' by, for example, removing his token. It is possible to ailow for multiple options, e.g. for selecting a plurality of elected persons from a larger list, by having a monitor arrangement to vet the options selected and if the selection is not valid either refusing the vote or advising the voter that his selection is not valid and asking for re-entry of a valid selection.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a logic chart of a simple programme, and Figure 2 is a block diagram of one form of suitable apparatus.

Referring first to Figure 2, a voter has a token such as a union card suitable for electronic recognition as by perforations or magnetic characters or a token especially issued, for example, in a pay packet for the election. This token is inserted into a first input device 11 of the apparatus which device is held in readiness by a feedback loop 12 in the absence of a token and holds a later stage 14 of the apparatus inoperative. The means for sensing the token in this device calls for a reader 1 5 to sense the perforations or characters which are then compared in a comparator 1 6 with the contents of an electoral roll memory 1 7 with which are associated the usual counter 1 8 and stepping device 1 9 to ensure that each item in the memory is compared once at most.With the counter, there is an alarm 20 to warn that unauthorised use of the apparatus is being attempted. The electoral roll memory can contain a list of those entitled to vote or a list of ineligible voters with a further record of those who have voted in the same memory or in a second memory with a second comparator. If the electoral roll register contains those entitled to vote, when the comparator identifies an eligible voter, the respective entry in the memory can be flagged by means of, say, a complementing unit 21 in such a way as to make the entry ineligible for that election but as to enable the electoral roll to be cleaned electronically for further elections. The flagging should however be delayed until the token is removed or until the reader is inhibited.The comparator 1 6 can be used to check that the token is valid for the particular election by having to recognise an election code.

When the token has been verified, the comparator enables the later stage 14 of the apparatus which otherwise would inhibit a second input devices in the form of say an array of push buttons 22. There are many forms of election some requiring a selection of a minimum number of options. Therefore a discriminator 23 senses whether a minimum number of options have been made and if not holds the apparatus in readiness by means of a feedback loop 24 indicating that the vote is incomplete. A further discriminator 25 checks that the vote is valid (for example in a single option election, that no two votes are being cast) possibly with the aid of a selection memory 26. If an invalid selection is made, the discriminator 25 cancels the previous entries.

Normally however it will allow the inputs from the push buttons to be be added into respective "votes cast" counters 27, displayed by displays 28 and to be temporarily stored in single bit memories 29 from the respective counters, a reset cancels previous entries and this is done by a subtractor 30 which subtracts the contents of the memories 9 from the respective counters, a reset unit 31 for those memories, and one 32 for the displays 28. Other ways of doing this can be devised such as a vote not being counted until a specific command is made, when it would only be necessary to reset the memories 29 and the displays 28. Actually such a specific demand does arrive when the device 11 senses the token has been removed and this is used in any event to reset the memories 29 and the displays 28 before a voter leaves the apparatus.This specific command can be used to delay the complementing unit 21.

The apparatus can function by means of hardwired logic or by soft-ware type logic. Figure 1 gives a flow diagram for.programmed logic. It is very similar to the structure described in relation to Figure 2 but is simplified to cope with single option voting. Apart from the initial stages of reading in the programme, its logic is very similar except the discriminator steps 23 and 25 merely check whether a single entry has been made and that a button has not been previously operated.

In both forms of the invention it is necessary to ensure that the memories and counters are nonvolatile either by using a secure supply such as batteries or by using a non-volatile form of memory such as a suitable magnetic bubble memory or to arrange that the stores and memories are Read Only memories.

To ensure privacy when voting is taking place, the apparatus can be installed in a voting area designed to shield the apparatus from view which area can be controlled by electro-magnetically operated turnstiles, or the apparatus can be designed on a glove-box principle so the voter inserts his hands into a recess of a casing of the apparatus with a window permitting him to see the displays.

Claims (5)

1. A counting apparatus for counting votes comprising an input device for receiving a token identifying an operator and verifying that the operator has authority to use the apparatus and that he has not previously used the apparatus, a second input arrangement identifying a plurality of options and on operation generating a unit output, and a plurality of output counters representing the votes cast for each option and receiving the respective unit outputs under the control of the second input arrangement.

2. A counting apparatus according to claim 1 incorporating a delay between the second input arrangement and the counters so that a vote can be altered and a senser for detecting that the voting has been completed and entering the last cast vote into the counters.

3. A counting apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the delay comprises a temporary store and a discriminator for detecting when a second vote renders a first vote invalid and cancelling the contents of the temporary store corresponding to the first vote.

4. A counting apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the votes are directly transmitted to the output counters and the discriminator subtracts the contents of the temporary store corresponding .to the invalid first vote from the respective counter and wherein the senser comprises a means for detecting removal of the token and cancelling the contents of the temporary store.

5. A counting apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 1 or Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.