ES2230994B1 - ELECTRONIC VOTING SYSTEM. - Google Patents

Abstract

Electronic voting system. Preferably applicable in those voting systems of the so-called "open lists", in which the ballots (1) have several areas where options (2) are indicated and associated with them there are other areas (3) where the option marks or options chosen by the voter. The novelty is that the ballots (1) are made of natural OCR offset security paper, while the means for marking the option or options chosen is constituted by a marker element (4) of ink invisible to ordinary light but visible under the ultraviolet light, allowing to preserve the secret of the vote; and that the ballot (1) so marked can be read by the electronic ballot box (9) both on the front and the back. The system is complemented with the electronic ballot box (9) for electronic recognition of the marks on the corresponding zones (3) of the ballot (1), and automatic realization of the scrutiny.

Description

Electronic voting system.

Object of the invention

The present invention relates to a system of electronic voting that allows to obtain the count or scrutiny of votes in a minimum time using a system automated, preferably applicable in those processes elections called "open lists" where the voter select and mark the option (s) preferred, using printed or ballots of special type, being carried out the marking / s by inks invisible to ordinary light but visible under ultraviolet lighting.

The use of ink only visible under ultraviolet lighting to mark the option or options that the voter select, allows to preserve the secret of the vote without need to fold the ballot or put it in an envelope, it is say, no need to hide the ballot.

Background of the invention

Current voting systems vary by countries, but basically two fundamentals are distinguished and generalized

One of them is called "lists closed and locked ", with separate ballots for each electoral option and where the voter chooses an option determined, entering the corresponding ballot box vote that corresponds only to that option. This option includes, for example, a certain political party and the people who represent that party. In other cases the voting ballot includes the name of a person to be choose and the people of the management team of the person to choose, or corresponds to one of the options YES or NO or WHITE, in cases of popular consultations or referendums.

In other cases, the ballot represents an option or specific application, with the corresponding list of people who represent this option in hierarchical order not blocked, the voter may modify if said order of election by another preferred order.

Other systems are called "lists open ", which by extension also includes those of "closed lists" provided that the same ballot includes all the different options available so that among them the voter select and check one or more options, as appropriate, the ballot being subsequently introduced into the ballot box correspondent.

This voting system called "lists open, "raises time problems in knowing the results of the scrutiny or complexity of the brand count and signs of each ballot, and also for problems of errors by the great existing possibility of making mistakes and consequently a new count or check does not match the previous one, with The consequent electoral conflict.

In addition, it is necessary many times to conserve suffrage privacy the use of an envelope or the folded of ballots or the design of special ballots, with designs of concealment

Description of the invention

The invention relates to a voting system electronics, preferably for application in processes elections called "open lists", in which the Voting is done by using forms or ballots in special plastic paper support or similar.

One of the characteristics of the invention It consists of the fact that the printed or ballot paper is offset OCR special, in combination with the use of only visible inks by ultraviolet light, to carry out the marking of the option or options chosen by the voter, which results in a ballot with marks on the front of security, preserving the secret of the vote, it is not necessary to use envelopes or fold the ballots as conventionally.

The special OCR offset paper is natural and without optical bleaching, free of wastewater resulting from manufacturing process, whose nature is virgin pasta and Normally white color with an approximate weight of 90 g / m2.

As for the means of marking, the same they will consist of an element as a pen or marker that includes ink visible only to light ultraviolet, ink that is contained in a reservoir that forms part of the element in question, endowed with the end or tip for make the corresponding dialing.

The system also includes an electronic urn which incorporates artificial vision means to recognize the brand or brands corresponding to the option or options chosen and marked by the voter on the ballot, complementing said artificial vision means with a lighting device ultraviolet that makes the marks made with the ink visible invisible to ordinary light to artificial vision media referred, being planned to recognize, by location of the brand, the sense of vote, executing algorithms that implement the criteria for awarding the vote that the electoral procedure defines.

The recognition of the vote cast in the ballot, by those means of artificial vision, allows the automated counting of the votes of each option, as well as the presentation and submission of results, through a system of communication, to a vote counting processing center.

Through the system being described, the voter selects the preferred option or options from among all those included in the form or ballot, indicating the same by means of marking that include the ink invisible to the ambient light but visible and readable in ultraviolet light.

On the other hand, some are also planned means of checking the marks indicated and inserted in the ballot, allowing the voter to check the marks made for him. This check can be done before the vote by the voter and also can also be used to perform a manual count after the vote for polling station authorities. These means of checking and verification include an emission spot of ultraviolet rays that make the marks inserted by the voter visible and legible.

Going back to the electronic ballot box that is part of the system, it can incorporate a scanner system of optical recognition of marks and characters to read under light ultraviolet the required information.

Another feature of the invention is that the electronic ballot box has an automatic shutter or manually and an automatic shutter output or manually, so that exit is planned to be faced with a deposit or conventional urn for receiving the ballots In an intermediate zone between entry and exit referred to the electronic urn, aside are provided checking means referred to above, that is the means of artificial visualization, and on the other hand a sensor to detect the presence of the ballot, the type of ballot and if they are introduced simultaneously two or more ballots, so if it is detected that the ballot is not authentic or that more than one is being introduced ballot, the sensor gives the appropriate order for the exit of the electronic ballot box is closed and does not allow the passage to the ballot box Receiver of the ballot.

It is also expected that once connected the electronic urn to the corresponding electrical network, the opening for the beginning of the vote, as well as the closing to know the final results, be done with the help of physical means through of the introduction and reading by the ballot box of some ballots or control cards that give way to opening operations or closure of said urn.

The advantages of the described system can be summarized in the following:

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Be Transforms a manual brand counting process into ballots of voting, slow, easy error, complex and problematic, in a automated, simple, mathematical and instant counting, allowing to automatically transmit the information from the own urn through a built-in modem / s of mobile telephony and / or fixed.

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Use a paper ballot paper, plastic or similar, preferably OCR offset paper, in which They include the corresponding options to choose from.

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Remove the envelope or any other means masking that makes the voting system more expensive.

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Allows adaptation to voting called "closed lists" with a single ballot.

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Allows the verification of the count electronic; by a manual system.

Brief description of the drawings

To complement the description below is going to be done and in order to help a better understanding of The characteristics of the invention are attached herein descriptive a set of drawings based on which more easily understand the innovations and advantages of the system Voting object of the invention.

Figure 1.- Schematically shows a diagram of blocks corresponding to the phases and elements involved in the voting system object of the invention.

Figure 2.- Schematically shows one of the multiple embodiments in which the marking element used in the voting system.

Figure 3.- Schematically shows a view in elevation sectioned by a vertical plane of the electronic urn used in the voting system, with the means it incorporates the same. In this figure it can be seen as said electronic urn it is located on a conventional urn for receiving the ballots

Description of the preferred embodiment

In the referred figures, and alluding specifically to figure 1, it can be seen how the system of Voting of the invention is based on the use of printed matter or 1 ballots on natural offset paper, applicable specifically a voting system called "lists open ", so that in the form or ballot 1 they are represented the different options, for example, options 2, and next to each option the corresponding marking zones 3.

Ballot 1 can carry, for example, Authentication codes of the ballot itself, which may be printed by an ink that is invisible with ordinary light and which can be made visible with ultraviolet light, being able to say authentication means be incorporated in any zone of she, not having represented in the drawings.

The system provides, according to the invention, marking means defined by an element that adopts the shape of a pen, marker pen or similar 4, with a reservoir 5 for an ink invisible to ordinary light but visible with light ultraviolet, whose marking element 4 has an end in tip 6 through which marking is made in the area or Marking zones 3 provided on ballot 1.

Likewise, a means 7 of checking of marks, based on a light emitter ultraviolet, so that the voter can check, before the Voting, marks made in marking zones 3 of the ballot, passing ballot 1 through a slot 8 of said means of check 7.

Once the markings have been made by the voter and, where appropriate, checked by item 7 above referred, the ballot is introduced into an electronic ballot box 9 with an entry 10 for ballots 1 and an exit 11 that can be facing a conventional urn or warehouse 12 receiving the ballots 1 that are introduced, posing as of the electronic ballot box 9.

Both entry 10 and exit 11 of the ballot box electronics 9, include hatches or shutter means 13 for allow or prevent the entry and / or passage of ballots 1, or to close the ballot box once the voting period is over.

Inside the electronic box 9 have provided with ultraviolet lighting means 14 that make visible, according to the arrows indicated by 16, the marks made on zones 3 of the ballot 1 to an electronic device of vision 15, which recognizes the sense of the brand's location of the vote, executing algorithms that implement the criteria of adjudication of the vote that the electoral procedure defines.

That is, a recognition of the vote cast on ballots 1 in an automated manner, allowing the automated counting of the votes of each option, as well as the presentation and submission of the results by the corresponding electronic devices or media, according to procedures established.

It is also expected that the electronic ballot box 9 have sensors 17 that detect the presence of ballot paper 1, the type of this and if more is being introduced simultaneously of a ballot, so that in case the ballot 1 is enter is not correct and that is detected by those sensors 17, these send the appropriate signals for trapdoor action or shutter means 13 of exit 11 or, where appropriate, of the entrance 10 to prevent this ballot from reaching the conventional ballot box or 12 deposit to receive the ballots.

Finally say that once the urn is connected electronic 9 to the power supply network, its opening for the beginning of the voting and its closing to know the results end, runs with the help of physical means through the introduction and reading by the ballot box itself of some ballots or control cards that give way to opening operations or closure of said electronic urn.

It should also be said that the results of the scrutiny, through a communications network 18, can be sent to a processing center 19, being able to arrange the urn electronics 9 of a modem for a switched telephone network and the corresponding modem for a GSM mobile phone communication, for example.

Claims (6)

1. Electronic voting system, where voting is carried out through ballots in each of which the different options are collected, introducing the ballot with the option chosen and marked by the voter in an electronic ballot box that is equipped with reading means and of a control unit that performs the electronic scrutiny automatically, characterized in that the ballot (1) that is printed on its obverse with zones (2) for each and every one of the electoral options, as well as associated zones (3) for the marking of the option or options, it is made of natural OCR offset security paper, of virgin paste, white color and of a weight between 80 and 100 gr / m2, with the particularity that the medium used for mark on the ballot (1) the option or options selected, it is a marker (4) of ink invisible to ordinary light but visible under ultraviolet light, allowing the voting ballot (1) so marked can be read by the to an electronic ballot box (9) both on the front and the back of zones (2) and (3); having provided that the electronic ballot box (9) has artificial vision means (15) for electronic recognition of the brand or brands (3) corresponding to the option or options chosen (2) by the voter. 2. Electronic voting system according to claim 1, characterized in that the marker (4) is materialized by a pen or marker-like body or element with a reservoir (5) for security ink invisible to ordinary light. 3. Electronic voting system, according to claim 1, characterized in that the artificial vision means (15) that internally incorporates the electronic urn (9), are complemented by ultraviolet lighting means (14) that make the marks (3) visible made on the ballot (1) to the artificial vision means (15), for recognition. 4. Electronic voting system, according to claims 1 and 3, characterized in that the electronic ballot box (9) is provided with a sealed entry (10) for the introduction of the ballots (1), and an outlet (11) also sealed for the passage of the ballots (1) to a conventional ballot box or deposit (12) located under the electronic ballot box (9), for the reception and storage of the ballots (1), said electronic ballot box (9) incorporating sensors (17) for detect both the presence of the ballot (1) that is introduced by the input (10), as the type of ballot and the simultaneous introduction of more than one ballot, whose sensors (17) are associated with both the trapdoor (13) of shutter of the entrance (10) as the trapdoor (13) of the shutter of the exit (11), in order to provide the corresponding signal of action of said flaps (13) and perform the corresponding shutter, preventing the passage of the ballot in case of detecting a lack of authenticity of the ballot (1) or in case of detecting the simultaneous passage of more than one ballot through the entrance (10). 5. Electronic voting system, according to previous claims, characterized in that it includes one or more control cards or ballots, to provide a signal for opening the flaps (13) at the beginning of the voting, and for closing said flaps (13 ) at the end of the vote. 6. Electronic voting system, according to previous claims, characterized in that it additionally includes an element (7) with an ultraviolet light emitter to allow checking of the marks made on the marking areas (3) of the ballot (1), with the marker (4).