GB2369481A

GB2369481A - Voting aid

Info

Publication number: GB2369481A
Application number: GB0123544A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Patrick Mcgonagle
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-09-29
Filing date: 2001-10-01
Publication date: 2002-05-29
Anticipated expiration: 2021-10-01
Also published as: GB0123544D0; GB2369481B; GB0024035D0

Abstract

The present invention is intended to assist blind or partially sighted people to vote. This is achieved by providing a voting aid 1, which is to be used in conjunction with a ballot paper 2 having a plurality of marking sections. The voting aid 1 comprises a template 4 adapted to overlie at least one marking section 8 of the ballot paper 2. Visual and/or tactile identification means 10 is provided on the template 4 for aiding identification of a marking section 8 of the ballot paper 2. The template 4 is also provided with access means 6 whereby a user can access the desired marking section 8 of the ballot paper 2. Thus, using the voting aid of the present invention allows a blind or partially sighted user to readily identify a desired marking section of the ballot paper, so that they can place their mark in the required marking section of the ballot paper.

Description

VOTING AID

The present invention relates to a voting aid and, in particular, to an accessory for assisting blind or partially sighted people to vote.

In general, visually impaired. people, and in particular blind people, can have difficulty voting using conventional ballot papers which require a mark to be placed in a section adjacent the selected candidate from a list on a ballot paper.

The present invention has been made from a consideration of the above mentioned problem. It is an object of the present invention to provide a voting aid which will facilitate voting by blind or partially sighted people.

According to the present invention there is provided a voting aid for use with a ballot paper having a plurality of marking sections, the voting aid comprising a template adapted to overlie at least one marking section of the ballot paper, identification means on said template for aiding identification of the at least one marking section of the ballot paper and access means whereby a user can access one marking section of the ballot paper.

Thus, with a voting aid of the present invention, a blind or partially sighted user can readily identify the different marking sections on a ballot paper and can place their mark in the desired marking section.

Preferably, the template comprises a sheet for overlying the ballot paper, or a part thereof.

Alternatively, the template may be in the form of a wallet for receiving the ballot paper, or a part thereof, therein.

Preferably, the access means comprises at least one flap, the or each flap being adapted to be moved, in use, between a closed position overlying one marking section of the ballot paper and an open position wherein the or each flap is clear of such one marking section and permits access thereto. The flaps may be hinged to, or slidable relative to, a body of the template. Each flap may comprise an edge tab having a colour and/or profile to facilitate identification.

Alternatively, the access means may comprise at least one aperture in the template, the or each aperture overlying one marking section of the ballot paper.

The voting aid may include a plurality of separate components, such components incorporating the identification means and being releasably securable to the template. Such components may comprise access means, such as an aperture therein.

Preferably, the identification means comprises means to facilitate tactile location of one desired marking section of the ballot paper, by a blind or visually impaired person. Additionally, the identification means may comprise means to facilitate visual location of one desired marking section of a ballot paper, by a visually impaired person.

The tactile identification means may comprise a plurality of numerals or other markings, each corresponding to a marking section on the ballot paper, such numerals or other markings being raised, embossed or printed. Alternatively or additionally, the tactile identification means may include a plurality of raised pips arranged so that a user can identify, by touch, the equivalent of a visible numeral, each corresponding to a marking section on the ballot paper. One such suitable pip arrangement is in Braille, although the invention is not limited thereto.

The tactile identification means may alternatively or additionally include a plurality of raised ribs, each corresponding to a marking section on the ballot paper.

Preferably, the longitudinal axis of the raised ribs are orientated towards the access means, to guide the user, by touch, towards the desired aperture or flap.

The tactile identification means may further alternatively or further additionally include a raised peripheral rim around each aperture. The tactile identification means may additionally include an upper profile identification tab adapted to project beyond the upper edge of a ballot paper in use. The tactile identification means may further alternatively or additionally include a plurality of edge tabs, each edge tab extending from a respective access means.

Preferably, the edge tabs are arranged so that the user is guided, by touch, towards the desired access means.

Most preferably, the peripheral rim of each edge tab may form an"arrowhead"whose apex is orientated away

from the access means-again this guides the user, by touch, towards the desired aperture or flap.

The visual identification means may comprise a colour contrast region about each access means. Preferably, the colour contrast region comprises a printed region surrounding each aperture. Alternatively, the colour contrast region comprises an edging in a contrast colour about some or all of the edge of the or each flap and/or some or all of the edge of each edge tab.

Alternatively or additionally, the visual identification means comprises providing the numerals or other markings and/or the plurality of raised pips (whether in Braille or not) in a colour contrast with the ballot paper in use.

Preferably, said identification means is positioned on said template such that, in use, the identification means lies adjacent and/or overlies the marking sections of the ballot paper.

Preferably, the voting aid comprises means for securing the aid to a ballot paper. More preferably, the securing means is arranged to permit temporary securing of the aid to the ballot paper.

The invention also includes a ballot paper incorporating a voting aid of the present invention.

The invention will now be described further, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a ballot paper and a voting aid according to a first embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the line IN-IL of Figure 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional view through the line III-III of Figure 1; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a ballot paper and a voting aid according to a second embodiment of the invention ; Fig. 5 is a detailed view of the voting aid of Figure 4 in use; Fig. 6 is a view showing the construction and component parts of the voting aid of Figure 4; Fig. 7 is a front view of a voting aid according to a third embodiment of the invention ; Fig. 8 is a sectional view through the line VIII VIII of Figure 7; Fig. 9 is a partial sectional view corresponding to the open marking section of Figure 12; Fig. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of the voting aid of Figure 7, located on a ballot paper;

Fig. 11 is a front view of the voting aid of Figure 7 located on a ballot paper ; and Fig. 12 is a front view of the voting aid of Figure 11 in use.

Referring to Figure 1, a voting aid 1 of the invention is designed for use with a conventional ballot paper 2.

The voting aid 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention comprises a template 4 made of plastics material, such as polypropylene. The template 4 typically comprises a thin sheet, for example 0. 5 mm thick and is preferably transparent.

The template 4 has a plurality of access means in the form of apertures 6, typically square or rectangular, which correspond with a plurality of marking sections 8 of the ballot paper 2 for receiving the user's vote marking. In use, the template 4 overlies the ballot paper 2 so that the marking sections 8 are accessible through the respective apertures 6. Thus, typically, the apertures 6 are formed in a series or column corresponding to the series or columnar layout of the marking sections 8.

The peripheral edges of the apertures 6 are embossed or formed with an upstanding peripheral rim 10, as shown more clearly in Figure 2, to facilitate tactile location by visually impaired users. In addition, the voting aid 1 may include a series of raised ribs 12, as shown more clearly in Figure 3, one corresponding to each aperture 6, again to facilitate tactile location of the apertures 6 by visually impaired users.

Thus, the user may feel the raised rib 12 with one hand and mark his vote with the other hand. Typically, the raised ribs 12 are longitudinally spaced apart and formed in a column extending adjacent the column of apertures 6. Each raised rib 12 typically comprises an elongate transverse rib on the template 4, whose longitudinal axis is arranged to orientate the user, by touch, towards the respective aperture 6.

The area surrounding each aperture 6 may comprise a colour contrast or printed region 14, for example of black print, to emphasise the contrast between the aperture 6 and surround for users of partially impaired sight.

A plurality of raised pips 16, which may for example be embossed, may be provided longitudinally spaced apart and formed in a column extending adjacent the column of apertures 6, typically on the side of the apertures 6 opposite the side on which the series of ribs 12 is located. One such arrangement of pips 16 corresponds to each aperture 6. Each arrangement of pips indicates the number of the corresponding aperture 6 to facilitate location of the required aperture 6 for voting purposes. Thus, for example, the three pip arrangement 16'indicates and lies adjacent the third aperture 6, as shown in Figure 1 and corresponds to the numeral "three". Alternatively, the pip arrangements 16 may be in Braille (not shown in the present embodiment). In addition, the pip arrangements 16 are in a colour contrast, to facilitate visual identification of the desired aperture. Alternatively, the series of pip

arrangements 16 may be replaced or supplemented by corresponding numerals 18 in large, dark print, as shown for the first two apertures 6 in Figure 1. Thus, this feature enables the user to visually identify the aperture number or voting position number. In addition, such numerals 18 may be raised or embossed, thereby facilitating tactile identification of the desired marking section 8.

Thus, in use, when the voting aid 1 of the invention overlies a ballot paper 2, a visually impaired user can readily identify the various apertures 6 and can select the appropriate desired marking section 8 on the ballot paper 1.

The template 4 may be dimensioned to overlie the whole of the ballot paper 2 but preferably is dimensioned to overlie the region of the ballot paper 2 near the marking section 8 only.

Referring to Figures 4 to 6, an alternative embodiment of voting aid of the invention comprises a template in the form of a retaining wallet 20, being a sheet folded over to receive the ballot paper 2 therein, so that the series of apertures 6'overlie the marking sections 8 of the ballot paper 2 in use. In this way, the ballot paper 2 can be slid out of the wallet 20 and folded in the usual way once the marking at the desired section 8 has been made.

Figure 5 illustrates the voting aid 1 in use being used to mark a selected, second aperture, marking section 8 of the ballot paper 2.

in this embodiment, the general features of the voting aid are substantially similar to those of the first embodiment except that separate moulded components 22 are used. A component 22 is clipped into or around each aperture 6'and has one or more of the above mentioned features, such as the raised rib 12, aperture 6', rim 10 (in the form of the raised profile of each component 22 itself) and printed or embossed numeral 18 in a colour contrast. Figure 6 illustrates how the moulded components 22 are separable from the wallet or template 20 and can be removably attached to the apertures 6'.

Referring to Figures 7 and 8, a third embodiment of voting aid comprises a template 30 adapted to overlie a ballot paper 2 in use. Figures 9-12 illustrate the third embodiment 30 in use on a ballot paper 2. The template comprises a series of access means in the form of flaps or doors 32, each adapted to overlie an individual marking section 8 of the ballot paper 2.

The flaps 32 are clearly marked with numerals 18 or the like markings corresponding to the marking sections 8 for easy identification. Typically, the numerals 18 are raised or embossed numbers for tactile recognition and are printed in a contrast colour to the ballot paper for visual recognition. Each flap 32 is edged at 14 in a contrast colour.

As for the above embodiments, other identification means, such as raised ribs or rim sections (not shown) and pip arrangements 16 (in a colour contrast), may additionally or alternatively be used, for example on

or adjacent the flaps 32. In the present embodiment, the pip arrangements 16 are in Braille. In this example, each flap 32 includes an edge or finger tab 34 which is dark (not shown) or is edged at 14 in a contrasting colour to the ballot paper 2. The tab 34 extends beyond the edge of the ballot paper 2 in order to facilitate identification, tactile location and handling. The tabs 34 may be triangular in shape (thereby forming an"arrowhead") to assist identification and handling and, in particular, to guide the user to the desired marking section 8. The template is designed so that at least the edge of the tabs 34 overhang the ballot paper 2 to help access to the flaps 32. The edge tabs 34 extend from the flaps 32 at fold lines 39, the fold lines 39 causing the edge tabs 34 to extend above the plane of the template 30, again to facilitate identification and handling-this feature can best be seen in Figure 9.

In addition, as shown in Figures 7 and 10-12, the peripheral edges of the flaps 32 have a contrasting colour at 14 to the ballot paper 2 in order to facilitate identification.

The upper region of the template 30 extends in use beyond the upper edge of the ballot paper 2 in order to help the user locate the top of the ballot paper 2 and also to facilitate removal of the template 30 from the ballot paper 2 after voting. The upper region comprises a profile identification tab 38. The upper tab 38 is triangular and can also facilitate handling and positioning of the template 30 on the ballot paper 2.

Thus, the top edge of the template has a profile and colour contrast area to assist recognition.

In use, the presiding officer would remove a backing sheet 36 from the template 30, and temporarily place the template 30 on the ballot paper 2, so that the flaps 32 initially overlie the marking sections 8. If the edge tabs 34 have flattened during transit, the presiding officer may, if desired, bend the edge tabs 34 away from the ballot paper 2, to facilitate ready identification of the desired marking section 8. The user then selects the appropriate flap 32 and opens or folds back the flap 32 to access the desired marking section 8, as shown by arrow A for marking one section in Figures 10 and 12. The flaps 32 are hinged at 41 to the main body of the template 30 to facilitate opening.

Typically, the hinge axis is substantially centrally located on the template. The user then separates the voting aid 1 from the ballot paper 2; folds the ballot paper 2 and posts it in the ballot box.

Alternatively, the flaps 32 may be in the form of sliding doors which may be moved relative to the template main body between a closed state and an open state (not shown).

The template 30 may be temporarily positioned and secured to the ballot paper by any suitable means, such as low tack adhesive 37 on part or all of the back face of the template 30, the adhesive 37 being protected, before use, by the backing sheet 36, as best seen in Figure 8. The adhesive 37 may have an aggressive layer to bond permanently to the underside of the template 30

and may be in the form of double sided tape. The flaps 32 may have low tack adhesive on the underside thereof to maintain them in the closed state until opened by the user. This helps to prevent the user inadvertently opening the wrong flap or perhaps two flaps at the same time. If more than one vote is required, the relevant flaps can be opened and the user can keep track of the votes cast as these will relate to the flaps that they have opened.

Typically, the template 4,20, 30 is manufactured from a clear (or transparent) polypropylene sheet. Such material takes a permanent set if details such as the numerals 18 are embossed into the surface. The other key advantage of polypropylene is that it is possible to create a very long life hinge if the material thickness is reduced along the hinge line. This can be achieved by using a creasing blade which is preferably heated.

The template 4,20, 30 may have any desired length.

Preferably, the length is adjusted to overlie the full ballot paper 2. Thus, the template 4,20, 30 can be supplied to the presiding officer in long lengths or rolls so that the template 4,20, 30 can be cut to length to suit the particular ballot paper 2. The ballot papers 2 will all be printed with the voting boxes at a standard pitch.

Ballot papers 2 may be printed so that the position of the marking sections 8 is at a standard pitch for use with a voting aid 1 of the invention. The voting aid 1 of the invention may be supplied in standard strips,

for example twenty voting positions or apertures 6 in a strip, and may then be cut to the required length to suit the number of candidates by the presiding officer.

The voting aid 4,20, 30 may be attached to the ballot paper by any suitable means, such as by a self-adhesive tape, a clip or the like. The list of candidates may be pre-recorded so that the voter can listen to the list and their respective positions on the ballot paper 2.

It will be appreciated that the present invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiments which are described by way of example only. In particular, it will be appreciated that features described with respect to any given embodiment may be applied to any other embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

Claims :

1. A voting aid for use with a ballot paper having a plurality of marking sections, the voting aid comprising a template adapted to overlie at least one marking section of the ballot paper ; identification means on the template for aiding identification of the at least one marking section of the ballot paper; and access means whereby a user can, in use, access one marking section of the ballot paper.

2. A voting aid according to Claim 1, in which the template comprises a sheet for overlying at least one marking section of the ballot paper.

3. A voting aid according to Claim 1, in which the template comprises a wallet for receiving at least one marking section of the ballot paper.

4. A voting aid according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the access means comprises at least one flap, the or each flap being adapted to move, in use, between a closed position overlying one marking section of the ballot paper and an open position wherein the or each flap is clear of said one marking section and permits access thereto.

5. A voting aid according to Claim 4, in which each flap comprises an edge tab preferably having a colour and/or profile to facilitate identification.

6. A voting aid according to any one of Claims 1-3, in which the access means comprises at least one aperture in the template, the or each aperture overlying a marking section of the ballot paper.

7. A voting aid according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the identification means comprises means to facilitate tactile location of one desired marking section of the ballot paper.

8. A voting aid according to Claim 7, in which the tactile identification means is selected from raised, embossed or printed numerals or other markings; raised, embossed or printed pip arrangements; raised ribs; and raised peripheral rims around each access means, or a mixture thereof.

9. A voting aid according to any one of Claims 1-8, in which the identification means is a visual identification means comprising a colour contrast region arranged to facilitate visual location of the or each access means.

10. A voting aid according to Claim 9, in which the colour contrast region comprises a printed region surrounding each aperture or an edging in a contrast colour about some or all of the edge of the or each flap, or a mixture thereof.

11. A voting aid according to any one of the preceding claims, which additionally comprises means for temporarily securing the voting aid to the ballot paper.

12. A voting aid according to Claim 11 in which the securing means comprises an adhesive layer covered, when not in use, by a backing sheet.

13. A ballot paper incorporating a voting aid according to any one of the preceding claims.

14. A voting aid, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1-3, Figures 4-6 and Figures 7-12 of the accompanying drawings.

15. A ballot paper incorporating a voting aid, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1-3, Figure 4-6 and Figures 7-12 of the accompanying drawings.