US1487493A

US1487493A - Ballot-marking apparatus

Info

Publication number: US1487493A
Application number: US620539A
Authority: US
Inventors: Roy D Tolman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1923-02-21
Filing date: 1923-02-21
Publication date: 1924-03-18
Anticipated expiration: 1941-03-18

Description

Much 1s ,'1'924. l 1,481,493

R.' D. TOLMAN I l' .lmno'r mmm APPARATUS Filed Feb. 21 1923 2 shuts-sheet 1 l' n o o l O l |1uwrziul^mummn Arvnlmsnronrhmmm o MAYOR invern somlcomm mrow on .g www uns X mlmsgwusv :i 5,., 232g msnm. am. l v l 1 Malloma c021- wenn man' l 'Il M I( communi il n wat uw: 5*' www' :wmf "-3 1 Jmnw 'naamw lm-lf www g 1 3 n nulmncrmnu gum 4 Y. Minne Y 22 *22 --2o` .Z5 I I Much 1s, 1924. 1,487,493 x .R. D. TOL-MAN BALLT MARKING APPARATUS Filed Feb.v 21. l1923 2 sums-sheet 2 REPuucAN MAYO R rwronV A A LDER MAN Z5 couuclmsu Mpuuclmeu I v .l In; Y *A v 27 V- f/{W l I L l l 3 o l I o 30 Patented Mar. 18, 1924.

UNITED STATES ROY D. TOIYJMAN, F WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

BALLo'r-MARKING APPARATUS.

Application le'd February 21, 1923. Serial No. 620,539.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ROY D. TOLMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester, and

in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,

have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ballot-MarkingApparatus.

Since the Australianballot system was inaugurated a number of years ago, it yhas been the custom for the voter after receiving his ballot to go to a voting booth and mark the ballot. While a few votershave to ask for assistance in marking their ballot, the very large majority of the voters mark their ballots independently. This independence has gone so far that many times the careless and poorly educated voter does not really know how to vote when he has been handed his ballot and in consequence the crosses are made on any part of the ballot regardless of the instructions upon the. ballot.

Thousands of ballots have been thrown out as illegal every yearfor the reason that the crosses are not made in the proper legal spaces. Crosses are madeunder the name of the candidate, overthe name and in many p cases where it is impossible for the election oflicials'to determine the will of the voter.

' 30 It is important that every vote or cross upon the ballot should count and to accomplish this object, I have invented a new apparatus for use in marking ballots which will make it impossible for a voter to mark a ballot illegally.

Each State has a form of ballot and a column in which the voter legallyy makes his crosses and I have so constructed my apparatus that a voter in any State with any form of ballot will have toy mark his crosses in the properv spaces or columns if he votes at all. W ithmy apparatus the fvoter cannot make a crossA upon any part 'of the ballot as he has been at liberty to do under the present old style methods of yoting. I'have` arranged to cover'over all of the ballot that should not be marked and in consequence, the voter `cannot be misled in marking his ballot. i The following lspecification accompanied with draw-Y ings will clearly-show Athe K4broad expanse to which my present invention may be adapted for all kinds of ballots at different elections.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a plan view of my ballot mark# ing apparatus. y

Figure 2 is a front edge view of thesame.

Figure 3 is a central sectional view upon line 3 3 Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a similar section but showing the cover raised so that an open ballot may be placed within the apparatus.

Figure 5 is a plan view of a modified form of cover. l

yFigure 6 is a plan view of a modified form of apparatus adapted to be used with a different form of ballot.

The ballot marking apparatus as shown in the accompanying drawings comprises a base board 10 having securely mounted thereon a rectangular frame 11 which may be open on one side thereof as shown at 12 Fig. 2. The opening 12 is so provided that va ballet may be opened and slid into the apparatus for marking without having to raise the cover 13. While this method can be used in inserting a ballot, I prefer the method hereinafter described. The rectangular frame 11 forms a pocket 14 into which.

.the unfolded ballot A is placed by the voter and it is a preferred form to raise the cover by the handle 31 when depositing a ballot for marking. Vhile I have shown the cover 13 as hinged at 15 to the base board 10. the same may be securely fastened by means of a clip 16 and in this case the voter slides his ballot A through the opening 12 into the pocket 14 of the apparatus. n

In the construction of the cover 13, I have shown a preferred form in Fig. 1 which is adaptable for use with the form of ballot as used in the elections of Massachusetts. The Massachusetts ballot has the columns for the crosses at the right of the candidates name while with some other States, Y this column is at the left of the candidates name. Therefore in describing this preferred form of cover with columns for crosses to the right of the name, I am aware that my apparatus can be made in either form without departing from the scope of my invention.

The cover 13 is recessed 17 so that sheets of transparent material-18 suclrjas celluloid or glass may be secured therein and the transparent material 18 may be held in place by meansof pins 19. The sheets of transparent material 18 are so positioned as to cover over all portions of the ballot which may be placed in the apparatus except in the spaces wherein the crosses are. to be made. In Fig. 1 I have shown the transparent material 18 with open spaces 2O at the right thereof large enough and no larger than the legal spaces upon the ballot, these spaces vvill allovv a voter to mark his crosses only in the legal squares upon the ballot. IVith the lilassachusetts form ot ballot, the legal squares to the right of the names are the only legal spaces ivherein the voter should mark his ballot and therefore ivith the bodq portion of the ballot covered, the voter can only vote in the legal spaces.

As a preferred method of placing an opened ballot in in v apparatus, I believe it is best to raise the cover 13 ivith the transparent sections 1S held therein and furthermoie it is desirable to limit the upward movement ot' the cover so that a voter in a voting booth cannot help but use the apparat tus provided there for marking his ballot.

It it was possible to raise the cover completely, a voter might niark his ballot with out having 4to use the protective cover 13. To limit the upvvard movement of the cover 13. I tasten a stop-plate 21 upon the hinge side of the cover so that the cover can only be raised sutlicientlv to admit an opened ballot. In order to protect the edges of Celluloid or glass and hold them in placef I bind them in vvavs 22.

Ilhile it has been shoivn that a ballot can be covered ivith glass or celluloid, it might be. preferred to use this same material held in place as described but covered over -with a printed torni which vvould be a tacsimile to the ballot printing in ever),v detail. In this case the voter would not sce his entire ballotI except the spaces in which he ivas to make his crosses but he would see his entire ballot marked correctl)Y when he removed it trom the apparatus. Since a cover of this kind Would have au appearance similar to that ot the cover shoivn in Fig. 1 it is not shoivn in a separate drawing.

In Fig. 5 I have shoivn an apparatus having a covering of a slightlyv different structure, that ot a Wire mesh 23 instead of celluloid or glass. I believe that a ivire mesh can be made so delicate and vet so as to obstruct a marking, that a voter could not mark his ballot except in the proper legal spaces.

Thile I have heretofore described a marking apparatus adapted for the Massachusetts form ot ballot, I am aware that a number ot other forms of ballots are. novv in use in other States which vary from the Massachusetts form. As an example of a different form of ballot, I have shown in Fig. 6 a ballot that has a partv column and my vinvention can be applied to this form as Well as to the Massachusetts form and at the same time, the voter can use it as readily.

In the apparatus as shovvn in Fig. 6 I

have made another modification in the manner of arranging the transparent sections 18. The construction of the cover 13 is very similar to that as shown in Fig. 1 except the transparent sections 18 are made up of individual units Q4. Some of the units 24 especiall)v those having the candidates names beneath have slotted sections as shown at Q5. It will be seen that with this form of ballot a variation no doubt would be made at evertvv elect-ion in the listing ot the candidates. so that dill'erent units would vary as to the make-up ot the ballot. To allow for a change to be made` the individual units Q41- are adapted to slide in place along the v-fays 2Q similar to that shown in Figs. 3 and 4. After all units are properlv arranged, the clamping bar 26 is secured to the cover 13 by means ot' screws QT. IVith this lform of ballot in use, a circular opening 28 in the top section allows a voter to mark for his entire party by making a cross in this circular opening but should he decide to split his ticket and vote tor a candidate in some otlice of the opposite part)Y he would proceed further. The voter in splitting his ballot ivould mark a cross in the space opposite to the name oit his choice in the other part)v column but while he voted a straight part)v ticket, the laws require that the name should be scratched through of that otlice in his parti.' column. In order to allow a voter to scratch through a name if desired` I have provided slotted sections as at .25 to be placed over each candidates name.

As an example of marking this form of ballot, I have shown a partyv column ballot in Fig. 6 so voted or split as to illustrate the principle of having slotted sections 25. In this case, the Republican candidate for alderman has been scratched as shown at Q9 and a cross made in the opposite .party column tor that otlice. In constructing the, cover, it is immaterial how the cover is hung for I have shoivn a different pivoted connection in each ase The entire marking apparatus mai7 be secured to the shelf of a voting booth bv means of screws passing through lugs 30 attached to the base board 10.

I claim:

1. A ballot marking apparatus comprising a base with a transparent cover for the ballot and a vertical column open in the cover.

2. A ballot marking apparatus having a transparent cover so constructed that the ballot is exposed for marking only in the legal sections.

3. A ballot marking apparatus having n transparent cover open in sections wherein the crosses are to be made.

4. An apparatus for marking ballots having a ballot pocket, a cover so constructed that the printing on the ballot is visible and lll means whereby the ballot isl exposed for marking only in the legal sections.

5. An apparatus for marking ballots having a window so constructed that the printing on the ballot is visible and an opening through the Window in a specified column.

6. An apparatus for marking ballots having a ballot pocket, a cover adapted to be brought upon a ballot so that the printing is visible and means whereby only specified sections of the ballot are exposed for markin An apparatus used in marking ballots having a base with a cover attached thereto, a vertical column open in the cover and an opening in the base for the admittance of a ballot.

8. A ballot marking apparatus comprising a base forming a ballot pocket, a cover so constructed that the printing on the ballot is visible and means for so covering the printing on a ballot that no marks can be made thereon exce t in the legal sections.

9. A ballot mar ing apparatus comprising a base for holding a ballot, a cover for covering over certain sections upon the ballot and means for preventing an inserted ballot being marked without using the cover.

10. A ballot marking apparatus having a ballot pocket with a cover thereto, a vertical column open in the cover and an opening through one side of the pocket adapted for the admittance of a ballot.

11. A ballot marking apparatus having a ballot pocket, a cover so constructed of wire mesh that all printing on the ballot is visible and means whereby only specified sections are open for marking.

12. An apparatus for marking ballots comprising a ballot pocket with a transparent cover open only in sections, said cover composed of individual units so united in Ways that they form the body portion of said cover.

13. An apparatus for marking ballots comprising a ballot pocket having a cover constructed of individual units and means for so mounting the units in ways that the arrangement of the units can be varied accordin to the makeup of the ballot.

14. n apparatus for marking ballots comprising a ballot pocket, a cover made up of individual sections adapted to be held in ways and a circular opening in the iirst section whereby a vote can be made therein for the entire party ticket.

15. An apparatus for marking ballots having a base with a cover, said cover cornposed of plain and slotted sections held in ways and means for so altering the plain and slotted sections that the slotted sections can be placed over the names of the candidates on the ballot.

16. An apparatus for marking ballots having a base with a cover made up of individual sections held in ways and slotted sections adapted to be placed over the names of the candidates on the ballot.

17. An apparatus for marking ballots having a cover so constructed that all printing on the ballot is Visible and openings through the cover adjacent to each candidates name.

18. An apparatus for marking ballots having a covering means which ermits the reading of the ballot therethroug and o enings in the covering means whereby the allot is exposed for marking only in the legal sections.

19. An apparatus for marking ballots having a ballot pocket, means for admitting a ballot into the pocket and a cover adapted to hold a facsimile of the printing upon the ballot being used.

20. An apparatus for marking ballots having a base with a cover attached, a vertical column open in thecover and means whereby the cover is adapted to support a facsimile of the printing upon the ballot being used.

ROY D. TOLMAN. Witnesses:

CAROLINE ToLMAN, E. BERT JOHNSON.