US1593045A - Electoral apparatus - Google Patents

Description

July 20,1926. c L. gesTAvAxLhiw ELECTORAL APPARATUS Filed Augl xst 2, 1924 Sheets-Sheet 1 CHARLES Ljmeezs {lam BEST AVAILABLE Com Jilly. 20 1926.

. C. L. STURGES ELECTORAL APPARATUS Filed August 2, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 CHARLESLSTURGES Elbtocyqlgs ST AVAILABLE Com July 20 1926.

C- L. STURGES ELECTORAL APPARATUS Filed August 2, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 20 1926.

BEST AVAlL ABLE COP 1,593,045 c. L. STURGES ELECTORAL APPARATUS Filed August 2, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Elttozmu BEST AVAILABLE COP.

Patented July 20, 1926.

v UNITED STATES CHARLES L. STIJ'RGES, OF CLAREMONT, CALIFORNIA.

ELECTORAL APPARATUS.

; Application filed August 2, 1924.

My invention relates to and has for its purpose the provision of an electoral apparatus for collecting and counting votes and a ballot of prescribed form adapted for use in conjunction with the apparatus.

It is also a purpose of my invention to provide an electoral apparatus which n'ir-ets the following requirements:

In general it shall permit a voter to use in in full his electoral franchise as that is commonly given by civil governments.

(a) It shall-permit the voter to vote for any person for any oflice that he shall have the'right to vote for but none other,

(1)) ltshall, except at primary elections, permit the voter to'vote a ticket made up ofall o'andi'datesfrom one party, or in part ofcandidates from one party and in part of candidate'sofone or more other parties.

('0) It shall permit the voter to vote for as'many persons for an office as he is lawfully- "entitled: to 'votefor, but no more.

((Z) "It shalli permit the voter to vote for or against any question that he may have a right-to vote for, but none other.

(c) It shall provide for a segregation-of all vote subjects, at a proclaimed e'iection, such thatthey -shall apear on the ballot sheet intwodi stinct classes, to wit: a class of 30 subjects to whom yor which, votes are to be registered, i. e., both recorded on a ballot sheet and counted; and another class, the votes to whom or which are recorded but not automatically counted.

Special eti'ort has been made by me to make possible a tally of votes mechanically countedsuch-that each voter may see the tally of his. own votes without violating principles of secret balloting, and also may be 'lawfull'yicast at'any proclaimed election and without facilities for registering, (i. e.,

both recording and mechanically counting) a goodly number of all votes cast.

(7) It shall reduce to the same minimum, as to the matter of recording a vote, the effort required-to put the vote on record whether the vote be to a vote subject whose vote'is to be mechanically counted, or not so counted.

Since before a political campaign takes place it is impossible. to say how many vote subjects it may be necesary to'enter on a ballot sheet, I have made it an object of gjrneet: the exigencies of succeeding elec- Serial' No. 729,753.

tions of various scope. Furthermore, I have aimed to devise a form of enrollment for vote-subjects, such that there is provision made for voting on an indefinitely larger number of vote subjects than may be within the capacity of the counting machine to mechanically register.

Itshall make it possible for two or more voters at the same time to be selecting the ticket they will vote, without its being necessary to have in one voting place as many vote counting machines as it may be necessary to have private booths in which to prepare tickets.

Furthermore, it is an object of my in vention to provide an apparatus that may be conveniently altered to meet the requirements of succeeding elections.

I will describe only one form ofapparat-us embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a view showing in plan one form of counting mechanism embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view illustrating one arrangement of the counters employed in my abacus: I 3

Figure a section of the forward end of the counting mechanism, showingthe vote controller inserted therein;

Figure at is a side elevation, with parts broken away, of the counting mechanism in inspection position; it

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4. showing the counting mechanism in tripped position;

Figure 6 is a transverse section on the line 66 of Figure 2:

Figure 7 is a view showing in plan the vote controller inserted in the counting mechanism. parts being broken away: and

Figure is a view of the obverse side of a preferred form of ballot sheet before folding.

Referring specifically to thedrawings, in which similar reference characters indicate similar parts in the several views, my invention in its present embodiment comprises a base plate A which forms the top of a conventional ballot box B. Secured to the base plate A are end walls C to which is pivotally mounted a counting mechanism,

of hinges the hinge pins of which are removable to permitthe-counting; mecha-- nism to be removed and inverted after the closing of ther -pollg-amwhicir nosit-ron all ofthe balls or counters willbe disposed .in the channel: ;16 adjacent the transparent plate In this position-aphotograph of the balls or -counters can be taken to provide a perman'entrecord of their relative positions.

The, .counting mechanism D comprises a .plurality-gof-connting; units 10, each of which containsanfimproved storm-of abacus, which will; 'be; -hereinafter ,more" fully described-.-- The counting'units are of-similar construction andg-are spaced'apart by means of vertical partitions 11.

v liarten'ding through the par 'tions' 11 and side frames 12-are1tie bolts 13,-which are provided: with heads 14- and nuts .15- engaging the outersurface of t-he side frames 12, this -construction maintaining the dounting units 'l0 in asembled' relation and permittingthe removal of anyaof the units or the addition of further units to meet-the requirements 0.5 election;

Each ofwthe'counting units 10 is provided with-an" uppen and lower ball channel 16 and 17,'respectively, disposed in parallel-relationand incommunication with each other at one; end-by a Connecting-ball channel 18 of semicircular form. Spacer blocks 19 form the confronting sides of the channels 16 and 17 and a transparent plate 20, preferably oflass, forms the opposite-side of the upper channels-16 andis-secured in position by metal strips 21 and'22'of angular form. a a

Transfer bars 23'form the lower side of the lower channels 17 and are supported for sliding movement upon pins 24 which are disposed in cut-out portions 25 adjacent the ends of the transfer bars 23. The cutout portions are of a length that determines the reciprocal movement of the bars 23.

The transfer bars 23 are also provided with recesses26 adjacent their forward ends and which are of a size sufficient to receive only one at a time of the balls or counters a. Extending downwardly from the recesses 26 are vertical pockets 26 of a diameter sufiicient to receive only the totaling ball 6. The recesses 26-and pockets 26 are normally maintained in alinement with a. vertical channel 27 by means of a' coil spring 28.

v I will nowdescr-i'bein detail the preferred formot abacus embodied in each of the count-ingunits'l0,--which includes the balls BEST AVAILABLE COP.

or counters a (Figures 2 and 2:"), preferably twenty-four in number, and of quarter inch diameter, and the totaling counter 32 of smaller diameter than the counters a. To

preserve secrecy in tallying a register of votes, number symbols are eliminated from the counters. Thus itis made possible for each elector tosee a the count of his own votes, entering the totals that he would augment, and: yet violate no-principle of secret balloting. Y

At the beginning of-an election, the counters in all 'of the. abaci arezpositioned as shown in Figure 2, the totalingzcounter 6 .being disposed .at'the-head .end of the: series of-counters a.-- After an actuation of a transfer bar 23 the leading counter a,

which will be distinctively colored or marked, will-be positioned immediately behind the totaling counterf b. EachItime-:the

transfer bar 23 isiactuated, an additional -to change the position of the totaling counter 1b with respect; to the leading counter a, from its initial position to a position between the counter a and the next succeeding counter.w It will: beobvious that every t\\"e'nt*y-fifth= operation of atransfer barresults in a-cha'ngein position on the totaling counter b with respect to-the leading. counter a'ethus registering t\rent '\'-five votes.

As an example.- and by reference-to Figure 2; it will be seen that the totaling counter Z) has advanced a distance of. five counters from and including the counter a", which: movement has required operations-of the transferbar, or 125 operations, to which must be addedthe number of counters following the totaling ball 7) or 15, giving a grand total of l40votes cast for that particular vote subject in whose service the'vote counter abacus is used.

By reference to Figure 2, it will be' seen that the leading counter a, as well as the ish. i i-h. iiih. 3 7th and 18th counters from and including the: leading counter have been illustrated as being black incolor, theobject of \vhiclris to facilitate determining the position of the totaling counter 72 when it is desired to obtaini the'total number of votes cast for a particular candidate. It will be clear that the black counters-in no manner indicate to the voter the total number of votes cast because of the fact that they are deli vercd singlyandthe other'eounters conceailed view, thus'nrakiiug it'- impnssible for the voter to determine the number serially of any one of the black counters with respect to the other counters.

It will be noted that the lower channels 17 terminate short of the vertical channel 27 and that it is necessary to eifect a rearward movement of the transfer bar to transfer a ball from the lower channels 17 into either the recess 26 or the pocket 26. The chan nels 17 are inclined toward the vertical channel 27 so that the counters a will gravitate toward the latter.

A gate' bar 29 is supported for reciprocating movement in a guideway 30 extending transversely with respect to the channels 16 and'adjacent the forward end thereof. The gate bar 29 is'of sutlicient length to span all of the counting units 10 and has secured at its opposite ends vertical pins 31 slidable in the bores 32 provided in the side frames 12. Coil springs 33 maintain the gate bar 29 in closed position, as shown in Figure 2, thus preventing communication of the vertical channels 27 with the channels 16.

Pins 34 are secured to the rear ends of the transfer bars 23' and are provided with pointed-ends, which latter are adapted to perforate a suitable ballot F which is in vertical position within a slot 35 cut in the base plate A. The ballot F reposes upon a gate 36 slidably secured to the under side of the base plate A by means ofla screw 37. An operating rod 38 is secured to the gate 36 and extends through the eye of a screw 39 to a point without the'ballot box B and terminates in a looped end 40. A spring 41 is connected to the gate 36 and normally maintains the latter in position to close the slot 35. After the ballot F has been -per forated and it is desired to deposit the same in the ballot box, the rod 38 is pulled forwardly against the tension of the spring 41 to clear the slot and allow the ballot F to gravitate into the ballot box.

To insure the perforation of the ballot F, I have provided an abutment plate 42, perforated in alinement with the pins 34. A stripper plate 43 which is secured to the side frames 12 of the counting units is also perforated to receive the pins 34 and insure the proper stripping of the ballot- F therefrom.

The tripping device designated generally at E comprises a. pair of standards 44 secured to the end walls C and having their upper ends bored to rotatably receive. the ends. of a trip bar 45. To one end of the latter is secured a hand lever'46, which normally occupies the position shown in Figure Extending longitudinally of the trip bar 45 and secured thereto is a plate 47, which is adapted to support a checking strip to be described hereinafter.

I have illustrated in Figures ii and 7 a.

BEST AVAlLABLE COP. 8

junction with the countingmechanism D. The vote controller V comprises a rectangular plate 48 provided with spaced perforations 49 in which studs 50 are removably fitted and providedwith transverse bores 51, registering to slidably receive a rod 52.

Extending lengthwise along one edge of the plate 48 is a series of blocks 53 spaced apart a distance equal to that of the count.- mg units 10 and between which fingers 54 pivoted upon the rod 52 are adapted to be received The plate 48 is provided with slots 55 adjacent its ends, which are adapt-ed to receive vertical pins 56 fixed in the forward end of the end walls C, to insure proper longitudinal alinement of the vote controller with the counting units when the formeris inserted in the latter. The pins 56 extend through slots 57 provided in the end walls C, which slots receive the ends of the plate 48 to insure proper vertical alinement of the vote controller with the counting mechanism, as clearly shown in Figures 3 and 7. u The voter may select the ticket he will vote from a list of vote subjects as they appear on the full ballot sheet, making no use whatever of the strip or abbreviated ballot hereinbeforereferred to except as the strip is a part of the ballot sheet. In this case J he adjusts his full ballot to the vote controller in such way that vote subjects on pages I and II aline with correspondingly numbered parts as formed on-the'vote controller' and ballot sheet. Vfhere the vote subject to be chosen is found on pages I and II, the voter indicates his choiceby turning over to operative position the fingers that will actuate the counter doing service, as vote meter, to his favored candidate, thus making ready for the automatic recording and counting of a vote that will take place when the vote controller is adjusted to the counting machine, but, where the vote subject is to be chosen from a list of vote subjects, appearing on any other pages than the double page marked I and II, the voter will indicate his choice by recording a votemark in a square on a page beyond pages I and II. All such recorded votes must he canvassed and counted by the. election board.

As a flexible shield 58, (Figure 3) preferabl of canvas or similar material, is secured along one vedge of the plate 48 by rivets Se ured to the shield 58 along its opposite edges is a rod 60. which has its end bent at right angles to form hooks 61 (Figure 7) which cooperate with hooks 62 fixed on the end walls (7.

A metal shield 6 is fixed to. and extends the forward end of the counting mechanism D and co-operates with the shield 58 to conceal the plates 48 when the vote ontroller is inserted in the counting mechanism, Handles are secured at opposite li il ends of the plate 48 and provide suitable grips for holding .the vote controller and inserting the latter .in the counting mechanlsm D.

have .shown in Figure 8 a plan of the preferred form of ballot F which is intended to he foldedalong the lines in such a manner that the pages I and II will form the obverse and reverse sides of the ballot, respectively. When the ballot F is thus folded, the strip portion 66 to the right of the broken line 67 projects beyond one edge oflihe ballot F and is positioned uppermost when the ballot Fiis placed in the votr ing machine as is shown in Figure 2.

The ballot F is divided horizontally into equal spaces which-latter correspond with the spacing of the counting units 10. In th strip portion .66 I provide vote squares 68 which, when .the ballot is positioned in :the voting: machine-,- are alined both vertically and horizontally with ithe perforating pins 34;. Letters 68 mm alphabetically arranged opposite the-vote squnres=68 and correspond to similar characters upon the blocks 53 of the vote controller Y.

These; characters identify vote subjects whose naxneaparty aifiliations-and other intk t'mationrequired by law appear as candidate cards'uponwpages'Iand II, and whose votes areto be -aulgomatically counted. 7 Theneverse-sidesof; pages I and II (pages IV. and. III --respectively) --are intended respestivelynforwvoter subjects designated in script or in, print, but ,whose votes are not to. be automatically ,counted. The. sheet whiclrcon prises pages. V and 1 V provides zip-additional sheet to. which further sheets can .be affixed to comply with election laws I re. niringaballot which can be expanded to ingcfinite width. 'llhe length of the ballot may. be enlarged by lengthening the pages.

in operation. the vote controller illustrated inFigurcs 3 and 7 isdelivered to the voter, with thefingers 54 in the position shown in dotted lines and is carried by the voter to a conventional voting booth. Upon arrival in the voting booth, the voter may consult a checking strip (not shown) whichhas been detached from a reference or sample ballot and is a duplicate of the strip portion ($6 ofthe ballot F. The voter may have previously marked this strip by a cross or other mark in the vote spaces identifying the vote subjects of his choice. This strip is provided adjuent its ends with perforations which are adapted to receive the locating pins 72 fixed-in the plate 48. In this position, the characters identifying the spaces between the blocks 53 of the plate 48 are in alineinent with similar characters upon the strip and it is only necessary for the voter -'to slide one of the fingers along the rod until alined with a previously marked vote square- Of the strip, and then rotate the fingers 554 about um rod- 52 until seated in the space between ::djacent-.bloc1ks 53 as is shown in full lines in; Figures 3 and 7. This operation is repeated until the fingers 54 have been alined-with every marked vote square of the strip. -The flexible shield 58 is then positioned to cover the plate 48 and thus conceal the fingers 54: from view.

The voter now delivers the vote cont mller V to an election ollicer who secures the shield 58 to the hooks 62 upon t-heend walls C, and then inserts the vote controller into the voting machine in such a manner thatthe slots are .alined with the pins 55 as is shown in Figure-7w Continuous inwardmovement of the vote controller results in 2. corresponding; DIOYQEIIQRlZRlZO those transfer bars 23 in aiinement with the fingers 54, which is clearly illustrated in Figure 3, --In this posi- .tion the recesses 96 are disposed beneath the first balls (4- of the several series, which drop therein by gravity. .The vote controller V is then withdrawn and the coil springs :28 return the actuated transfer bars; -23,- to the normal position shown in Figure 2,. with each of the recesses 26-contaiaiingza ball-0, in any instance wnere a finger isuused. The counting mechanism is 1 now rotated to; the position shown in Figure it, allowing; the counters contained in t 1e recesses 26 to pass through the channels ,-2.7 ;by gravity {and come to rest upon the gate 36. v I

It is optional-with the voter whether ornot hash-all have an opportunity to inspect-the tally made by the vote counting machine as his own: ballot-passes through the counting machine. In case he chooses to make the ob servatiombefore the registering takes place, he will go tothe rearof the machine, grasp the handle 46:01? the-tripping device E and swing the former to the position shown in Figure 4, thus disposing the plate 47 in the path of the counting mechanism. The plate 4.7 is provided with pins 73, the latter receiving the perforations in the checking strip pieviously used in conjunction with the vote controller. In this position the vote spaces of the checking strip are in alincment with the channels 27 and the voter can readily observe if a counter is alined with each of the marked vote spaces, as he llil-ll designed to vote in accordance therewith. Furthermore, he may see that there are not tallies in any instance where he'had not set the fingers to receive a vote.

After. comparison and upon being satisfied that the balls a and the marked vote spaces are in alinedrelation, the voter removes the checking strip from the pins 7.3. The election oilicer thereupon moves the counting mechanism o t of engagem nt i h th p t 47. which latter returns to the -'posit ion shown in Figure 5 by virtue of the counterbalancing action of the handle 46, and then swings the counting mechanism to the; 1 95i;

1,593,045 EST AVAlLABLE COP\ tion shown in Figure 5, wherein the pins 31 engage and are depressed by the trip bar 45, and against the tension of the coil springs 33, thus moving the gate bar 36 to clear the channel 16 and permit the counters a to drop by gravity and to be finally disposed in a position at the rear of the row of counters upon the return of the voting machine to the position shownin Figure 2.

In the event that the voter does not wish to vote for a candidate whose name appears upon pages I and' II and whose vote, it will be remembered, is to be automatically counted, the :fingers' 54: of the vote controller in this-particular instance being allowed to remain in the non-actuating position as shown in dotted lines in Figure 7. The ballot- F is suitably marked along the same horizontal line to select acandidate for the same 'ofiice, upon any of-the remainingpages, and then-delivered, folded, to the election officer, who places the ballot in position up'on' the gate 36: The'vote'controller V is then insertedinthe counting-mechanism D and the same procedureas previously described is carried out in connection with a perforated ballot; It will of course be necessary that the'vote upon this and'similarly marked candidate cards are counted --by an electionboard.

Iclaim: I

1. An electoral apparatus comprising vote counting mechanism includingballot sheet perforating means'andcounting means, anda vote controller for simultaneously actuating the perforating means and the counting means.

2. An electoral apparatus comprising vote counting mechanism including ballot sheet perforating means andco'unting means, a ballot'sheet having an index strip adapted to be perforated by said perforating means, and a vote controller'for actuating the perforating means and the counting means.

3. An electoral apparatus comprising vote counting mechanism including ballot sheet perforating means and counting means, a ballot sheet having an index strip adapted to he perforated by said perforating means, a vote controller for actuating the perforab ing means and the counting means, a ballot box for receiving the ballot s'heets after perforating, and manually operable means by which the ballot sheets are deposited in the ballot box.

4. An electoral apparatus comprising vote counting means, ballot sheet perforating means, and a vote controller for operating the countingmeans and simultaneously perforating a ballot sheet.

An electoral apparatus comprising vote counting mechanism including ballot sheet perforating means and abaci, and a vote controller for actuating the perforating means and the abaci.

'6. In an electoral apparatus, vote counting I mechanism comprising aplurality of count-' ing mechanism-comprising a plurality of counting units, and a portable and removable vote controller having selective fingers for actuating any desired counting units.

8. In an electoral apparatus, a vote counting mechanism comprising a plurality of counting units, each including a channel having an open end and a closed end, an abacus comprising a plurality of elements movable'in the channel, agate common to all of=the channels for controlling the movement of the elements into the open end of the channel, said gate being normally closed, a-' transfer bar havinganelement receiving recess,'said her being movable tooccupy one extreme position in which 'th egre'c'e'ss is 'in communication with the open end of't-he channel, and another extreme "position in which the recess is in comunication with the closedend ofthe'channeh-to allow an element to gravitate into the recess, means for urgingthe bar to the first [extreme position, so that when the" baris forced to thesecond extreme ,position' and then releasedan element will be transferred tothe open'end of -the channel, means -for mounting all of the units sothatthey normally occupy an inclined position but ,are capable of being moved to a vertical position, and means for opening said gate when the units are in vertical position'whereby those abacus elements transferred are permitted to move to a new, position for registering the operation of the transfer bar.

9. An electoral apparatus as embodied in claim 8, wherein each transfer bar is provided with ballot sheet perforating means operable upon movement of the bar to the second extreme position.

10. An electoral apparatus as embodied in claim 8, wherein each transfer baris provided with a pocket, and each abacus includes a totaling counter which is adapted to be received in said pocket, transferred to the open end of the channel and deposited in a new position with respect to the other elements in the manner and for the purpose described.

11. In an electoral apparatus, a vote counting mechanism comprising a plurality of counting units, each including a channel having an open end and a closed end, an

abacus comprising a plurality of elements movable in the channel, a gate common to all of the channels for controlling the movement'of the elements into the open end of the channel, said gate being normally closed. a transfer bar having an element receiving recess, saidhar beingmovable to occupy one min rrt qe ines t pr, are 1 t Op n.-

steet -nhesthe writs-e 56 n. e ca 1. -iQn.ir e1iebyr these-s ee s m ts. trans er e e einermi ted ten rs to. a ne pe tie i 'egis ennsatlaeene espa t he tie-. 1 s 2 harness-stand. e r-tenses m an re tellei reniemem et Qt: h 'bar o t e ewed 6 trees r9 'ti ik'ee ...a vqte ntroller. ring, ye means for actuating. he e ste; hers.

Z-Jn. an e ect r inserts, a ew t nsp ms: pl a y tie es ieedrme ss or notab y upp as; ieehe iente refl ct new r 9 me ers mpr s d .I .%l. baqu 1n the as e -end .the.pr pose-d e e 1 -.l nselmml rp m t -1 u'e l r-l emn s s sse plur li y o fingers m n isexe e. toceury= .ne extreme r eni hisk hen-er ad pte im nactive toactuatqtrnnsfer-bars, and another entremeposition. in; which they are, adapted,

to beactive to a c tuatethetransfer bars when,

the controller-is moved toward the bars.

14:. In an electorala paratus, a vote cont ol er o p n e' iieme adap to be supported for sliding movemenhandfingers pivoted on the, frame. to independently occupy projected or retracted positions with respect to theframe.

15. An electoral; apparatus comprising vote counting mechanism including a, plurality oticounting-units, a controller. having selective. means by which predetermined counting unitsv are operated, and ballot sheet perforating means operable by the counting units.

16. In anelectoral apparatus, vote counting mechanism comprising a plurality of counting units each including an abacus, and means movable to singly release the elements comprisedintheabncu's, and a,hallot perforatin' means, operatively. associated with st means.

17, An electoral apparatns comprising vote counting,- meehanisn'i. including a, plurality of counting.-units,- each.unit including an abacus, mechanism mounted, for, movement, to occupy, one extreme position in which certain ofthe. elements comprisedin the adapted. to be. transferred, a

BEST AVAILABLE com second position-in which-the elements trans-. l'crrerl ("in he ius jiected, and a third position. in -.-.i the transferred eiements are released lo,oer-(11 13 a new position with respect to the other eien ients of their respective ahaci.

an electoral apparatus comprising counting mechanism including plural:- y of counting units, each unit including an abacus, said mechanism mounted tor-movement to occupy one: extreme position in which certain of the elements-comprised in, the abaci are adapted to be transferred, an intermediate position in which the elements. transferred can'he inspected, -a second; e27,- treme position; in whichthe transferred elementsare releasedi'toi occupy a new position with respect to the other elements of "their respective abjaei, and. means for limiting-mt l e m vement-of said-mec anism. e her of said intermediateor; s cond er: treme .p 0si't ion. i v fi de -fl ra apparatus as embo i din claim 18 wherein said; last; means comprises; a S ppo t, atr p member rotatab y moun ed upon the support anddisposed gin, the-path. of movement of; said; mechanism, an enfienr sion secured; on the trip member; andmotatab e therewith to ccupy nezp sitian ini-thepath of movement of the meohanismsoyas to limit the movement of the latter togsai d intermediate- .position, and another; position outof the path of; movement oitheqneehaa l sm so perm t. morem ntofi the-lat er to its second extreme position, wherein it. issupported-on the. trip member. I

20. An electoral apparatus as GI11bOdlGd ll1a claim 18- wherein said; last means, comprises a supper-ha trip memberrotatahly mounted,- upon the support and disposed inthepath of movement of said mechanism, an-. extension secured on the tripmember and; lotatahle therewith to occupy, oneposit-ion in the patlrof movement of the-mechanismso as to limit the movement. of thelatter to said termediate position, another position. out of thepath. of movement of. the mechanism so as to permit movement of the latter to its second extreme position wherein it is'supported on the-trip member, a gate-control lingthe movement of the elements from the inspected positiomto the new position, and meansformoving the gate toopen position as-the mechanism engaging, tlre-trip member.

21. An electoral apparatus as embodied in claim 8 wherein said;gate is provided with pins and. said; last means comprises a support, at1 'ip.b,aronthe support disposed in thepath of, movement of: said pins;so.a s. to be engaged by the latter-,andtherebymove the gate to open position.

2-. A toral: ppa t comprising. vote, cou t ng, mec m nc u ing: ba l sheet. perfo rating. means and counting means, a ballot sheet having a portion thereoiadapt:

ed to be perforated by said perforating means, and a vote controller for actuating the perforating means and the counting means.

23. An electoral apparatus comprising a support having means for supporting a ballot in position for perforating, vote counting mechanism including ballot sheet perforating means movable on the support to occupy one position to permit application of the ballot to the support, and a second position in which its perforating means is brought into operative relation to the ballot so as to permit perforation of the latter.

2st. An electoral apparatus as embodied in claim 23 wherein said support is provided with an opening communicating with the interior or" a ballot box, and a gate is mounted upon the support to normally close said opening and support a ballot in upright position therein, said gate being manually movable to release said ballot and thereby permit the ballot to be deposited into the ballot box.

25. In an electoral apparatus of the char- '7 BEST AVAILABLE COP.

acter described, an abacus comprising a series of counting elements and a totaling element, said elements adapted to occupy an initial position with the totaling element disposedat one end of the series, the counter at we opposite end of the series and intermediate groups of counters being distinctively colored or marked to facilitate determining the total represented by the counters when occupying other than said initial position. 26. An abacus as embodied in claim 25, wherein certain of the series of counting elements are distinctly marked and arranged in groups with the counters of the groups increasing in number consecutively from one end of the series to the other. 27. An electoral apparatus comprising means for perforating ballot sheets to permanently designate thereon the vote subjects voted for, and means for simultaneously counting the votes thus designated for each vote subject.

-CHARLES L. STURGES.

Iii)

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