US2099202A - Party selector mechanism for - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 16, 1937. A. N. GUSTAVSON PARTY SELECTOR MECHANISM FOR VOTING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 26, 1932 amnion 2 m q Q r 5 b V u H411 I "H A M 2 h 1 It- 2 //W3 M m E n m b b. b. d B. ,SM H LH z. Qrfiflififl a m miimmmmmulmfimm fimamfimmmmmmmmmmmmmm m 5E WE EEZE E a w a Z Nbv. 16, 1937. A. N. GUSTAVSQN 2,099,202

PARTY SELECTOR MECHANISM FOR VOTING MACHINES Filed Nov. 26, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 H E7 Azv/N N GUSTAV-SON 1937- A. N. GUSTAVSON v2, 9,

PARTY SELECTOR MECHANISM FOR VOTING MACHINES Filed Nov. 26, 1932 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 24 44 D 2; 5o 32 '0 31 2g AL VIN N. Guam vac/v Nov. 16, 1937. A. N. GUSTAVSON PARTY SELECTOR MECHANISM FOR VOTING MACHINES Filed Nov 26, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 AL V/N N Gus T4 vao/v Patented Nov. 16, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE PARTY SELECTOR MECHANISM FOR VOTING MACHINES Application November 26, 1932, Serial No. 644,468

8 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in voting machines and more particularly to a secret party selector unit.

Prior to this invention, each voter, in a primary election, was required to disclose to the election ofiicer in charge of the voting machine, the particular political party with which he was affiliated. The election officer would then adjust a pointer, which was located on the outside of the machine, to the proper position so as to release only those indicators on the keyboard which represent the political party of the voter. The indicators representing all other political parties remained locked so that they could not be moved to voted position by that voter. A voting machine equipped with the party selector unit which is controlled from outside of the booth, will obviously not permit a voter to cast an entirely secret ballot because the pointer will indicate to any one viewing the machine, the political party with which that voter is afiiliated.

Certain States have passed election laws which require not only that each ballot cast be entirely secret but the party afliliation as well. Attempts have been made by concerns engaged in the manufacture of voting machines to satisfy this requirement by locating the pointer for the selector unit within the confines of the voting booth and on the keyboard of the voting machine. Each voter was required to adjust this pointer so as to release those indicators on the keyboard which represented candidates in his political party. This method has been found to be very unsatisfactory because no two voters in the same party would adjust the pointer to exactly the same position. Consequently the voter would become confused because if the pointer was not precisely adjusted, the indicators in his particular party group would remain in locked position. The party selector mechanism requires that each adju. tment of the pointer be accurately made in order for the machine to release those indicators in the desired party row or group. Since one pointer, which was capable of being shifted to various positions, served as the means for unlocking the indicators in the desired political party, it is easy to imagine how confusion would arise among voters who do not take care in accurately adjusting this pointer to the proper position.

The preferred embodiment of the invention discloses a device on a voting machine, which is designed to eliminate the difiiculty heretofore encountered by many voters, for accurately adjust ing the party selector mechanism during primary elections.

The principal object of the invention, therefore, lies in the provision of a secret party selector unit which can be easily and satisfactorily operated by any voter.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of party selector device for a voting machine which insures quick and accurate adjustment of the party lockout device, whereby to properly release all indicators in the preferred party group.

-A further object of the invention lies in the provision of a party selector unit for a voting machine which can be reset by the voter after he discovers an error in his first party choice without the knowledge of anyone outside the booth.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a secret party selector unit for a voting machine which simplifies the operation thereof and avoids the occurrence of errors and confusion.

Other and further objects of the invention. will be more clearly understood from a consideration of the following specification which is taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and in which,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation of the keyboard of a voting machine showing the present invention applied thereto;

Figures 2, 3, and 4, are elevations from one side of the machine showing the party lockout device in various positions.

Figure 5 is an elevation from the rear of the machine showing the principal parts of the invention and the cooperative relationship with each other in neutral or normal position;

Figures 6 and '7 show rear elevations of the selector unit in different positions;

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 8 -8 of Figure 5;

Figure 9 shows an enlarged elevation of one of the party indicators in cooperation with the interlocking mechanism;

Figures 10, 11, and 12 are views from the rear of the selector unit with parts in various positions and showing a modified interlocking arrangement;

Figure 13 is an elevation party indicator board which may be used in conjunction with the selector unit shown in Figures 10, 11, and 12;

Figures 14, 15, and 16 show the indicator return mechanism in various positions; and

Figure 17 is an enlarged horizontal sectional View of the party lockout device and is taken substantially on the line ll-ll of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Figure 1 thereof, the selector unit generally indicated by the reference numeral Ill isshown applied to a voting machine H, in conjunction with the links which connect said unit to a party lockout device E2. The keyboard l3 of the machine is provided with the usual pointers or indicators M which are arranged in rows I6.

The present invention comprises a narrow rec'- tangular plate ll having a front wall IS with side and end flanges 19. This plate is superposed on the keyboard and secured thereto in any suitable manner, being preferably located just below the lowermost row 18 of indicators I4.

For the purpose of presenting a clear understanding of the device, certain elements and groups of elements will be represented by leters. Elements bearing like reference letters will indicate certain cooperative relationship with each other throughout the specification.

Mounted on the front wall l8 of the plate I1, is a plurality of party preference indicators or pointers A, B, C, D, E, F, and G, each of which is connected, by means of the mechanism hereinafter described, through the party lockout device l2, comprising groups of dogs, A, B, C, etc., to the rows- E6 of indicators representing political parties A, B, C, etc. It may be stated that the pointer A controls the manipulation of all those indicators M which represent the political party A. Likewise, the pointer B controls the manipulation of all those indicators M which represent political party B, etc. To simplify the description, it may be assumed that each row of indicators !6 represents a political party.

Secured to the wall 88, and located directly beneath the row of party preference indicators, is a channel shaped label holder 2| which extends nearly the entire length of the plate IT. This label holder is adapted to retain a-printed strip bearing the names of the various political parties in their proper positions relative to the party indicators.

The free ends of each of the indicators are provided with knobs 23. Reference is now had to Figure 5 of the drawings which shows how each of the indicators is connected with the mechanism of the selector unit. Projecting through the wall -3 from the pivot ends of the indicators, are short square shafts 2A, which are keyed to bell cranks 26. Each bell crank is provided with a pair of arms 21 and 28 which are angularly disposed relative to each other. All of the arms 28 are substantially equal in length, whereas the lengths of the arms 21 vary with each bell crank. For example, the bell crank which is connected with the party indicator A (see Figure 1 or 5), has a relatively short arm 21 compared to the bell crank connected with party indicator G, which has a considerably longer arm 21. The purpose of the different length arms will hereinafter be more fully described.

Slidably mounted on the rear face of the wall 58 is a reciprocating bar 29. The bar is provided with a pair of slots 3| through which suitable pins. 32 project. One edge of bar 29 is tapered in steps from one end to the other. Projecting vertically at intervals from the stepped edge of the bar, 23, is a series of lugs 33, each of which is located directly below one of the bell cranks 26. The arms 2'5 of the bell cranks are adapted to engage these lugs whereby to move the bar 29 relative to the plate H. The opposite edge of 58 on the dogs 36.

the bar is provided with a series of notches 34.

Pivotally mounted on the inner face of the wall 48, and located directly below the bar 29, is a plurality of dogs 36 each having an upwardly projecting finger 31 at one end thereof. The opposite end terminates in a right angle projection 38. The dogs are eccentrically pivoted so that the ends having fingers 31, normally rest on one of the flanges 19 of the plate H.

Connected with the extreme ends of each of the arms 28 is a push rod 39, having a longitudinal slot 4!] through which a pin 4! projects. As the indicators move from one position to another, the push rods 39 reciprocate, so that the lower ends thereof engage the right angle projections Simultaneously the bar 29, by means of the arm 27, is caused to move horizontally a given distance. This distance is determined by the engagement of the finger 3? on the end of one of the dogs 35 with the corresponding notch 34 on the lower side of the plate 29. It will be noted that the distance between adjacent notches is considerably greater than the distance between similar points on adjacent dogs. The purpose of this is of course to accomplish the various relative distances of travel of the bar 2% when moved by different party indicators. For example, the limit of travel of the bar 29, when moved by the party indicator A, is small compared to its limit of travel when moved by indicator G. If the desired indicator is moved downwardly as far as it will go, the bar 29 will move a definite predetermined distance regardless of the speed at which that indicator is operated. Each indicator is therefore adapted to cause the bar 29 to move a certain limited distance which varies for different indicators.

In order to avoid mistakes and confusion during the operation of the machine, the indicators are provided with an interlocking mechanism which permits only one of said indicators to be moved at a given time. The interlocking mechanism comprises a plate 42, which is mounted on the bar 29, by means of rivets and is suitably spaced therefrom so that the push rods 3%; lie between the bar 29 and plate 42. As shown in the drawings, the plate 42 is made up of two different pieces, the purpose of which is merely to simplify the assemblying operation. It is apparent that a single element plate may be substituted for the two element plate without altering the principle of operation. The plate 42 is provided with a series of slots 33 which are open along the upper edge thereof. The number of these slots corresponds to the number of party preference indicators. Each of the slots is provided with a sloped wall 44 which begins at the upper edge of the plate 42 and terminates in a vertical wall 45. The length of each slot varies according to the distance which the bar 29 and plate 42 travel, when moved by the corresponding party indicator. Each of the push rods 39 is provided with a lug 46. All of the lugs lie slightly above the upper edge of plate 42 when the party indicators are in the upward or normal position. As one of the indicators is moved downwardly, the lug 66 on the push rod connected therewith, enters the corresponding slot 43 while the bar 29 and plate 42 move horizontally to a new position. This movement is clearly indicated in Figure '7 of the drawings. It will be noted that lugs $6 on all of the unmoved push rods still remain slightly above the upper edge of the plate 52 so that any tendency, inadvertent or deliberate, to move any of the unmoved indicators, is checked by the lug which bears against the upper edge of the plate 43. It will also be noted that the indicator which was originally moved downwardly, causing the lug to enter the corresponding slot in the plate 42,. is prevented from being returned by lifting the indicator knob on. that party indicator because the upper edge of the lug 46 is brought into Contact with the sloped wall 44 which prevents upward movement of said lug.

To further illustrate the operation of the party selector unit, both in actuating any of the party preference indicators and in returning any of said party preference indicators to non-indicating position through operation of lever 41, a brief resume is given. When the selector unit is in the position shown in Figure of the drawings and party preference indicator 23 for the control of group A is rotated about shaft 24, arm 21 contacts lug 33 moving bar 29 to the right as shown Figures 5 and 6. Inasmuch as arm 28 operates with arm 21, arm 28 will cause rod 39 to move downwardly. The lower end of rod 39 moves to contact projection 38 of dog 36, rotating said dog about its pivotal support. It is apparent that the finger 3'! of dog 36 cannot move upwardly into slot of bar 29 until said bar has moved laterally toward. the right through contact of arm 21 with lug Sf course, there is a movement differential to the extent that rod 39 does not move into engagement with dog 36 until bar 29 is moved some distance to the right and notch 34 is ad jacent finger 31. In Figure 6 it is evident that ight be rotated further and by contact arr with cause bar 29 to move further to the right. This, however, is prevented because of finger 31 having projected itself into notch 34. It is now assumed that the voter made a mistake in selecting the party, preferring to cast his ballot for the party represented by preference indicator F instead of A. To indicate the correct party, the voter does not attempt to return indicator 23 of party A to its original position, but moves lever ll laterally to the left. Since lever 41 is joined to bar .9 lug 33 constitutes the moving force and swings m ill about its pin 24 toward the left.

rm 28 is thus caused to swing upwardly, withdrawing rod 39 from contact with the flange 38 surface, continued movement of bar 29 will swing the dog out of engagement therewith into non-locking position. The voter has now reset the party preference unit and may move indicator for party F. The parts of the unit will then assume the position shown in Figure '7 ()1 the drawings.

Joined to the bar 29, in any suitable manner as by riveting or welding, is a lever 41, the lower end of which projects through a slot provided in the lower flange !9. The upper end of the lever is provided with a pin 48 to which one end of a horizontal rod 49 is attached. A bell crank 50 is pivotally mounted on the inner face and adjacent one end of the plate [1. The other end of the rod '39 attached to one arm of the bell crank so that as the bar 29 reciprocates, the bell crank oscillates about its pivot. The other arm of the bell crank is connected to a link 5| which projects upwardly adjacent one side of the mane. upper end of the link 5| connects .'h party lockout device 12 by a suitable n which projects through a slotted opening in the e of the machine. The party lockout e, being identical with that shown in Figures and of Patent Number 1,194,337, forms no part of the present invention other than to illustrate the cooperative relationship it bears to the invention. To make the description complete, however, so that the purpose and function of the device will be more clearly understood, the most important elements of the party lockout, will be assigned reference numerals.

Referring particularly to Figures 2, 3, 4, and 17 of the drawings, the party lockout device I2 is shown comprising a reciprocable channel mem ber 56 having a base wall 5'! and a pair of side walls 58. One of the side walls 58 terminates at both ends in short flanges 59 which are substan tially at right angles relative to the walls 58. The flanges 59 are drilled to receive and support a rod 6| on which is pivotally mounted a plurality of dogs 62. These dogs are arranged in groups A, B, C, D, E, F, and G, as heretofore mentioned. It will be noted that each group contains one more dog 62 than the number of political parties and that there are the same number of groups as there are political parties. The purpose of this arrangement will be more clearly explained in the description of the operation of the device.- The channel 55 is mounted on the side wall of the machine by means of screws or rivets 63 which project through slotted openings 64 in the basewall 5! to permit constrained reciprocating motion thereof relative to the machine. Secured to the base wall 5'! of the channel 56 is a bracket 68, the extreme end of which is attached to the pin 52 on the upper end of the link 5! so that any motion of the link 5! is transferred to the lookout device !2. The edges of the channel walls 58 are provided with notches 61 which are adapted to receive the edges of the dogs 62. lhe dogs may be rotated approximately 180 about the rod 6! so as to extend either across the channel 55 and lie within the notches 61 provided in the walls 58, or project in the opposite direction away from the channel 56. These dogs provide a means of adjustment when the machine is being prepared for an election.

Projecting through the side wall of the machine, and located adjacent the channel 55 of the lockout device I2, is a series of links 68, having lugs 69 attached to the ends thereof. These lugs project horizontally toward the channel 55 and overlap the ends of the dogs 62 which lie across said channel as is shown in Figures 2, 3, 4, or 17. Links 68 are each connected to a primary bar H which extends horizontally and is slidably mounted on the inner face of the keyboard below the rows iii of indicators. As the primary bar H moves horizontally, the links are extended or retracted relative to the side of the machine.

The party selector unit l0 and the party lockout device l2 are directly connected to an indicator return mechanism 12 located at the top of the machine which is controlled by an operating lever 13. The connecting means comprises a rod 14 extending upwardly from the pin 52 which is secured to one arm 16 of a bell crank 11. The other arm 18 of the bell crank joins with a link 19 which extends horizontally to approximately the center of the machine and connects with the return mechanism 12. The link 19 consists of two bars BI and 82 which are slidably joined together by means of rivets. The rivets project through suitable slots provided in the bars. The bars are normally retained in extended position by a tension spring 83. The spring is joined at one end through a suitable lug 34 to the bar 8| and at the other end through anoth r lug 36 to the bar 82.

The indicator return mechanism 12 comprises an angle plate Ell suitably mounted on the frame of the voting machine with a reciprocating member 83 slidably supported thereon. The member is provided with a pin 89 which connects with the bar 82 of the link E9. The travel of the member is limited and constrained by rivets 9| on the angle plate ill which project through a slot 92 in said member. One end of the member is pointed, having a straight edge 93 intersecting with an arcuate edge Q 3. Since the return mechanism l2 is connected through the heretofore mentioned link and rods to the party preference indicators, any movement of these indicators is transmitted to the return mechanism to cause the plate 88 to advance or move to the right. A roller 96, which is mounted eccentrically of the pivot for the operating arm E3, is adapted to engage the edges 93 and 9d of the plate 83. The radius of the arcuate edge 94 is equal to the distance from the operating arm pivot to the contacting point of the roller 95. When the curtain around the voting booth is open, the roller 96 is engaged with the edge at which normally holds the party pref erence indicators in non-indicating position. As the curtain is drawn around the booth, the roller $5 is rotated about the operating arm pivot so as to disengage the edge 9i and lie slightly in advance thereof. The machine is then ready to be operated.

The only essential difference between the selector unit shown in Figures 5. to '7 and that shown in Figures 10 to 12, lies in a modified form of the party indicator interlocking mechanism. This interlocking mechanism comprises a link i3? which is attached, like the push rod 39, at one end, to the arm 28 of bell crank 26 but projects upwardly therefrom. The free end of the link ill is provided with a pin 98 which extends toward the wall !8 and lies between adjacent ends of reciprocable plates 99. It will be noted that there is one more of the plates 99 than the number of hell cranks 26. One of the plates 93 has been shown stationary but it is obvious that it need not necessarily be fixed. A limited movement of the plates is permitted by suitable rivets which project through slots formed therein. A portion of one edge of each plate is inclined so that the pin 93 normally lies between the straight edge of one plate and the inclined edge of the next adjacent plate. The distance each plate can travel is approximately equal to the width of the pin 98 so that as one indicator is moved downwardly, the pin 98 connected therewith, causes displacement of the plates 99, this .being clearly shown in Figures 11 and 12 of the drawings. Since the limit of the displacement of all of the plates 99 is thus reached, it follows that no other indicator can be moved downwardly at the same time because the remaining pins 38 are lodged between the edges of adjacent plates.

In connection with a machine equipped with an interlocking device of the type just described, it has been found necessary to provide a positive means for revealing to the voter at all times during the casting of his ballot, that particular political party which he chose upon entering the booth. This means consists in providing the front wall l8 and the ballot label holder 2i with suitable apertures lsl, one beneath each of the party indicators. These apertures are located adjacent the bar 29. The surface of the bar 29 provided with any suitable indentations or marks Hi2 which may be made to register with the apertures Hill. It will be noted from an examination of Figure 13 that the distance between adjacent apertures is slightly less than the distance between adjacent marks so that one and only one of the marks m2 will register with its particular aperture at a given time. If the indicator F, for example, had been moved instead of indicator D, the mark it: would have been made to register with the aperture llll which lies beneath party indicator F. Thus if a voter upon entering the booth, moves one of the party indicators downwardly and then immediately returns that indicator to its original position, he is liable to forget just which indicator he moved. By the device shown in Figure 13, he can immediately tell which indicator was moved by glancing at the apertures Hill. The aperture revealing the mark H32 of course is the one he initially moved and will indicate which party has been released for voting. A device of this kind is only useful in occasions where a voter might return the party indicator to its original position after making his party selection.

The operation ofthe device is as follows. As the voter enters the booth he draws the curtain around the front of the machine by moving the operating lever l3 which simultaneously unlocks the voting machine for operation. When the machine is unlocked, the roller 99 is disengaged from the plate 88 and lies in advance of the edges 93 and 8% which permits the plate 88 to move freely. If the voter is afiiliated with the political party A, he moves the party preference indicator A downwardly as far as it will go. An examination of Figure 6 will show what takes place in the party selector unit when the indicator A is moved. The bell crank 26 on the extreme right, indicates the position of the arm after the indicator has been moved. Contact of the arm Zl with one of the lugs 33 on the bar 29 during this movement, causes said bar to shift to the right. The push rod 39 which is attached to the end of arm 23, engages the projection 38 on one of the dogs 86 and causes the finger 3? to move upwardly. The horizontal movement of the bar 2Q stops when the finger 3i enters one of the notches 3Q. As the bar 29 travels from the position shown in Figure 5 to that shown in Figure 6, the horizontal movement thereof is transmitted through the lever ll and rod 49 to the bell crank 56. Beyond the bell crank 56, the line of motion is altered from horizontal to vertical and is transferred to the party lockout device l2 through the link 5i so that, as the bar 29 moves to the right, the party lockout device l2 moves upwardly a certain predetermined dis tance which is governed by the extent of movement of the bar 29. Since the dogs 62 form a part of the party lockout device 52, it is evident that the positions of said dogs shift relative to the lugs 69 on the links $8 when the bar 29 is moved. It should be understood that the second dog 62 from the top in the group Aof the party lockout device, is moved to the opposite side of the rod 63 from the link as so as to produce a clear passage for the lug 69 when one of the indicators in the party row A is moved to voting position. It should also be noted that since the second dog from the top in the remaining groups lies on the same side of the rod 6i as the link 58 so that the lugs E58 adjacent each of the party rows B, C, D, etc., overlap the ends of the dogs 62, that none of the indicators in said rows can be moved to voted position. After the voter has made his choice of candidates in his political party, he opens the curtain around the booth by swinging the operating lever to the opposite side of the machine. The roller 96 moves with the operating lever to engage the edge 93 of the plate 88 (see Figure 16) and causes said plate and the entire mechanism connected therewith to return to their original positions.

Suppose, however, that the voter discovers he has made a mistake in choosing his party. If he has not moved any of the candidate indicators in the party row which was released on his first choice, he can correct his mistake by moving the lever 41 toward the right (Figure 1) to restore the undesired party indicator and the party lockout device to their original positions. This alteration, as mentioned before, can be made without the knowledge or concern of anyone outside the booth. With the machine reset, the voter may then make the correct party choice by moving the prop-er party indicator downwardly as far as it will go. Assume, for example, that the voters preferred party is the one represented by the indicator F. Figure '7 shows the relative positions of the parts in the mechanism when this indicator has been moved. It will be noted that the arm 21 on the bell crank 26, which is connected with the party indicator F, is considerably longer than the corresponding arm on the bell crank for indicator A. Therefore, the distance the bar 29 and the party lockout 12 will travel when moved by indicator F is greater than the distance they will travel when moved by the indicator A. The groups of dogs 62 on the party lockout device will simultaneously with the movement of the indicator so that the 7th dog from the top of group F, which has previously been moved to the opposite side of the rod 6! from the link 68, lies in line with the lug 69 adjacent the party row F, but does not interfere with the travel of said lug. The candidate indicators in party row F may, therefore, be moved to voted position while all other indicators in the remaining political parties are locked against operation by the 7th dog from the top of each of the remaining party groups.

Although applicant has shown and described but one modification of his invention, he does not intend to be limited thereto, since it will be apparent to those slL'lled in the art that other modifications or adaptations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope other than defined in the hereunto annexed claims.

Having thus set forth my invention what I claim as new and for which I desire protection by Letters Patent is:-

In a voting machine, a party selector unit having a plurality of indicators, a party lockout device for controlling the manipulation of candidate indicators, a reciprocating bar in said unit, mean operated by said party indicators to differentially move said bar, further means in said unit for limiting the movement of said bar to that required for a given party indicator, and connecting means between said bar and said lockout device whereby manipulation of a party indicator will cause said lockout device to release the corresponding party group of candidate indicators for voting.

2. In a voting machine, a party selector unit comprising party indicators, bell cranks operated by said indicators, a difierentially movable bar having lugs, said lugs being engageable with said bell cranks, notches formed in said bar, dogs engageable with said notches and push rods operated by said bell cranks and adapted to contact with said dogs and a party row lockout device operably connected with said bar, each of said indicators being capable of moving said bar and said lockout device a different predetermined distance which is limited by said dogs.

3. In a, voting machine, a party selector unit having a plurality of indicators, a party lockout device for controlling the manipulation of candidate indicators, a bar in said unit, means operated by said indicators to differentially move said, bar, an interlocking mechanism in said unit, said interlocking mechanism being connected with the party indicator means and operable thereby to prevent more than one party indicator being moved to indicating position at a time, and connecting means between said bar and said lockout device whereby manipulation of a party indicator will cause said lockout device to operate and release the corresponding party group of candidate indicators for voting.

4. In a voting machine, a selector unit having a plurality of indicators, bell cranks operated by said indicators, a differentially movable bar having lugs, said lugs being engageable by said bell cranks, notches formed in said bar, dogs engageable with said notches, rods operable by said bell cranks to contact and move said dogs into engagement with said notches, an interlocking mechanism in said unit, said mechanism being connected with said bell cranks and operable thereby to prevent more than one party indicator being moved to indicating position at a time, and a party row lockout device operably connected with said bar, each of the indicators of said unit being capable of moving said bar and said lockout device a definite distance determined by the action of said dogs.

5. In a voting machine, a party selector unit having a plurality of indicators, a party lockout device for controlling the manipulation of candidate indicators, a reciprocable bar in said unit, means operated by said party indicators to differentially move said bar, links operable by said party indicator means, a plurality of limitedly movable plates, said plates having connection with said links and being movable their full limited distance by any one of said links, and connecting means between said bar and said lockout device, whereby manipulation of a party indicator will cause said lockout device to release the corresponding party group of candidate indicators for voting.

6. In a voting machine, a party selector unit having a plurality of indicators, a party lockout device for controlling the manipulation of candidate indicators, a movable bar in said unit, means operated by said party indicators to difierentially move said bar, notches formed in said bar, dogs engageable with said notches, the means operated by said party indicators being adapted to move said dogs to engage said notches, links operable by said party indicator means, a plurality of limitedly movable plates, said plates having connection with said links and being movable their full limited distance by any one of said links, and connecting means between said bar and said lockout device, whereby manipulation of a party indicator will cause said lockout device to release the corresponding party group of candidate indicators for voting.

7. In a voting machine, a party selector unit having a plurality of indicators, a party lockout device for controlling the manipulation of candidate indicators, a movable bar in said unit, means operated by said party indicators to differentially move said bar, notches formed in said means operated by said party indicators to differentially move said bar, a lever joined to said bar, said lever projecting beyond the limits of said unit and operable to reposition any of the indicators'of said unit, and connecting means between said bar and said lockout device whereby manipulation of a party indicator will cause said lockout device to operate and release the corresponding party group of candidate indicators for voting.

ALVIN N. GUSTAVSON.

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