US2320105A

US2320105A - Voting machine

Info

Publication number: US2320105A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1943-05-25
Anticipated expiration: 1960-05-25

Description

May 25, 1943, R, F, SHOUP 2,320,105

VOTING MACHINE m I @g M) 1 Q will! mm lHlll HIHI IN mm mm mm mm w DEMOCRAT.

REPUBLICAN INVENTOR ATTORNYS $OCIALIST R. F. SHOUP VOTING MACHINE May 25, 1943.

Filed Feb. 21, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 25, 1943 VOTING MACHINE Ransom F. Shoup, Ardmorc, Pa., assignor to The Shoup Voting Machine Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application February 21, 1941, Serial No. 379,978

4 Claims.

This invention relates in voting machines and more especially to voting machines of the type disclosed in Shoup et al. Patent No. 2,054,102.

In certain States, the election laws provide that with respect to certain ofllces, for example, representation in the general assembly, each elector has the right to cast from one to three ballots for any candidate and also, the voter has the right to distribute his three votes in any manner that he may desire among one to three candidates of his choice. Such provision is for the purpose of properly'proportioning and balancing the relative strength of the political parties as it may be indicated in the general assembly. He may cast his entire three votes for one candidate; he may cast two votes for one candidate and his remaining vote for a second candidate; he may cast one and one-half vote for each of two candidates; or he may cast a single vote for each of three candidates. He may limit his choice of candidates to a single party or he may split his vote among the candidates of two or more parties.

An object of this invention is to equip the Shoup type voting machine with mechanism to enable it to be used for cumulative voting according to the election laws above referred to.

Other objects, novel features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a fragmentary rear elevation of a Shoup type Voting machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevation partly broken away of the main interlock of a Shoup type voting machine taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

In this specification, reference will be made to certain mechanisms fully described and explained in said Patent No. 2,054,102, and Shoup Patent No. 2,191,086 and with respect to such mechanisms the same reference characters will be used as are used in said patents.

A plurality of columns of spindles 38 extend through and between a vertical partition plate 39 and a plurality of vertical supporting members 40 and are supported for rotation as described in said patents. Each spindle is equipped with an operating handle 30 and a counter C (of the type illustrated in Shoup Patent No. 2,140,336) merely an indication of which appears in the drawings, is associated with each spindle 38. On each spindle are provided arms 59 and 58 between which extends a rod 59b. Each section substantially on spindle is limited to oscillation between voted and unvoted position through an arc of predetermined extent by engagement of the arm 59 with the next lower spindle in the manner disclosed in said Shoup Patent No. 2,054,102, particularly in Fig. 25. A pull strap SI is attached to each rod 59b and leads to the main interlock 42 which is of the same construction as described in Shoup Patent No. 2,191,086. In this interlock are provided a plurality of cylindrical rollers 62, certain of which are tubular for the purpose of receiving pins 63 extending through apertures in the interlock casing for the purpose of fixing said rollers against movement relative to the casing. The pull straps 6| pass between the rollers and are provided with wedges 64 for spreading apart the rollers.

At least two of the straps 40 are provided with vertically spaced pins or studs 40I having heads 402. A plate is supported between corresponding pairs of pins for horizontal reciprocation, these plates being designated respectively 403a, 4031) and 4030. Each plate is provided with a plurality of vertical rows of square apertures 405 through each of which extends a spindle 38. To each plate is attached a pull strap BI leading to the auxliary interlock 42' in which are provided cylindrical rollers 62, certain of which are tubular for the purpose of receiving pins 63' extending through apertures in the interlock casing for fixing said rollers against movement relative to said casing. Each draw bar 6| passes between a pair of rollers and is provided with a wedge 64' for spreading apart the rollers. The horizontal extent of each aperture 405 is sufiicient to permit horizontal movement of the plate to move a head 04 between rollers 63.

On each spindle 38 is fixed an arm 406 having a horizontal stud or pin 401, each pin projecting into an aperture 405. In the unvoted position of a spindle, its arm extends downwardly to the left. The height of each aperture 405 is sufiicient to permit the extent of rotation of the spindle 38 necessary to eirect actuation thereof from its unvoted to its voting position. A spring 408 is attached to each plate for the purpose of biasing it rightward.

In the wall I0 is provided personal choice slots I39 with a slidable closure I40 for each slot. In back of the slots is a guide I4I over which passes a sheet of paper I42 from a feed roller I43 to a take-up roller (not shown). A yoke I pivotally supported on a rod I500. is rotated counter-clockwise from the position shown in Fig. 2, by movement of any closure I40 to its open position and when actuated, is returned to its original position upon return of the machine to curtain open position by means (not shown) but fully disclosed in said Shoup et al. Patent No. 2,054,102. The yoke I50 coacts a vertical column of strap 61. Each of the arms I60 is provided with a head E projecting into a slotted channel shaped runner 222 having a right-angle extension attached to a slide 223 supported by the wall I0. Each slide is in alinement with a personal choice slot closure I40 so that movement of a personal choice slot closure to open position swings the arm I60 counterclockwise with consequent leftward movement of the corresponding link Ifil and its associated interlock strap 6| to bring the head 64 thereof between rollers 62. Restoration of any actuated arm I00 and the corresponding closure [50 is effected by the mechanism for that purpose described in Shoup et al. Patent No.

Each of the plates 503a, 4031; and 4030 is provided with a right angle flange 409 projecting into the path of the same number of pins 6 l a as there are horizontal rows of spindles projecting through the plate. Leftward movement of any one of the pins 61a results in leftward movement of the plate, the flange 1309 of which it engages.

In the set-up of the machine herein disclosed, the plate 403a, as well as each of the other two plates, is equipped with three vertical rows of apertures 405 with three apertures in each row. The arrangement of the apertures is such that with the spindles in unvoted position and the plate in its rightmost position, the left hand vertical side of each aperture is engaged near its bottom by a pin 01 and the head 64 is out of engagement with the rollers 02. Upon actuation of any spindle to voting position, the spindle turns clockwise with consequent elevation of the pin 401 through an arc, the extent of which is limited by the extent of rotation of the spindle from voted to unvoted position. The arrangement of the arm 405 on the spindle is such that the are through whichthe pin 40? travels locates the pin I at a slightly higher level than the axis of the spindle so that after a spindle has been actuated into voted position, the pull exerted on the pin 40'! by the spring 408 through the medium of the plate tends to advance the spindle beyond voted position rather than to restore it to unvoted position (Fig. 1, Socialist column, 4th spindle). However, because spindle cannot proceed beyond its votedposition, the spring tends to maintain the spindle in voted position and oppose return of it to unvoted position. The leftward movement of the plate is sufficient to bring the corresponding head 65 between two rollers 63'. The

plate is released for rightward movement by counterclockwise operation of the spindle either by the voter or by the spindle restoring mechanism operative upon operation of the machine from curtain closed to curtain open position as fully described in said Patent No. 2,054,102, but not herein illustrated. The arrangement of the rollers 63 is such that only one wedge 64' can be drawn between the rollers 63. Therefore, actuation of one plate locks out the remaining plates. 7

Actuation of any one of the top three personal choice slot' closures l39resultsinleftward movement of the plate 403a through the medium of the associated slide 223, runner 222, arm I60, link I6I and pin Bla. Similarly, actuation of any of the middle three personal choice slot closures results in leftward movement of the plate 4031) and also opening of any of the bottom three personal choice slot closures results in leftward movement of the plate 4030. Whichever plate is moved leftward, the remaining two are locked out as previously described.

That section of the main interlock into which extend the interlock straps 0| of the upper three rows is set to permit actuation of only one spindle of the upper three rows or one of the upper three personal choice slot closures I40, or as is more commonly expressed is set to vote 1. This is accomplished by the use of the proper number of movable rollers 62 between fixed rollers, that is rollers through which pins 63 extend, to permit the introduction only of a single wedge 04 between the rollers.

The section of the main interlock into which extend the interlock straps 6| of the middle three rows of spindles and the middle three personal choice slot closures is set to vote 2 while that portion of the main interlock into which extend the interlock straps 6| of the lower three rows and the lower three personal choice slot closures is set to vote three. The middle and bottom interlock sections are set by proper arrangement of movable rollers between the fixed rollers as above explained.

As indicated in Fig. 1, each set of three spindles in each column is allocated to the same group of candidates and in a general election, each column of spindles is allocated to a single political party. The counter associated with each spindle is advanced one digit for each spindle actuation but each digit of a counter of the upper three rows is counted as three votes for a candidate while each digit of a counter in the middle three rows is counted as a vote and a half fora candidate'and each counter digit in the bottom three rows is counted 'as a single vote for a candidate.

A voter may cast a ballot for candidate G by actuating either the first, fourth or seventh spindle of the Socialist column. If he actuates the first spindle, he moves the plate 403a leftward, thereby actuating the auxiliary interlock 42' to lock out the plates 8031) and 4030. Also, he simultaneously drawers a head 64 between rollers (52 of the top section of the main interlock. As

the top section of the main interlock is set for vote one only, the voter cannot actuate any other spindle in the top set of three rows nor any of the top three personal choice slot closures M0. Also, because of the fact that the plates 4 03b and 4030 are locked out by the auxiliary interlock,

he cannot actuate any of the spindles in the middle and bottom sets nor any of the personal choice'slot closures from four to nine. The voter has thus cast his entire quota of votes for G. The voter may cast a ballot'for an unlisted candidate by opening one of the top three personal 'choice closures (39 and writing in the candidates name on the strip I42 rather than actuating a spindle. In the event that he actuates a per- 'sonal choice slot closure he locks out the entire set of spindles and all the remaining personal choice slot closures as above described.

If the voter actuates the second spindle allocated to G, as indicated in Fig. 1, he moves the plate 403?; leftward, thereby looking out the plates 403aand 4030 in the manner previously "described. He also draws a wedge 64 between rollers 62 of the auxiliary interlock. However, as the auxiliary interlock is set for vote 2, the voter may actuate another spindle, for example, the second spindle allocated to candidate C. After actuation of the second spindle, the voter cannot actuate any further spindles of the second three rows nor can he actuate any personal choice slot closure from four to six. Likewise, he cannot operate any of the spindles or personal choice slot closures in the top and bottom groups. With this arrangement, the voter has divided his ballot between two candidates and has given one and one-half votes to each. A voter may cast one and one-half votes for each of two unlisted candidates by actuation of two of the personal choice slot closures from four to two and writing in the candidates name instead of actuating two spindles and such actuation of the personal slot closure locks out the remaining personal choice slot closure as well as all the spindles.

If the voter actuates the third spindle allocated to the candidate G, he actuates the plate 4ll3c leftward in the manner previously described, thereby actuating the auxiliary interlock to lock out the plates 4930 and 4533b. Also, since the bottom portion of the main interlock is set for vote 3, he may actuate two additional spindles of the bottom group or two personal choice slot closures. The spindles and personal choice slot closures of the upper two groups are locked out in the manner previously described. Through the medium of the bottom set of spindles and personal choice slot closures, a voter may cast one ballot for each of three candidates, or may cast one ballot for one candidate and two ballots for another candidate. for the same candidate by first actuating the spindle assigned to that candidate and then opening a personal choice slot closure and writing in the candidates name.

A voter may cast his vote for one or more candidates not listed on the ofiicial ballot and He may cast his two ballots may divide his three votes among such candidates as he sees fit through the medium of the personal choice mechanism. For this purpose, he may utilize one personal choice slot of the top three or two personal choice slots of the middle three or three personal choice slots of the lower three. The location vertically on the strip I42 of the written-in candidates name determines whether such write-in is counted as one,

one and one-half or three votes for the candidate.

I claim: 1. In a voting machine having a plurality of spindles and means for limiting the extent of rotation of each spindle between voted and un voted position, mechanism for conditioning said machine for cumulative voting with said spindles divided into a plurality of multiple-spindle groups, said mechanism comprising a plate for each group supported for reciprocation transversely of the axes of said spindles between a first position and a second position and biased for movement into said first position, said plate having a plurality of surfaces perpendicular to its direction of reciprocation, a crank pin carried by each spindle for engagement with a said surface of a plate to effect movement or" said plate from its first position to its second position and partially back toward its first position under the influence of said biasing means upon movement of said spindle from its unvoted position to its voting position, said crank pin being so arranged with respect to the spindle axis that in unvoted position of the spindle the pin iies on on side of a line passing through the spindle axis parallel to the direction of reciprocation of said plate and lies on the opposite side of said line in the voted position of said spindle, an interlock for the set of plates responsive to actuation of one plate to prevent actuation of any remaining plate, and an individual auxiliary interlock for the group of spindles associated with each plate effective upon actuation of a predetermined number of spindles of said group to prevent actuation of any remaining spindle of said group, each auxiliary interlock being arranged to permit the actuation of a number of spindles of its group different from any other group.

2. In a voting machine, the combination according to claim 1 wherein the spindles are horizontal and the plates are supported for horizontal reciprocation.

3. In a voting machine having a plurality of spindle members and means for limiting the extent of rotation of each spindle member between voted and unvoted position, mechanism for conditioning said machine for cumulative voting with said spindle members divided into a plurality of multiple-spindle member groups, said mechanism comprising a plate for each group supported for reciprocation transversely of the axes of said spindle members between a first position and a second position and biased for movement into said first position, said plate having a plurality of surfaces perpendicular to its direction of reciprocation, a crank pin carried by each spindle member for engagement with a said surface of a plate to effect movement of said plate from its first position to its second position and partially back toward its first position under the influence of said biasing means upon movement of said spindle member from its unvoted position to its voting position, said crank pin being so arranged with respect to the spindle member axis that in unvoted position of the spindle member the pin lies on one side of a line passing through the spindle member axis parallel to the direction of reciprocation of said plate and lies on the opposite side of said line in the voted position of said spindle member, a group of personal choice slide members for each group of spindle members, means for effecting movement of a plate from its first to its second position upon actuation of a personal choice slide member allocated thereto, an interlock for said group of plates responsive to actuation of one plate to prevent actuation of any remaining plate, and an individual auxiliary interlock for the set of spindle and slide members associated with each plate effective upon actuation of a predetermined number of members of said set to prevent actuation of any remaining member of said set, each auxiliary interlock being arranged to permit the actuation of a number of spindle and slide members of its set different from any other set.

4. In a voting machine, the combination according to claim 3 wherein the axes of said spindle members are horizontal and said plates are supported for horizontal reciprocation.

RANSOM F. SHOUP.