US2498380A - Ransom f - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 21, 1950 R. F. SHOUP 2,498,380

SAFETY MECHANISM TO PREVENT OVER VOTING IN VOTING MACHINES Filed June 2, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet l Rl Z FOR JUDGES OF THE SUPERIOR COURT FOR JUDGES OF THE SUPERIOR COURT (TWENTY-0N5 To (TWENTV-ONE TO BE ELECTED a E ELECTED) EIDUENEIDEIEIEIDEJEIUEIEIDEIEIEI.

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/J06 J07 as 405 i .5 ,4 INVENTOR. 5% T j ISA/1490M f J/ /w/P 1676 if Arm/M549 Feb. 21, 1950 R. F. SHOUP 2,498,380

SAFETY MECHANISM TO PREVENT OVER VOTING IN VOTING MACHINES Filed June 2, 1948 '4 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR. Ban/50M .F fi/mup Feb. 21, 1950 R. F. SHOUP SAFETY MECHANISM TO PREVENT OVER VOTING IN VOTING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed June 2, 1948 0 7% w w m W n F a a M W N c a A W 1 P "m m Fm}- F|| a m 1 0 M Wll 7/ xnWM T \m )1 1 LWJ- I Patented F eb. 21, 1950 SAFETY MECHANISM TO PREVENT OVER VOTING IN VOTING MACHINES Ransom F. Shoup, Ardmore, Pa., assignor to The Shoup Voting Machine Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application June 2, 1948, Serial No. 30,693

8 Claims. 1

This invention relates to voting machines and more particularly voting machines of the type covered by Shoup Patent No. 2,054,102.

At a general election of county, State or national officials, frequently there is also an election of a large group of local ofiicers such as local judges or the like for which each party presents as many candidates as there are oificers to be elected and each voter has the privilege of casting a single straight ticket party vote for all officers, or splitting his vote between the candidates of the parties, or of casting a personal choice vote for individuals other than the party candidates. For a voting machine to handle such an election, it must be capable of being set up in such a manner that a straight ticket operating means or lever is available for use to vote a straight ticket for such a group of candidates presented by one or more parties. In such a situation, the individual vote indicating spindles in a party column are all actuated by operation of the straight ticket lever assigned to that party column. Particularly where a large number of candidates are involved, as an illustration twenty-one candidates, it is possible for a voter to actuate, as an illustration the straight ticket lever for the Republican party, which actuates all of the twenty-one individual voting spindles of that party. If the voter then returns one of the individual vote indicating spindles to unvoted position, and then actuates any individual vote indicating spindle in another party column, as an illustration the Democratic party, he has now in effect marked his ballot for a split ticket. If, after having done this, the voter then again endeavors to actuate the straight ticket lever for the Republican party, this places the large leverage available against one individual pull strap, namely, the strap for the Republican candidate who had been cut. The leverage is so great on this one pull strap as to make it sometimes possible for the strap to physically be forced into the interlock; in effect representing the twenty-second vote, which is an illegal vote, as the voter is only entitled to twentyone. Such a possibility must be eliminated in order to insure absolute honest and accurate elections.

An object of this invention is to provide a safety mechanism for use in voting machines which will make it physically impossible for a voter, once he has actuated a straight ticket lever, to again actuate this same lever in an endeavor to cast an illegal vote.

Other objects, novel features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the 5 following specification and accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front view of the voting machine illustrating the manner in which it is set up for the selection of a large group of oflicers, for example, judges of the Supreme Court with twenty-one to be elected and showing the position of the voting levers before the voter has registered his straight ticket or other vote;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the position of the voting levers when the voter has cast his straight ticket ballot for all twenty-one candidates of one of the parties by operation of the proper straight ticket lever;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary rear view in perspective of the frame of the voting machine to which the safety mechanism embodying the invention has been applied and illustrating the position of the mechanism before any vote has been cast;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the position of the parts after the voter has operated the straight ticket mechanism to cast his ballot in accordance with the showing of Fig. 2, i. e., all the candidates in column 1;

Fig. 5 is a similar perspective view of the position of the parts after the vote in accordance with Fig. 2 has been cast and during the return motion of the released straight ticket mechanism to original position;

Fig. 6 is a similar perspective view illustrating position of parts after a voter has operated the straight ticket lever as shown in Fig. 2 and released it for return to its original position and in which the released straight ticket operating mechanism has completed its return movement and wherein reoperation is prevented by the position of the safety mechanism;

Fig. 7 is an elevational view of the safety plate member of the safety mechanism embodying the invention;

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 8--8 of Fig. 6 and viewed in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 8a is a fragmentary elevational view of the safety plate showing a modified structural detail of a pawl part of the safety mechanism;

Fig. 8b is a fragmentary separated view of the mounting members used to secure the safety mechanism in place over selected of the voting spindles;

Fig. 9 is a transverse section taken along line 99 of Fig. 1 but showing three voting columns of the machine;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary elevational view of the 3 parts shown in Fig. 7 in a different operational position; and

Fig. 11 is a similar View of the same parts in still another position during operation.

In so far as practical, the reference characters used herein will correspond to the reference characters used in the specifications of Shoup voting machine patents such, for example, as Shoup et a1. 2,054,102 and Shoup 2,191,086.

In the voting machine of Shoup Patent i 2,054,102, there are vertical rows or columns of spindles and a main interlock, together with interlock straps for connecting to the main interlock the spindles of columns l to 9 counting away from the interlock. Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate only the first and second columns. The interlock straps for the spindles of these columns are of the variable length type shown and are described in copending Shoup application Serial No. 733,379, filed March 8, 1947. with means for enabling a voter to record a personal choice vote including a slot for each horizontal row of spindles, each slot being normally closed by a slide which the voter may open to write in. his personal choice on a strip of paper 1 properly arranged for the purpose.

The spindles 3B are journaled at one end in a plate 39 and at the other end are journaled in vertical straps 40. Each spindle is equipped with an operating handle and is of square cross-section except that it is provided with a circular groove 38a to be received in a circular bearing provided therefor in straps 40. Each spindle 30 extends through and supports a channel member 90, the ends of which engage the plate 39 and a strap 43, and the channel member til is received within square apertures in two arms59 and 59. A rod 5% extends between and has its end attached to the arms 59 and 59. A plate 59a is attached to each arm 59 through the intermediary of the rod 5% which passes througha hole in arm 59 and a slot in the plate 59a. The plate 59a is thus slidably and rotatably connected to the arm 59' and is, therefore, capable ofbeing adjusted to different positions relative to the arm as fully described in said Patent 2,191,086. By reason of the rectangular crosssection of the channel member 60 and its snug fit on the square portion of the spindle 38, it is firmly secured to the spindle for rotation therewith. Likewise, rotation of the spindle 38 causes rotation of the arms 59 and 59'. The arms 59 cooperate with their restoring frame 55 as described in said Patent 2,054,102 and the arms 59 and plates 59a cooperate with vertically and horizontally movable members N0 and straight ticket voting handles I95 in the manner described in the said Shoup Patent 2,191,086. For straight ticket voting of a group of candidates by operation of straight ticket operating levers I95, vertical rows or columns of spindles 38 are set up, asdescribed in said Shoup Patent 2,191,086 so that operation of any straight ticket operating levers I95 over one of such columns or rows actuates all the spindles set up in the vertical row under it to vote indicating position, the levers W5 and members I90 being biased for self-restoration after such'actuation.

A counter C is associated with each spindle 38 and is provided with a drive pinion 43 having a square aperture through which extends the square portion of the spindle 38. The counter C preferably is of the construction described and claimed in the Shoup Patent 2,140,336.

Each rod 5% has connected therewith one end The machine also is equipped of an interlock strap 6| leading to a main interlock 42 of a construction described and claimed in Shoup Patent 2,191,086. In the interlock 42 are provided a plurality of interlock members 62, certain of which are tubular for the purpose of receiving pins 63 extending through apertures in the interlock casing for the purpose of fastening said members against movement relative to the casing. Each interlock strap passes between the pair of interlock members 62 and is provided with a wedge 64 for spreading two members apart.

In the wall 10, there is provided a vertical column of personal choice slots I39 with a slidable closure for each slot. In the back of the slots is a' guide table Ml over which passes a sheet of paper Hi2 from a feed roller his to a take-up roller (not shown). A yoke E59 pivotally supported on a vertical rod |50a is rotated counterclockwise from the position shown in Fig. 9 by movement of any closure M6 to its open position and, when actuated is returned to its original position upon returnof the machine to curtain-open position by means (not shown) but fully disclosed in said Shoup Patent 2,054,102. The yoke lfill cooperates with mechanism (not shown) to advance the strip 142 a predetermined distance for each actuation of the yoke.

The rod IBM is supported by brackets I501) attached to a vertical plate 1500 of theshape shown in Fig. 9 and'the plate I500 is provided with a vertical series of apertures constituting guideways for links I 6! which at one end are attached to arms 160 pivotally supported by the rod 150a and each link is provided with a pin 161a connected to an interlock strap tl. Each of the arms i613 is provided with a head I60 projecting into a slotted channel-shape runner 222 having a right angle extension attached to a slide 223 supported by the wall 10. Each slide 223 is in alinement with a personal choice slot closure M0 so that movement of a personal choice slot closure to open position swings the arm counterclockwise with consequent leftward movement of the corresponding link l6! and its associated interlock strap 5! to bring the wedge thereof between rollers -62. Restoration of any actuated arm I60 and the corresponding closure I40 is affected by mechanism for that purpose, described in the Shoup et a1. Patent 2,191,086.

On each spindle 38 is located an arm or butterfly B consisting of two plates 8i and 82 having square apertures of proper size snugly to receive the square portion of a spindle 38 and the apertures are so arranged that they register with each other only when the plates BI and 82 are oriented with respect to each other and are out of register when the arms coincide. These arms forming the butterfly B are more particularly described in the copending Shoup application Serial No. 14,713, filed March 13, 1948. A stud extends'from the butterfly B. This stud 85, as described in the last-named application, operates to lock the two plates 3! and82 together and for other purposes presently to appear.

A safety member or plate 509 having lateral upper and lower flanges 500a and 5991) and a length sufficient to span the number of voting columns or rows it is desired to control is provided. In the embodiment shown, this safety member or plate 590 has a length sufiicient to span three columns. It may be of any desired length so as to span as many columns as are to be used. This safety member or plate Eilllis provided with vertically-arranged columns of generally rectangular apertures Bill so that a spindle 38 may pass through each aperture. In the embodiment shown, the safety member or plate 500 has two apertures 50I per column. It may be of any desired Width, so as to have as many apertures as desired per column so as to span as many spindles in the vertical rows of the columns as are desired. The left wall of each aperture has an arcuate recess 502 at the bottom thereof. Each aperture 50I also receives the pin or stud 85 associated with the butterfly B of the spindle 58 passing through said aperture.

Engaging means or pawls 504 are pivotally secured at 504a to the rear of the safety plate member 500. Biasing springs 506 are provided to bias the pawls 504 in a counterclockwise direction as seen in Fig. 7. Arms or lugs 50'I on the pawls 504 act to limit rotation of the biased pawls and normally to maintain the biased pawls 504 in substantially vertical position but to permit clockwise rotation. The upper edges 504' of the pawls function as limit stops as will be presentls described.

In the alternative, as shown in Fig. 8a, modified forms of engaging means or pawls 5041) are provided. Such pawls are pivotally secured at 5040 to the rear of the safety plate member 500. A biasing spring 506?) is provided to bias pawl 5041) in a counterclockwise direction as seen in Fig. 8a. An arm or lug 5011) on the pawl 50422 acts with the lower flange 50% of plate member 500 to limit counterclockwise rotation of the biased pawl 504D and normally to maintain the latter in substantially vertical position but to permit its clockwise rotation again the biasing action of spring 505?). The upper edge 50012 of the pawl functions as a limit stop as will be presently described. In addition, an oblique slot 5040' is provided in the left side of pawl 50% adjacent the upper edge 5041) for purposes of preventing repeat Voting by the same voter as will presently be described.

A pawl bearing safety plate 500 of required length and carrying either the pawls 504 or 5042) is mounted horizontally at the rear of the machine over spindles 38 of the voting machine columns it is desired to control. As seen in Figs. 3-6 inelusive, the plate 500 is mounted over spindles 38 of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd columns of the machine with one spindle 38 projecting through each aperture 50I. The apertures 50I are long enough to allow longitudinal motion of the plate 500 when the latter is actuated as will be described by movement of various of the butterflies B in registering votes.

The plate 500 is retained longitudinally slidable position upon the spindles 38 and guided horizontally by the retaining members 505. Each such retaining member has vertically alined openings 505 to permit passage therethrough of spindle 38. These members 505 are prevented from sliding off the spindles by locking members 501. These locking members 501 each has an opening 508 through which the square sections of the spindles 38 may pass freely and a portion 508a shaped to fit into the annular recesses 380: in the spindles 38. A second recess 508E) similar in shape to recess 500a is provided on the lower edge of member 501. The spacing between recesses 508a and 508b is equal to the vertical distance between two spindles 38 in a column. The members 507 are slid onto the uppermost of the two spindles of a column that is straddled by plate 500 and then moved downwardly to cause the recesses 508a and 508?) to engage in the recesses 38a in the respective spindles 30. These members 501 are then fixed in place by studs 509 that are inserted through holes 509a and screw into threaded holes 50% provided in the mem bers 505. The normal position of the spindles 38 is such that when the arms 50? are fixed in place the recesses 508a and 50821 engage in recesses 38a of the spindles and cannot slide off. The members 505 have laterally bent flanges 505' and 505 that respectively overlie the top flange 500a of the plate 500 and underlie the bottom flange 5001) of said plate 500. Two or more such members 505 are employed on spindles 38 of various of the columns of spindles and their flanges 505' and 505" provide horizontal guides for the flanges 500a, 500b of plate 500 preventing upward or downward movement of the latter while the edges of top flange 500a and bottom flange 500b abut the rear face of these members 505 and prevent their movement forwardly while butterfly B behind the plate 500 prevent movement rearwardly of the plate 500 on the spindles 30. Other equivalent means for effecting this result may be employed. A biasing spring 5I0 whose ends 5H and 5I2 are secured respectively to the stud 509 of one of the members 505 and to a stud 5I3 projecting from the plate 500 acts to bias the plate 500 toward the right of Figs. 3-6 inclusive.

Horizontally alined stop means or looking studs 5I4 are secured one to each of the faces of the vertically movable members I to act as motion limiters therefor in cooperation with the pawls 504 as will be described.

In the normal position of parts before the voter has operated any of the straight ticket operating handles I05, the front of the machine appears as seen in Fig. l with all operating handles 30 and I05 substantially in vertical position as shown. With such position of parts, the butterflies B are all in lowered position with their studs 05 lying in the arcuate portions 502 of the apertures SM and with plate 500 under action of spring 5I0 maintained in its extreme right position as shown in Fig. 3. At such time, the vertically movable plates I90 are all in their unactuated uppermost vertical positions. The studs 5 I4 thereon then lie at a level substantially that of the upper edges 504 of the pawls 504. The latter, however, lie to the right of said studs 5I4 so that any one of the plates I50 may be moved downwardly without interference.

As soon as a voter enters the booth and operates one of the straight party ticket levers I95, for example, that lever I under the Democratic party column in column 1 of Fig. 2, such action as described in the aforesaid Shoup Patent 2,191,086, causes downward movement of the vertically movable plate I90 thereof and, also, its horizontal shift toward the left of Fig. 4 and causes all the spindles 38 in the first column set up for the group to be elected by a straight ticket vote, twenty-one in the embodiment shown to be actuated to bring the twenty-one spindles to vote indicating position and the individual voting handles 30 of Fig. 2 to their voting indicating position shown in the latter figure. Such rotation of the spindles rotates the butterflies B on these spindles (the extreme right-hand column of Fig. 4) clockwise as seen in Fig. 4. This causes the respective studs 85 of the butterflies B on the shaft 38 on which the plate 500 is mounted to move out of their respective arcuate recesses 502 against the biasing action of spring 5I0 onto the straight portions of the left sides of apertures 50I, and thereby causes a longitusmas es 7 dinal. shift. of the safety plate-member fiillttoward the left of Fig. 4 to the position shown therein. .Since the vertically movable plates I98 of columns 2 and 3 have not been moved, the pawl edges 50.4of the pawls 50 i associated with the platetilfi are shifted by the longitudinal movement of safety plate 5% to underlie directly the studs 5M of these plates H and engagev the lat.- ter and lock these plates [.90 against any movement. Any attempt, therefore, by the voter to operate the straight ticket levers ['95 of the 2nd or 3rd columns is entirely precluded because the plates [98 thereof are locked against motion by .theengagement of the studs M thereof with :theunderlying edges 53 3 of the pawls 5%.

Before longitudinal translation of the safety plate. or member 586 commences, the actuation of the straight party ticket handle Hit of column -.1 has, however, moved the. stud 51.4 of this columnfs vertically movable plate. i911 downwardly into the path of travel of pawl 504 thereof (the extreme right pawl. 564 of Fig. l). This, however, does not prevent longitudinal. shift of plate 580 toward the left because the said 1astnamed pawl 584. is rotatable upon its pivot Etta in the clockwise direction of Fig. 4 against the biasing action of its spring 596.

As soon as the voter has operated straight party ticket. handle I95 of column 1 to bring the parts to the position of Fig. 4, he releases that handle H95 and such action as described in the aforesaid Shoup Patent 2,191,086, because the plate 190 is biased for self-restoration, causes restoration of the. vertically movable plate I90 of column 1 as seen in Fig. 5 towards its initial position. The individual spindles 38 of the straight ticket of column 1 that have been actuated to vote indicating positions, however, remain in actuated position so that their butterflies B and associated studs 85 onshafts 38 of column 1 on which plate 5% ismounted maintain the said safety plate Elli! in its longitudinally shifted position to the right of Figs. 4c and 5. Inthe restoring motion of plate [913, the locking stud 5M of the column 1 plate simply rotates the pawl 504 clockwise as seen in Fig. dagainst the biasing action of its spring 586.

When vertically movable plate Hill of column 1 completes its restoration or its return motion and occupies the position shown in Fig. 6, the

lockin stud thereof clears the upper edge 58d of pawl 5M and thebiasing spring fidfithereof snaps its edge 5% into underlying andlooking engaging position relative to. said last-named stud 5561 as seen in Fig. 6; Such engaging. and locking action then precludes any further operation of the straight party ticket lever E95 of column 1 and any attempt. on the part of the voter to vote a second time forthe same straight party ticket. At the sametime, the underlying edges 504 of the pawls 50.4. associated with the locking studs 5M of the other partycolumns which remain in their locking positions described, prevent any voting operation of the straight party handles of the other party columnsby locking action of their plates iSd-against vertical movement eifectedby. the said. locking engage.- ment.

If the locking pawls 5M1) are used on: plates 5% rather than pawls 5.64, the same general.ac:- tion occurs as that described. for pawl 594'. In addition, however, the restoring motion of mov able plate we of column 1 in its upward..moy.e.- ment causes stud Edit to clearthe level. of the lower edge. of recess-or slot Elise. andengages it. soon as this occurs any attempt to- 0 erate the voted ticket handle I95 a second time tov a voting position to repeat the vote cast is prevented because such engagement prevents any further voting movement of plate I88. When the latter completesits restoring movement, the stud 5W engages the top edge te lb of pawl St ll) and this edge 50% then acts in the same way as edge End.

The only way a voter could possibly reoperate one of the straight party handles a second time to vote a different straight ticket would be for him to manually restore to initial unvoted position each one. of the levers 38 that had been shifted by his initial straight party vote. Such action would restore the machine and its safety plate Silt) to the condition shown in Figs. 1 and 3 and permit reaction of the straight party lever of any one of the columns. However, such restoration would re-set the counters C to their positions existing when the voter entered the booth and would not record illegal additional votes for any partys. candidates.

The provision, therefore, of the safety mechanism embodying the invention provides an effective safety device which prevents illegal voting operations by a voter of a straight party ticket and precludes the likelihood of registration of illegalv votes for individual candidates other than those in the selected party group or the voting of. more than one straight party ticket by a voter.

In connection with the mechanism disclosed, it is useful under certain conditions where voters may vote for an individual candidate first, by pulling the individual levers 3t adjacent an individual name and thereafter endeavor to pull the straight ticket lever of the same or an opposing political party. This, however, can be prevented. by providing the plate 5% with as many apertures 535 as there are candidates running so that the spindles 38 adjacent all the individual candidates names are included among those extending through apertures 583.! of the plateillll. In such instance, operation of the individual spindle 38 adjacent such candidates name to voting position will cause the finger of its butterfly B to actuate the plate 599 to the locking position described and thereby preclude any voting operation of any of the straight ticket mechanisms. This will not, however, prevent the voter from changing his mind and inistead of casting a straight ticket vote because on such change of mind he merely needs to restorethe individually voted candidate lever or levers to initial unvoted condition. When all are. so restored, the biasing action of spring tilt will restore plate 58 .3 to initial condition and thereby permit him to cast a single straight ticket. vote as described herein.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, variations in detail within the scope of the claims are possible and are contemplated. There is no intention, therefore,.of limitation to the exactdetails shown and described.

What is claimed is:

1. In a voting machine a column of voting spindles, an arm fixed to each spindle, a finger on each arm extending parallel to the spindle axis, straight ticket operating means including a vertically movable plate for operating predetermined of the voting spindles in the column simultaneously to vote recording position, and biased for self-restoration upon. release. after a voting operation, a safety member slidable at right angles to said spindles and having apertures for passage through each of one of said spindles, a spring biased pawl pivotally secured to said safety member, a stop member on said vertically movable plate, said safety member being slidable at right angles to said spindles by the action of one of said fingers upon rotation of said predetermined spindles to vote recording position effected by operation of said straight ticket operating means to a voting position, said pawl being positioned on said safety member so that during a slide of said safety member by said action of one of said fingers said pawl will pivot in opposition to its spring bias upon engagement of said pawl with said stop member thereby permitting the said slide of said safety member to be completed, and upon completion of said slide and upon self-restoration of said vertically movable member upon release after a voting operation the spring bias of said pawl will position it to then underlie said stop member and lock said vertically movable plate against vertical movement in a voting direction and thereby preclude further operation of said straight ticket operating means to voting position.

2. In a voting machine, a plurality of columns of voting spindles, an arm fixed to each spindle, a finger on each arm extending parallel to the spindle axis, vertically movable plates one for operating each of a predetermined number of spindles in a selected column of spindles to vote recording positions, straight party ticket operating handles one for operating each of said vertically movable plates, said plates and handles being biased for self-restoration upon release after a voting operation, a safety plate slidable at right angles to said spindles and having substantially rectangular apertures for passage through each of a spindle, spring biased pawls pivotally secured to said safety plate, stop members on said vertically movable plates, said safety plate being movable longitudinally at right angles to said spindles upon movement to vote recording positions of predetermined spindles of a column effected by operation of the straight party ticket handle associated with said lastnamed column to a voting position, said pawls corresponding in number to the stop members and being positioned on said safety plate so that when the latter is moved longitudinally as aforesaid a pawl will then underlie the stop member of each of the unactuated of said vertically movable plates and a pawl under action of its spring bias will also underlie the stop member of the actuated of said vertically movable plates upon self-restoration of the latter after completion of a voting operation thereof, all of said pawls then acting to look all the vertically movable plates and thereby then precluding further operation of any of said straight party operating handles to voting positions.

3. In a voting machine, safety mechanism for limiting straight ticket operation of the machine to a single straight ticket operation for each voter comprising a plurality of rotatable vote indicating spindles, straight ticket means for simultaneously actuating all of predetermined of said spindles in one direction to vote recording position and biased for self-restoration with release after actuation, a safety plate slidable guidedly and transversely of the spindle axes and being biased in one direction, said plate having substantially rectangular apertures for passage through each thereof of a spindle, arm

iii

means on spindles passing through the apertures and en ageable with walls of the apertures when the latter-named spindles are rotated to vote recording positions to slide the safety plate in a direction opposite to the direction in which said safety plate is biased, a biased pawl pivotally secured to said safety plate and a stop member on said straight ticket means, the biasing of said pivotally secured pawl allowing said pawl to clear said stop member during said slide of said safety plate in said opposite direction and acting to pivot said pawl into a locking position beneath said stop member; upon completion of actuation of said straight ticket means to preclude any further actuation thereof by the same voter for vote recording purposes while any actuated spindle having arm means thereon and passing through an aperture of said safety plate is in its vote recording position.

4. In a voting machine, safety mechanism for limiting straight ticket operation of the machine to a single s raight ticket operation for each voter comprising a plurality of rotatable vote indicating spindles arranged in vertical columns, individual straight ticket operating means for each individual vertical column for simultaneously actuating all of predetermined of the spindles of the selected vertical column in one direction to a vote recording position and biased for self-restoration with release after actuation, a safety plate spanning the vertical columns and slidable guidedly transversely of the spindle axes and being biased in one direction toward a first position, said plate having substantially rectangular apertures for passage through each thereof of a spindle, arm means on each such spindle engageable with said safety plate for effecting a transverse movement of said safety plate in opposite direction to the biased direction of said plate to a second position; upon actuation of any of such spindles to vote indicating position by actuation of a straight ticket means, stop members corresponding in number to the number of columns straddled by said safety plate, one being associated with the straight ticket operating means for each vertical column, and spring-biased pivoted pawls mounted on said safety plate, one for interaction with each of the stop members, whereby upon a voting actuation of any one of said straight ticket operating means the said safety plate will be moved transversely to its second position by the arm means of those spindles thereby moved to vote indicating positions, the movement of said safety plate to its second position moving with it said pawls to locking positions relative to said stop members, the one of said pawls interacting with the stop member of the actuated of said straight ticket operating means pivotally yielding in opposition to its spring bias during the said movement of said safety plate to its second position to eliminate interference by said last-named stop member with said movement of said plate member to said second position, and the said last-named of said pawls being moved by its spring bias into its locking position with its interacting stop member upon self-restoration of the actuated of said straight ticket op-- erating means.

5. In a voting machine, a column of voting spindles, an arm fixed to each spindle, a finger on each arm extending parallel to the spindle axis, straight ticket operating means including a vertically movable plate for operating pre determined of the voting spindles in the column simultaneously to vote recording position and biased for selferestorationupon release after a voting operation, :a safety member si-idable at right angles :to said spindles from a .first position :to a second position and having apertures forpassage through each of one of said spindles, a spring-biased pawl pivotally secured to said safety plate, a stop member on said vertically movable plate, said safety member being slidable from its first position to its second position by the action of one of said fingers upon a wall of the aperture through which the spindle hearing it passes upon operation of the latter spindle to 'a vote recording position, said pawl being positioned on said safety member to yield in .opposition to its spring bias upon engagement with said stop member during sliding movement of said safety member from its first position to its second'position, and said pawl upon self-restoration of the said vertically movable plate underlying said stop member to then look said vertically movable plate against further straight ticket voting operations While said second position of said safety member is maintained "by said last-named spindle.

6. In a voting machine having a plurality of vertical columns of Voting spindles individually rotatable from initial positions to vote recording positions, and individual straight ticket operating means for each column of spindles including a vertically movable plate movable from a first position to a second position and biased for selfrestoration to its first position, a stop member fixed on each movable plate, a safety plate slidable at right angles to the spindles from a first position to a second position, arm means on selected of the spindles for sliding said safety plate from its first position to its second position when any of the selected spindles is rotated to vote recording position, a plurality of springbiased pawl members pivotally supported on said safety plate at spaced-apart points each having a surface adapted to lie in a locking position relative to one of the stop members when said safety plate is in its second position, said surfaces lying =clear of said stop members when said safety plate is in its first position, the spring bias of said pawl members permitting movement of said safety plate from its first position to its secnd position notwithstanding engagement between any of said pawl members with astop member'during movement of said safety plate from its first position to its second position, said surfaces of said pawl members in their locking positions relative to said stop members acting to prevent any actuation of any of said straight ticket operating means, and spring-biasing means urging said safety plate toward its first position whereby said surfaces of said pawl members will lie out of locking engagement whenever the arm means on all of the selected of the spindles are rotated to initial positions.

7. A device as per claim 6 in which each pawl hasan additionallocking surface each engageable with a stop member in intermediate-positions of the vertically movable plates between their first and second positions.

8. In a voting machine, a plurality of vertical columns of individually rotatable voting spindles,

individual straight ticket operating, means for.

each column of spindles for rotating selected of the. spindles in each column from initial positions to vote indicating positions and including a vertically movable plate biased for self-restoration to a first position upon completion of .a voting operation of the individual straight ticket operating means associated therewith, a safety plate spanning a selected number of vertical columns of spindles and having apertures arranged in vertical columns and horizontal rows through each .of which a voting spindle projects,

arm means borne on spindles projecting through the apertures, said arm means each being engageable with a wall of the aperture through which the spindle bearing it projects, springbiasing means for said safety plate to urge said safety plate toward an initial position, means :for supporting said safety plate for horizontal slidable movement substantially at right angles to the axes of the voting spindles, va stop member secured to each vertically movable plate and movable therewith, a plurality of pivotally supported pawls each having 'alocking edge mounted upon said safety plate, spring-biasing :means for biasing the locking edge of each pawl to a determined position, said pawls corresponding in number to the number of vertical columns of spindles spanned by said safety plate, said pawls being positioned on said safety plate so that their locking edges lie out of the travel paths of the stop members that are supported on the Vertically movable plates of the spanned vertical columns of spindles when said safety plate is in its initial position, operation of any one of said straight ticket means of any column causing the vertically movable plate member thereof to rotate the selected spindles in the latter column to vote indicating position, the arm means on rotated of the spindles of the latter column then acting on aperture walls .of said safety plate to move said safety plate horizontally away from its initial position in opposition to its springbiasing means to a second position wherein the locking edge of each pawll lies in looking position relative to the'path of travel of one of the stop members, the arm means of the voting spindles that have been rotated acting to maintain said safety plate .in its said second position, the springbiasing means of .saidpawls permitting clearance between that one thereof and the stop member of the actuated of the vertically movable plates in intermediate positions of the actuated vertically movable plate, and said safety plate being returned to its initial position by its springbiasing means only when the arm means on all vote rotated spindles passing through apertures in said safety plate are restored to their initial positions.

RANSOM F. SHOUP.

REFERENCES CITED Name Date Lausterer Oct. 3, 1916 Number Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,498,380 February 21, 1950 RANSOM F. SHOUP It is hereby certified that errors appear in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 5, line 34, for the word again reed against; line 55, before the word longitudinally insert in; column 10, line 13, after member strike out the semicolgn; line 40, after position strike out the semi-colon; line 61, after its insert sat and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oifice.

Signed and sealed this 23rd day of May, A. D. 1950.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents.

Certificate of Correction Patent N 0. 2,498,380 February 21, 1950 RANSOM F. SHOUP It is hereby certified that errors appear in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 5, line 34, for the word again read against; line 55, before the word lon itudinally insert in; column 10 line 13 after member strike out the semicolon; line 40, after position strike out the semi-colon; line 61, after its insert said;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 23rd day of May, A. D. 1950.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Gammz'ssz'oner of Patents.

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