Method and system for voting by telephone

A system for voting by telephone utilizing multiple security devices, the system comprising:

• a call receiving device adapted to receive an incoming telephone call from a caller;
• an identification number receiving device adapted to receive an identification number entered by the caller;
• an identification number comparing device adapted to compare the entered identification number to a plurality of stored identification numbers;
• a telephone number comparing device adapted to compare a caller telephone number from which the call originates with a stored telephone number;
• and
• a voting device adapted to record a vote of the caller if the entered identification number matches one of the plurality of stored identification numbers, the caller telephone number matches the stored telephone number and the identification number and the stored telephone number are associated.

A method of voting by telephone utilizing multiple layers of security comprising:

• receiving a telephone call from a caller;
• comparing an entered identification number from the caller to a plurality of stored identification numbers.
• performing at least one of:
• comparing an entered second identification number to a plurality of stored second identification numbers;
• comparing a caller telephone number to a plurality of stored telephone numbers;
• comparing a voice sample entered by the caller to a plurality of stored voice samples;
• and
• recording a vote of the caller after (1) the entered identification number is matched to one of the plurality of stored identification numbers, (2) at least one of the entered second identification number is matched to one of the stored second identification numbers, the caller telephone number is matched to one of the stored telephone numbers and the voice sample is matched to one of the plurality of stored voice sample and (3) the entered identification number is associated with at least one of the one stored second identification number, the one stored telephone number and the one stored voice sample.

A system of voting by telephone utilizing multiple security levels, comprising:

• a call receiving device adapted to receive a telephone call from a caller;
• an identification number comparing device adapted to compare an entered identification number entered by the caller with a plurality of stored identification numbers;
• one of:
• a second identification number comparing device adapted to compare an entered second identification number entered by the caller to a plurality of stored second identification numbers;
• a caller telephone number comparing device adapted to compare a caller telephone number to a plurality of stored telephone numbers;
• a voice sample comparing device adapted to compare a voice sample provided by the caller to a plurality of stored voice samples;
• and
• a voting device adapted to record a vote of the caller after (1) the entered identification number is matched to one of the plurality of stored identification numbers, (2) at least one of the entered second identification number is matched to one of the plurality of stored second identification numbers, the caller telephone number matches one of the plurality of stored telephone numbers and the voice sample matches one of the plurality of stored telephone numbers and (3) the entered identification number is associated with at least one of the one stored second identification number, the one stored telephone number and the one stored voice sample.

A closed telephone voting system utilizing multiple security levels, the closed telephone voting system comprising:

• a input device adapted to allow a caller to input information;
• at least one of:
• an identification number comparing device adapted to compare an entered identification number entered by the caller to a plurality of stored identification numbers;
• a second identification number comparing device adapted to compare an entered second identification number to a plurality of stored second identification numbers;
• a voice sample comparing device adapted compare a voice sample provided by the caller to a plurality of stored voice samples;
• and
• a voting device adapted to record a vote of the caller after at least one of (1) the entered identification number is matched to one of the plurality of stored identification numbers, (2) the entered second identification number is matched to one of the plurality of stored identification numbers and (3) the voice sample is matched to one of the plurality of stored voice samples.

A telephone voting system utilizing multiple security levels comprising:

• a telephone call receiving device adapted to receive a telephone call of a caller;
• at least one of:
• an identification number comparing device adapted to compare an entered identification number entered by the caller to a plurality of stored identification numbers;
• a second identification number comparing device adapted to compare an entered second identification number to a plurality of stored second identification numbers;
• a caller telephone number comparing device adapted to compare a caller telephone number to a plurality of stored telephone numbers;
• a voice sample comparing device adapted compare a voice sample provided by the caller to a plurality of stored voice samples;
• and
• a voting device adapted to record a vote of the caller after at least one of (1) the entered identification number is matched to one of the plurality of stored identification numbers, (2) the entered second identification number is matched to one of the plurality of stored identification numbers, (3) the caller telephone number is matched to one of the plurality of stored telephone numbers and (4) the voice sample is matched to one of the plurality of stored voice samples.

A program storage medium, readable by a machine, embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for voting by telephone using multiple security levels, the method steps comprising:

• (a) receiving a telephone call from a caller;
• (b) receiving an identification number entered by the caller;
• (c) comparing the entered identification number to a plurality of stored identification numbers;
• (d) comparing a telephone number from which the call originates, that is a caller telephone number, to a stored telephone number;
• and
• (e) recording a vote entered by the caller if the entered identification number matches one of the plurality of stored identification numbers in step (c), the caller telephone number matches the stored telephone number in step (d) and the entered identification number and the stored telephone number are associated.

A computer system comprising:

• a processor;
• a program storage device readable by the computer system, embodying a program of instructions executable by the processor to perform method steps for voting by telephone, the method steps comprising:
• (a) receiving a telephone call from a caller;
• (b) receiving an identification number entered by the caller;
• (c) comparing the entered identification number to a plurality of stored identification numbers;
• (d) comparing the telephone number from which the call originates, that is a caller telephone number to a stored telephone number;
• and
• (e) recording a vote entered by the caller if the entered identification number matches one of the plurality of stored identification numbers in step (c), the caller telephone number matches the stored telephone number in step (d) and the entered identification number and the stored telephone number are associated.