System and Method for Detecting Security Features on Paper Ballots
AssigneeES&S Innovations, LLC
InventorSteve Bolton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a system and method for detecting security features on paper ballots. The security features allow a ballot tabulator to distinguish between an authentic ballot and a counterfeit ballot that does not include the required security feature. One or more security sensors in the ballot tabulator are operable to detect the security feature on the ballot, and provide an output indicating the presence or absence of the security feature. The ballot tabulator preferably generates a visual alert and/or audio alert if the security sensor does not detect the security feature on the paper ballot.
Claims39
A method of detecting security features on paper ballots, comprising:
- providing a plurality of paper ballots each of which comprises at least one security feature;
- scanning each said paper ballot to determine one or more voting selections marked thereon;
- detecting said security feature on each said paper ballot;
- tabulating said voting selections marked on each said paper ballot if said security feature is detected on said paper ballot;
- and
- presenting an alert if said security feature is not detected on a paper ballot.
A method of detecting security features on paper ballots, comprising:
- providing a plurality of paper ballots each of which comprises at least one security feature;
- detecting said security feature on each said paper ballot;
- and
- tabulating one or more voting selections marked on each said paper ballot if said security feature is detected on said paper ballot.
A method of detecting a security feature on a paper ballot, comprising:
- receiving said paper ballot in a ballot reading device;
- transporting said paper ballot through a paper path in said ballot reading device such that said paper ballot passes in proximity to a security sensor of said ballot reading device;
- utilizing said security sensor to detect a presence or absence of a security feature on said paper ballot;
- and
- providing an output indicating the detected presence or absence of said security feature on said paper ballot.
A voting system for detecting security features on paper ballots, comprising:
- a ballot tabulator operable to scan a paper ballot to determine one or more voting selections marked thereon;
- at least one security sensor positioned within said ballot tabulator, said security sensor operable to detect a security feature on said paper ballot;
- and
- wherein said ballot tabulator is operable to tabulate said voting selections marked on said paper ballot if said security sensor detects said security feature on said paper ballot.
A ballot tabulator, comprising:
- a paper drive mechanism operable to transport a paper ballot through a paper path in said ballot tabulator;
- a scanner operable to scan said paper ballot to determine one or more voting selections marked thereon;
- at least one security sensor operable to detect a security feature on said paper ballot;
- and
- a processor operable to tabulate said voting selections marked on said paper ballot if said security sensor detects said security feature on said paper ballot.
A voting system for detecting security features on paper ballots, comprising:
- at least one security sensor operable to detect a security feature on a paper ballot;
- and
- a ballot tabulator in electrical communication with said security sensor, said ballot tabulator programmed to:
- scan said paper ballot to determine one or more voting selections marked thereon;
- tabulate said voting selections marked on said paper ballot if said security sensor detects said security feature on said paper ballot;
- and
- present a visual alert and/or audio alert if said security sensor does not detect said security feature on said paper ballot.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.