Ballot tabulation device and method for tabulating paper ballots printed according to ballot style

A ballot tabulation device programmed to tabulate paper ballots for a plurality of different voting precincts and maintain a separate vote tally for each of the voting precincts, the device comprising:

• a user interface that includes functionality for a user to enter a precinct identification code for a paper ballot;
• a scanner operable to scan the paper ballot;
• and
• a processing circuit operable to tabulate one or more voting selections marked on the paper ballot and include the tabulated voting selections within the vote tally associated with the precinct identification code.

A method of tabulating paper ballots for a plurality of different voting precincts and maintaining a separate vote tally for each of the voting precincts, the method comprising:

• (a) enabling entry of a precinct identification code for a paper ballot, wherein the paper ballot does not include any precinct identification information;
• (b) scanning the paper ballot to determine one or more voting selections marked thereon;
• (c) tabulating the voting selections marked on the paper ballot such that the tabulated voting selections are included within a vote tally associated with the precinct identification code;
• and
• (d) repeating steps (a)-(c) for each of a plurality of paper ballots.

A method of conducting an election, comprising:

• printing a plurality of paper ballots for each of a plurality of ballot styles, wherein the paper ballots do not include any precinct identification information;
• providing the paper ballots to a plurality of voters from a plurality of different voting precincts;
• receiving the paper ballots from the voters with one or more voting selections marked thereon;
• and
• inserting each of the paper ballots into a ballot tabulation device whereupon the device receives a precinct identification code for the paper ballot, scans the paper ballot to decode the voting selections marked thereon, and tabulates the decoded voting selections such that the tabulated voting selections are included within a vote tally associated with the precinct identification code.

A ballot tabulation device that may be utilized by a plurality of different voting precincts, the device comprising:

• a memory device operable to store an election definition for a plurality of ballot styles;
• an input device operable to receive a precinct identification code for a paper ballot, wherein the paper ballot does not include any precinct identification information;
• a scanner operable to scan the paper ballot;
• and
• a processing circuit operable to utilize the election definition to decode one or more voting selections marked on the paper ballot, wherein the processing circuit is further operable to tabulate the decoded voting selections and include the tabulated voting selections within the vote tally associated with the precinct identification code.