Abstract: An electrostatic holding and conveying apparatus having an endless belt member which comprises a base layer of soft, flexible insulative material and two groups of electrodes equally spaced and disposed on a first surface of the base layer. A protective layer of soft flexible semiconductive or insulative material is disposed on the first surface of the base layer to cover the electrodes. Two groups of terminals are provided on a second surface of the base layer and electrically connected to the two groups of electrodes, respectively. The endless belt extends between a drive roller and a driven roller with the second surface of the base layer in contact with the rollers. One of the rollers has two contact rings isolated from each other and supplied with a high DC voltage.