Abstract: There is disclosed a system and method for establishing a vote tabulation system. A voter receives a mechanical card, or key, onto which there is placed data in machine readable form which allows the voter to gain access to any one of a number of portable terminals. The information on the card controls the presentation of names or issues to the particular voter and also controls the language for presentation of the voter's choices. The terminal tabulates all of the votes and also modifies the card to prevent revoting and to record the tabulated results. A depository is used to store the individual cards from all the terminals and to record as a cross check the tabulated results which were recorded on the individual cards. The depository total tabulated count is compared against the sums stored on removable memories from the individual terminals.