Abstract: Apparatus for simultaneously punching a ballot card, to produce a permanent voting record, and generating corresponding electrical signals for use in an electronic balloting system, the apparatus including an electrical contact matrix having a plurality of column contact strips and a plurality of row contact strips, and further including a hand-held stylus which is insertable through holes in the matrix to punch a ballot card held adjacent to the matrix. The stylus has a punch-rod and first and second contact sleeves slidingly mounted with respect to the punch-rod, the contact sleeves being urged by springs into contact with respective column and row strips, to make electrical contact between a column strip and a row strip as the ballot card is punched. An electronic interface connected with the contact matrix detects each contact completed, and generates signals indicative of the row and column punched in the ballot card.