Abstract: A voting system comprises a ballot tabulation device that tabulates each of a plurality of paper ballots by determining one or more contest selections marked on the paper ballot and storing the contest selections within a cast vote record (CVR) for the paper ballot. One or more of the paper ballots comprises a provisional ballot on which is printed an identification code that represents or is associated with a voter code assigned to a voter who cast the provisional ballot. During the tabulation process, a direct or indirect link is provided between the CVR and the voter code for the provisional ballot. The voting system also comprises an election management system that identifies the CVR associated with each of one or more inputted voter codes, i.e., the voter codes assigned to voters who have had a change in eligibility status, and updates the total vote count to include or exclude the contest selections stored within that CVR as applicable.

Abstract: Various voting systems are disclosed that include a voting device configured to: provide a user interface that presents one or more voting choices for each of one or more contests and enables a voter to select one or more of the voting choices for each of the one or more contests; create a bitmap comprising a plurality of bit cells each of which corresponds to one of the voting choices of one of the contests, wherein each of the bit cells stores a binary digit that indicates whether the voter selected the voting choice corresponding to the bit cell; convert the binary digits stored in the bitmap to a compressed string of characters; generate one or more selection barcodes that encode the compressed string of characters; and print the one or more selection barcodes on a paper medium to create a paper ballot.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for preserving the anonymity of a provisional ballot cast by a voter in an election whose eligibility to vote in the election is not yet determined comprises including a machine-readable identification marking representing an identification code associated with the voter on the paper card utilized by a voting device associating the identification code represented by the machine-readable identification marking with the contest choices stored in the results database. In this manner, upon a determination that the voter is either eligible or ineligible to vote in the election, the contest choices of the voter can be included in or excluded from, respectively, the results of the election by identifying the identification code associated with the voter and including or excluding, respectively, the contest choices associated with the identification code.

Abstract: A tamper-evident attachment for a cable tie includes a ratchet head cover configured to couple to a ratchet head of the cable tie such that the ratchet head cover covers at least a portion of a head opening of the ratchet head to inhibit access a pawl in the ratchet head. The ratchet head cover defines at least one slot-shaped opening configured to align with the head opening of the ratchet head when the ratchet head cover is coupled to the ratchet head. The at least one slot-shaped opening is sized and shaped to receive a strap of the cable tie therethrough.

Abstract: A portable voting booth that includes a table having a top surface and a bottom surface, a plurality of legs configured to support the table, and a plurality of leg supports attached to the table and configured to stabilize the legs during use of the voting booth. In some embodiments, the leg supports are movable from an open position to a closed position in which the leg supports are immovably secured to the table for storage. Preferably, the leg supports are disengaged from the legs and generally flush with the bottom surface of the table when the leg supports are in the closed storage position.

Abstract: A portable voting booth that includes a table having a top surface and a bottom surface, a plurality of legs configured to support the table, and a plurality of leg supports attached to the table and configured to stabilize the legs during use of the voting booth. In some embodiments, the leg supports are movable from an open position to a closed position in which the leg supports are immovably secured to the table for storage. Preferably, the leg supports are disengaged from the legs and generally flush with the bottom surface of the table when the leg supports are in the closed storage position.

Abstract: Automated entry of voting selections that were properly marked on the paper ballot during ballot adjudication. A ballot processing system is configured to generate an optical, machine-readable code that includes data representative of the voting selections for all contests that were properly marked on the paper ballot. An electronic voting system is configured to read the code and present to the election official only contests having improper markings on the paper ballot (i.e., requiring adjudication).

Abstract: A ballot processing system for processing paper ballots having one or more voting selections marked thereon. The system includes an input area configured to receive a stack of ballots to be processed, a processor operable to determine the voting selections marked on the ballots, and an output area configured to store the processed ballots. In an exemplary embodiment, a printing device is operable to print a unique identifier on each of the ballots during each pass through the system. A detector is operable to detect the printed identifier so as to verify that each of the ballots was processed during a previous count of the ballots and/or to prevent double-processing of the ballots. The system also includes a printer operable to print a report that identifies ballot information in relation to the unique identifier for at least a portion of the processed ballots.

Abstract: A system for reporting election results from a plurality of ballot tabulation devices to a central server is provided. Each ballot tabulation device is operable to generate a machine-readable code that encodes the election results for the ballot tabulation device and present the machine-readable code by either displaying the machine-readable code on a display screen or printing the machine-readable code on a printable medium. The system also includes a plurality of reading devices each of which is used to read the machine-readable code presented by the ballot tabulation device and transmit the election results for the ballot tabulation device to the central server.

Abstract: A system for remotely monitoring a plurality of ballot tabulation devices is provided. The ballot tabulation devices are located at a plurality of polling locations, each of which is operable to process a plurality of marked paper ballots and maintain health status information for the device. The system includes a central server located remotely from the ballot tabulation devices that is operable to periodically receive the health status information for each device and generate an alert that identifies any irregularities associated with each device based on the received health status information. Preferably, the health status information is encoded in a machine-readable code that is displayed on a display screen of the ballot tabulation device, and a reading device is used to read the machine-readable code from the display screen and transmit the health status information to the central server.

Abstract: A system for remotely monitoring a plurality of ballot tabulation devices is provided. The ballot tabulation devices are located at a plurality of polling locations, each of which is operable to process a plurality of marked paper ballots and maintain health status information for the device. The system includes a central server located remotely from the ballot tabulation devices that is operable to periodically receive the health status information for each device and generate an alert that identifies any irregularities associated with each device based on the received health status information. Preferably, the health status information is encoded in a machine-readable code that is displayed on a display screen of the ballot tabulation device, and a reading device is used to read the machine-readable code from the display screen and transmit the health status information to the central server.

Abstract: A voting system includes an accessible voting station and a tabulation device. The accessible voting station presents an audio ballot to a voter and receives one or more voting selections entered in response to the audio ballot from the voter. The accessible voting station also prints a ballot that includes the entered voting selections and scans at least a portion of the ballot to determine the voting selections printed thereon. The accessible voting station further presents an audio representation of the scanned voting selections to the voter and receives a confirmation of the audio representation of the scanned voting selections from the voter. The tabulation device tabulates the voting selections printed on the ballot by scanning the printed ballot or receiving voting selection information extracted from the printed ballot from the accessible voting station.

Abstract: A ballot tabulation device includes a scanner operable to obtain an image of at least a portion of a paper ballot that includes a voter response area. A processor applies a virtual template to the image to identify a center point for the voter response area. The virtual template comprises a set of characteristic points positioned in predetermined locations in relation to the center point of the voter response area, wherein the characteristic points comprise points that are common to a plurality of sample ballot images. The processor also defines a response window that is centered on the center point of the voter response area, and analyzes the response window to determine if the voter response area is marked by a voter.

Abstract: A ballot tabulation device includes a scanner operable to obtain an image of at least a portion of a paper ballot that includes a voter response area. A processor applies a virtual template to the image to identify a center point for the voter response area. The virtual template comprises a set of characteristic points positioned in predetermined locations in relation to the center point of the voter response area, wherein the characteristic points comprise points that are common to a plurality of sample ballot images. The processor also defines a response window that is centered on the center point of the voter response area, and analyzes the response window to determine if the voter response area is marked by a voter.

Abstract: A system for reporting election results from a plurality of ballot tabulation devices to a central server is provided. Each ballot tabulation device is operable to generate a machine-readable code that encodes the election results for the ballot tabulation device and present the machine-readable code by either displaying the machine-readable code on a display screen or printing the machine-readable code on a printable medium. The system also includes a plurality of reading devices each of which is used to read the machine-readable code presented by the ballot tabulation device and transmit the election results for the ballot tabulation device to the central server.

Abstract: A voting system including a universal voting station and a tabulation device. The voting station is operable to receive an activation card on which it prints a voter's voting selection. The voter may choose to have the voting station transmit the voting selection to the tabulation device and deposit the activation card into a ballot box, or return the activation card to the voter. The tabulation device is operable to scan and tabulate the voting selections on both marked paper ballots and printed activation cards. The ballot box is preferably a common ballot box that is positioned to receive activation cards from the voting station and paper ballots and activation cards from the tabulation device.

Abstract: A voting system including a universal voting station and a tabulation device. The voting station is operable to receive an activation card on which it prints a voter's voting selection. The voter may choose to have the voting station transmit the voting selection to the tabulation device and deposit the activation card into a ballot box, or return the activation card to the voter. The tabulation device is operable to scan and tabulate the voting selections on both marked paper ballots and printed activation cards. The ballot box is preferably a common ballot box that is positioned to receive activation cards from the voting station and paper ballots and activation cards from the tabulation device.

Abstract: An integrated voting system and method for accommodating paper ballots and audio ballots. The voting system includes a voting device operable to scan a paper ballot with one or more marked voting selections and tabulate the marked voting selections. The voting system also includes an accessible voting station in communication with the voting device. The accessible voting station comprises a voting console operable present an audio ballot to a voter via headphones, and receive one or more voting selections entered in response to the audio ballot from the voter. A printer is also provided to print a printed ballot that includes the entered voting selections. The voting device is operable to tabulate the printed voting selections by scanning the printed ballot or receiving voting selection information extracted from the printed ballot from the accessible voting station.

Abstract: A system for processing folded documents is disclosed. The system includes an input hopper configured to receive a stack of folded documents and an imaging area in which each of the documents is imaged. A pick-up mechanism is configured to transport each of the folded documents from the input hopper to the imaging area. The pick-up mechanism includes first and second barriers that are spaced apart to define a gap through which each of the folded documents is passed, wherein the gap is dimensioned to prevent passage of more than one of the folded documents. Preferably, the system also includes a detection system that is operable to detect the passage of more than one of the folded documents through a detection zone.