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: The present invention is directed to a system and method for synchronizing electronic poll book voter databases. The system includes a plurality of electronic poll books in communication over a network, each poll book having a unique identifier and each including a voter database of voter information. Each poll book is operable to transmit its unique identifier in an information packet and receive information packets from other poll books. Each poll book arranges the transmitted and received unique identifiers in order according to a predetermined ordering scheme, and establishes communication with two other poll books and exchanges voter database information to ensure all databases have updated information. With the communication established as described, the poll books form a ring network and database information is propagated from poll book to poll book to synchronize the databases between all of the poll books.

Abstract: A modular integrated software and hardware suite can accept data exported from a voter registration database corresponding to requests for mail ballots, sort the data as necessary for ballot preparation, create a road map for ballot mailing preparation, provide for mail presorting, scan returned ballot envelopes using a ballot envelope scanner, and accept data from the scanner. The scanner uses a passive feed system, a separator brush, and a variable speed straight paper path to minimize jamming through the ballot envelope scanner. The scanner can work with a workstation application to interpret a barcode, store an image of the ballot envelope signature in association with a specific voter, print an endorsement on each verified ballot envelope, and store the endorsement with the signature image. The scanner can divert ballot envelopes with unrecognizable or unmatched barcodes to a separate tray for manual processing.