Abstract: A ballot counting system that analyzes a large volume of paper ballots at high speed, with the paper ballots being analyzed for both authenticity and for correctness. The ballot that is used with the ballot counting system has two sections which are mirror images of one another, and when folded, essentially allows an individual to punch out a hole on two boxes (one on each section) when making a selection for a particular candidate. Each hole on the corresponding section of the ballot corresponds to the same candidate. Each section is bar-coded, allowing an individual to separate the two sections after voting and then dropping one of the sections into a ballot box and keeping the other section as a voting receipt. The ballot counting system is fabricated from an outer casing that includes an internal drive belt and a plurality of rollers. The ballots are placed on an ascending bin, where they are loaded into the ballot counting machine on an individual basis.