Abstract: A networked system of connected and trackable document deposit and destruction kiosks can be used to remotely dispose of and destroy confidential documents and monitors and records compliance with employer document destruction policies. A networked system of connected ballot deposit kiosks can be used to safely deposit, track, and verify the locations of completed ballots and to monitor and track the subsequent collection of the ballots by election officials or other authorized persons.

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 method of processing votes in an election includes receiving a voter identity for a voter, receiving a vote set for the voter, providing a phrase to the voter based on the received vote set, generating a unique receipt number for the voter and providing the receipt number to the voter, and associating the voter identity and the receipt number with one another in a first function. The method further includes generating a unique vote number for the voter, associating the vote set, the vote number and the receipt number with one another in a second function, and associating the phrase and the vote number with one another in a third function that is provided to the voter. The method includes associating the vote number with the vote set in a fourth function that is accessible for purposes of later verifying proper counting and contesting of a vote.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, an advanced voting system includes one or more computing devices. The one or more computing devices display ballot questions to the voter and receive interactive voter selections from the voter. A ballot generator generates encoded ballots encoded with the voter selections.

Abstract: A method and system for validating the creation and submission of absentee ballots is provided. An authentication/validation mark is generated and printed on an absentee ballot and/or the envelope that contains the absentee ballot. The authentication/validation marks include information such as, for example, the date and time of printing, an identification and location of the vote validator that generated and printed the mark, a unique identifier of the mark, and a digital signature of the authentication/validation data. Upon receipt of the absentee ballot by election officials, the authentication/validation marks printed on the absentee ballot and/or envelope containing the ballot can be verified by authenticating the digital signature and verifying the validity of the data in the mark. If the mark is verified, the authenticity and creation/submission dates of the absentee ballot are guaranteed and the absentee ballot can be accepted as a valid absentee ballot for election purposes.

Abstract: A table-based wired information system includes a table having a plurality of actual positions designed to receive people and a monitor positioned so as to be observed by people at any of the plurality of actual positions. A flat ribbon cable with a plurality of electrical conductors less than the number of available positions is affixed to an under-surface of the table in a flat orientation by an adhesive backing. A plurality of vote boxes, each including a multi-position switch, are adhesively attached to the under-surface at each of the actual positions. The cable is coupled to the monitor system and each of the vote boxes is coupled to the cable intermediate the ends by a press-on insulation displacement connector.

Abstract: A secure election system provides a downloadable ballot viewer object for the casting of ballots. The ballot viewer object authenticates the user, permits user interaction in the casting of ballots, seals the cast ballot image by encryption, and transmits the cast ballot to election headquarters. The ballot viewer object may be used to perform secure voting on the Internet.

Abstract: Electronic ballot box of the type used in elections that not only enables the voting slips to be scanned when they are deposited in the box, despite the fact of their being in an envelope in order to assure voting secrecy, using emission of a light for this purpose, but also permits the totalling of the votes for each of the candidatures and the setting of the electoral process parameters (voters, geographical bounds, candidatures, etc.) and those of the machine itself. It is also provided with a PCMCIA card, where the electoral database is stored. The machine can work either in voting mode or in management mode, so that absolute control is available over the operation of the equipment.

Abstract: An electronic voting system is provided that includes at least one voter interface unit associated with network. The voter interface unit is enabled to identify a voter using a disability related communication device coupled to the network, deliver ballot choices to the voter, accept a ballot choice made by the voter, and deliver the ballot choice to a tabulation system. The system may be configured to confirm each ballot selection made by the voter. The system may further include a ballot design database to provide ballot choices and/or a voter registration database. The system may also be configured to enable the voter with an option to connect the voter with a live poll worker, if desired by the voter, at any time when the voter is connected to the system.

Abstract: An electronic voting system with a headquarters unit, a plurality of precinct units, a plurality of voting stations associated with each precinct unit, and a plurality of mobile memory units (MMUs) to contain data that can be transported back and forth between the headquarters unit and the precinct units. The MMUs include FLASH memory, wherein each memory location can be written to once and read many times. Each memory location can thus only be subsequently written to after all the data in the entire FLASH memory has been erased. The system includes the ability to store images of the cast ballots at multiple locations for verification and authentication. The system includes the ability to store a direct representation of the voter's selections as displayed to the voter as a redundant image of the ballot. The system also includes the ability for each voting station to automatically read the particular ballot overlay thereon to verify the proper ballot style is being used.

Abstract: An electronic voting system with a headquarters unit, a plurality of precinct units, a plurality of voting stations associated with each precinct unit, and a plurality of mobile memory units (MMUs) to contain data that can be transported back and forth between the headquarters unit and the precinct units. The MMUs include FLASH memory, wherein each memory location can be written to once and read many times. Each memory location can thus only be subsequently written to after all the data in the entire FLASH memory has been erased. The system includes the ability to store images of the cast ballots at multiple locations for verification and authentication. The system includes the ability to store a direct representation of the voter's selections as displayed to the voter as a redundant image of the ballot. The system also includes the ability for each voting station to automatically read the particular ballot overlay thereon to verify the proper ballot style is being used.

Abstract: A ballot secrecy sleeve is presented which is used to cover a ballot once it has been marked by the voter. The secrecy sleeve has a top and a bottom and a narrow shoulder at one end as well as a slot for pushing the ballot once it has been inserted into the ballot scanning machine. The ballot secrecy sleeve covers the entire ballot except for a small portion of the ballot that protrudes out of the secrecy sleeve. The ballot is placed within the sleeve. The ballot and sleeve are then placed into the scanning machine ballot slot. Once the ballot and sleeve are in place, the voter pushes the upper end of the ballot using the cutout so that the ballot is fed onto the receiving and advancing rollers of the machine. The ballot is then fed into the scanning and tabulating portion of the machine while it is completely hidden by either the ballot machine slot cover or the ballot secrecy sleeve.

Abstract: A method of verifiable voting includes receiving election selections, producing a receipt representation of the election selections, the receipt having a unique receipt number for a voter and publishing election results, the election results including the election selections and unique receipt number.

Abstract: The distributing/collecting unit is a client feed-back of table type, wherein a little surface area is achieved for the part coming against the surface of the plane of the bottom (1) of the stand by directing the container to be upwards sloping in relation to the part coming against the surface of the plane of the bottom (1) and that the uniform stand forms the front, side and lower edges of the fixed place for forms and the front part (8) of the container forms the rear edge. The container part of the invention, is, when needed, formed by a changeable front part (8) and rear part (19). The invention directs the forms to be used therein in an upward sloping angle against a client positioned at the invention, who also from the same direction also can see the return opening (9) for these. The invention can as such and immediately without changes be used in the same rooms or be transferred to different rooms, only by, when needed, changing the forms intended to be used in it.

Abstract: An improved system and method is provided for automatically tracking check transactions and generating an expenditure statement thereof using printed bank checks having a plurality of graphic icons disposed thereon. The customer marks the icon which describes the particular expense for which the check payment is being made. The payor bank or a check processing center scans each check to determine which icon(s) have been marked for each particular check transaction. Recorded expenditures are then automatically recorded in a cumulative transaction record. Periodically, this information is organized into a detailed expenditure statement that can be provided to the bank customer.

Abstract: A ballot box is disclosed for use in combination with an electronic voter ballot tabulating device which accepts marked paper ballots, tabulates the voter selection thereon and dispenses the tabulated ballots through one of a plurality of exit openings in its bottom side. The ballot box comprises an enclosure having side walls, end walls, a bottom member and a top member having at least one pair of parallel, space apart elongated openings that are aligned with the exit openings of the tabulated device. Within the enclosure, partitions are provided for forming separate storage chambers beneath each of the elongated openings for receiving tabulated ballots of different categories. Access to the enclosure is provided for retrieving ballots connected in the storage chambers. A special compartment with an inlet slot is provided for receiving and storing marked ballots temporarily when the tabulating device is inoperative.

Abstract: Beginning with data cards which carry thereon a question or a statement to be a subject of a survey, such cards being pre-punched with appropriate indicia signifying the question being asked or the position being tested, the interviewer submits such position or question-carrying card to the interviewee who, upon reading the question or statement to himself, selects one of several possible categories between two extremes, as represented by a slot in a sequentially designated series of slots in a container, inserts such card in the selected slot representing his degree of agreement or disagreement with the question or position statement, such card being automatically received by an envelope marked correspondingly to the designation adjacent the slot, for later sorting and computer compilation of all the cards in each envelope and survey results which are free, to a maximum degree, from interviewer influence of interviewee.