CA2574163A1 - Integrated vote by mail processing system - Google Patents
Integrated vote by mail processing system Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2574163A1 CA2574163A1 CA002574163A CA2574163A CA2574163A1 CA 2574163 A1 CA2574163 A1 CA 2574163A1 CA 002574163 A CA002574163 A CA 002574163A CA 2574163 A CA2574163 A CA 2574163A CA 2574163 A1 CA2574163 A1 CA 2574163A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- voter
- signature
- scanned
- computer
- decision
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- G06K13/00—Conveying record carriers from one station to another, e.g. from stack to punching mechanism
- G06K13/02—Conveying record carriers from one station to another, e.g. from stack to punching mechanism the record carrier having longitudinal dimension comparable with transverse dimension, e.g. punched card
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07C—TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- G07C13/00—Voting apparatus
Abstract
A modular integrated software and hardware suite accepts data exported from a voter registration database corresponding to requests for mail ballots, sorts the information as necessary for ballot preparation, creates a road map for ballot mailing preparation, provides for mail presorting, scans returned ballot envelopes using a ballot envelope scanner, accepts data from such ballot envelope scanner, and matches the data from the scanned returned ballots with information in the voter registration database, sorts ballots that cannot be electronically matched to a particular voter into a separate stack for manual processing, automates the signature verification process for electronically matched ballots, and returns updated data to the voter registration database. A ballot envelope scanner uses a passive feed system, a separator brush, a variable speed straight paper path to minimize jamming through the ballot envelope scanner. The ballot envelope scanner also works in connection with a workstation application.
Claims (20)
1. A method comprising:
(a) operating a ballot envelope processing system including at least one drive device and at least one scanning device to:
(al) cause a returned ballot envelope including a voter identifier and a voter signature to be automatically driven relative to the at least one scanning device by the at least one drive device, (a2) cause the voter identifier and the voter signature to be automatically scanned by the at least one scanning device;
(b) operating at least one computer to retrieve at least one stored signature correlated with the voter identifier scanned in step (a2), wherein the at least one computer is in operative connection with the at least one scanning device;
(c) operating the at least one computer to enable a decision to be made on verification of the voter signature, wherein the decision is based on comparison of data corresponding to the voter signature scanned in step (a2) with data corresponding to the at least one stored signature retrieved in step (b);
and (d) storing data reflective of the decision.
(a) operating a ballot envelope processing system including at least one drive device and at least one scanning device to:
(al) cause a returned ballot envelope including a voter identifier and a voter signature to be automatically driven relative to the at least one scanning device by the at least one drive device, (a2) cause the voter identifier and the voter signature to be automatically scanned by the at least one scanning device;
(b) operating at least one computer to retrieve at least one stored signature correlated with the voter identifier scanned in step (a2), wherein the at least one computer is in operative connection with the at least one scanning device;
(c) operating the at least one computer to enable a decision to be made on verification of the voter signature, wherein the decision is based on comparison of data corresponding to the voter signature scanned in step (a2) with data corresponding to the at least one stored signature retrieved in step (b);
and (d) storing data reflective of the decision.
2. The method according to claim 1 wherein step (c) includes:
(c1) operating the at least one computer to carry out comparison of data corresponding to the voter signature scanned in step (a2) with data corresponding to the at least one stored signature retrieved in step (b); and (c2) operating the at least one computer to make the decision based on the comparison, wherein the decision is a computer decision, wherein the decision determines whether the voter signature scanned in step (a2) corresponds to a valid voter signature for the scanned voter identifier.
(c1) operating the at least one computer to carry out comparison of data corresponding to the voter signature scanned in step (a2) with data corresponding to the at least one stored signature retrieved in step (b); and (c2) operating the at least one computer to make the decision based on the comparison, wherein the decision is a computer decision, wherein the decision determines whether the voter signature scanned in step (a2) corresponds to a valid voter signature for the scanned voter identifier.
3. The method according to claim 2 wherein step (c1) includes using at least one signature comparison computer program.
4. The method according to claim 1 wherein step (c) includes operating the at least one computer to cause at least one display device to simultaneously visually display both the voter signature scanned in step (a2) and the at least one stored signature retrieved in step (b) to enable visual comparison therebetween.
5. The method according to claim 4 wherein step (c) includes causing the voter signature scanned in step (a2) and the at least one stored signature retrieved in step (b) to be displayed side by side.
6. The method according to claim 4 and further comprising:
(e) visually comparing displayed voter signature and displayed at least one stored signature; and (f) making the decision based on the visual comparing in step (e), wherein the decision is a human decision, wherein the decision making includes determining whether the voter signature scanned in step (a2) corresponds to a valid voter signature for the scanned voter identifier.
(e) visually comparing displayed voter signature and displayed at least one stored signature; and (f) making the decision based on the visual comparing in step (e), wherein the decision is a human decision, wherein the decision making includes determining whether the voter signature scanned in step (a2) corresponds to a valid voter signature for the scanned voter identifier.
7. The method according to claim 1 wherein step (a2) includes capturing the voter signature as electronic image data;
wherein step (b) includes retrieving the at least one stored signature as electronic signature image data;
and further comprising:
(e) comparing electronic image data captured in step (a2) with electronic signature image data retrieved in step (b);
(f) making the decision based on the comparing in step (e).
wherein step (b) includes retrieving the at least one stored signature as electronic signature image data;
and further comprising:
(e) comparing electronic image data captured in step (a2) with electronic signature image data retrieved in step (b);
(f) making the decision based on the comparing in step (e).
8. The method according to claim 7 wherein step (a2) includes:
(a2i) automatically operating a reader device to read the voter identifier from the returned ballot envelope; and (a2ii) automatically operating an image capture device to capture the voter signature from the returned ballot envelope.
(a2i) automatically operating a reader device to read the voter identifier from the returned ballot envelope; and (a2ii) automatically operating an image capture device to capture the voter signature from the returned ballot envelope.
9. The method according to claim 8 wherein step (a2i) includes reading a barcode on the returned ballot envelope, wherein the barcode includes the voter identifier.
10. The method according to claim 1 wherein the at least one computer is in operative connection with at least one database, and further comprising:
(e) operating the at least one computer to determine whether the voter identifier scanned in step (a2) is a valid voter identifier;
(f) responsive to a determination of a valid voter identifier in step (e), operating the at least one computer to cause an endorsement to be printed on the ballot envelope.
(e) operating the at least one computer to determine whether the voter identifier scanned in step (a2) is a valid voter identifier;
(f) responsive to a determination of a valid voter identifier in step (e), operating the at least one computer to cause an endorsement to be printed on the ballot envelope.
11. The method according to claim 10 and further comprising:
(g) responsive to a determination of a valid voter identifier in step (e), storing electronic image data corresponding to the voter signature scanned in step (a2) in the at least one database.
(g) responsive to a determination of a valid voter identifier in step (e), storing electronic image data corresponding to the voter signature scanned in step (a2) in the at least one database.
12. The method according to claim 1 wherein step (b) includes operating at least one computer to retrieve the at least one stored signature from a voter registration database.
13. The method according to claim 12 and further comprising:
(e) storing electronic image data corresponding to the voter signature scanned in step (a2) as a stored signature in the voter registration database.
(e) storing electronic image data corresponding to the voter signature scanned in step (a2) as a stored signature in the voter registration database.
14. The method according to claim 1 wherein the ballot envelope processing system includes a ballot envelope scanner system, wherein the ballot envelope scanner system includes a feed portion, a processing portion, and an output portion, wherein the feed portion includes a feed tray configured to receive a stack of returned ballot envelopes, wherein the processing portion includes the at least one scanning device, wherein the output portion includes a ballot accepted tray and a ballot rejected tray, and further comprising:
(e) prior to step (al), receiving a stack of returned ballot envelopes into the feed tray, wherein the stack includes the returned ballot envelope; and (f) subsequent to step (e), operating the at least one drive device to move the returned ballot envelope into one of the accepted tray and rejected tray.
(e) prior to step (al), receiving a stack of returned ballot envelopes into the feed tray, wherein the stack includes the returned ballot envelope; and (f) subsequent to step (e), operating the at least one drive device to move the returned ballot envelope into one of the accepted tray and rejected tray.
15. An apparatus comprising:
a ballot envelope processing system including at least one drive device and at least one scanning device, wherein the at least one drive device is operative to cause a returned ballot envelope including a voter identifier and a voter signature to be automatically driven relative to the at least one scanning device, wherein the at least one scanning device is operative to cause a voter identifier and a voter signature to be automatically scanned from a returned ballot envelope, at least one computer in operative connection with the at least one scanning device, wherein the at least one computer is operative to retrieve at least one stored signature correlated with a voter identifier scanned by the at least one scanning device, wherein the at least one computer is operative to enable a decision to be made on verification of a voter signature, wherein the decision is based on comparison of data corresponding to a voter signature scanned by the at least one scanning device with retrieved data corresponding to at least one stored signature, wherein the at least one computer is operative to store data reflective of the decision.
a ballot envelope processing system including at least one drive device and at least one scanning device, wherein the at least one drive device is operative to cause a returned ballot envelope including a voter identifier and a voter signature to be automatically driven relative to the at least one scanning device, wherein the at least one scanning device is operative to cause a voter identifier and a voter signature to be automatically scanned from a returned ballot envelope, at least one computer in operative connection with the at least one scanning device, wherein the at least one computer is operative to retrieve at least one stored signature correlated with a voter identifier scanned by the at least one scanning device, wherein the at least one computer is operative to enable a decision to be made on verification of a voter signature, wherein the decision is based on comparison of data corresponding to a voter signature scanned by the at least one scanning device with retrieved data corresponding to at least one stored signature, wherein the at least one computer is operative to store data reflective of the decision.
16. The apparatus according to claim 15 and further comprising at least one signature comparison computer program, wherein the at least one computer is operative to use the at least one signature comparison computer program to compare data corresponding to voter signature scanned by the at least one scanning device with retrieved data corresponding to at least one stored signature.
17. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the at least one computer is operative to make the decision on verification of a voter signature, wherein the decision making includes determining whether voter signature scanned from a returned ballot envelope by the at least one scanning device corresponds to a valid voter signature for a voter identifier scanned from the same returned ballot envelope by the at least one scanning device.
18. The apparatus according to claim 15 and further comprising at least one display device, wherein the at least one computer is operative to cause the at least one display device to simultaneously visually display both a voter signature scanned from a returned ballot envelope and at least one stored signature retrieved to enable visual comparison therebetween.
19. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the at least one computer is operative to cause the at least one display device to display side by side the voter signature scanned and the at least one stored signature retrieved.
20. The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the at least one computer is operative to communicate with at least one database to determine whether a voter identifier scanned from a returned ballot envelope by the at least one scanning device is a valid voter identifier, wherein responsive to determining a valid voter identifier from a returned ballot envelope, the at least one computer is further operative to cause an endorsement to be printed on the returned ballot envelope.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US58926804P | 2004-07-18 | 2004-07-18 | |
| US60/589,268 | 2004-07-18 | ||
| PCT/US2005/025402 WO2006020203A2 (en) | 2004-07-18 | 2005-07-18 | Integrated vote by mail processing system |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2574163A1 true CA2574163A1 (en) | 2006-02-23 |
| CA2574163C CA2574163C (en) | 2011-10-18 |
Family
ID=35907966
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2574163A Active CA2574163C (en) | 2004-07-18 | 2005-07-18 | Integrated vote by mail processing system |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (2) | US7240835B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2574163C (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2006020203A2 (en) |
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| GB2432960A (en) * | 2006-04-05 | 2007-06-06 | Brand New Co | Ballot security system |
| US7527199B2 (en) * | 2006-09-15 | 2009-05-05 | Pitney Bowes Inc. | Method and system for protecting privacy of signature on mail ballot utilizing optical shutter |
| US7441700B2 (en) * | 2006-11-08 | 2008-10-28 | Pitney Bowes Inc. | Method and system for validating mail ballots |
| US7922208B2 (en) * | 2006-12-11 | 2011-04-12 | Pitney Bowes Inc. | Method and system for protecting privacy of signatures on mail ballots |
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| US8485425B2 (en) * | 2007-01-22 | 2013-07-16 | Bell And Howell, Llc | Inline mail validation |
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| WO2009094624A2 (en) * | 2008-01-24 | 2009-07-30 | Scott Robert Tranter | System and method for analyzing voters |
| US20170061722A1 (en) * | 2008-07-16 | 2017-03-02 | Tritek Technologies, Inc. | Ballot Processing Method and Apparatus |
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| US8899480B2 (en) * | 2011-03-28 | 2014-12-02 | Everyone Counts Inc. | Systems and methods for remaking ballots |
| AU2012272691B2 (en) | 2011-06-24 | 2015-11-05 | Everyone Counts, Inc. | Mobilized polling station |
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| US10832510B2 (en) | 2018-02-22 | 2020-11-10 | Tally Llc | Systems and methods for ballot style validation |
| CN109344838B (en) * | 2018-11-02 | 2023-11-24 | 长江大学 | Invoice information automatic rapid identification method, system and device |
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-
2005
- 2005-07-18 WO PCT/US2005/025402 patent/WO2006020203A2/en active Application Filing
- 2005-07-18 CA CA2574163A patent/CA2574163C/en active Active
- 2005-07-18 US US11/183,563 patent/US7240835B2/en active Active
-
2007
- 2007-06-20 US US11/820,787 patent/US8740058B2/en active Active
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| US20070248248A1 (en) | 2007-10-25 |
| WO2006020203A3 (en) | 2007-04-05 |
| US20060060649A1 (en) | 2006-03-23 |
| US7240835B2 (en) | 2007-07-10 |
| WO2006020203A2 (en) | 2006-02-23 |
| CA2574163C (en) | 2011-10-18 |
| US8740058B2 (en) | 2014-06-03 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request |