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A voting machine system employs a processor section and a plurality of peripheral units, all interconnected by a two-way street or bus system. The peripheral units constitute the voting machine proper and the processor or section acts upon the data generated by the peripheral units. One of the perip

A voting machine system employs a processor section and a plurality of peripheral units, all interconnected by a two-way street or bus system. The peripheral units constitute the voting machine proper and the processor or section acts upon the data generated by the peripheral units. One of the peripheral units is a visual display whereas the ballot format upon which a voter may vote is displayed. This ballot format is called up and displayed in response to unique input provided by the voter and different ballot formats are stored for call-up. Vote selections are made by the voter from the display. Provision is made for voter write-in selections which are stored in machine-readable, i.e., digital form. Two other peripheral units are redundant recording devices, one of which remains with the machine for a permanent record and the other of which is removable to permit forwarding thereof to a central data accumulation center. The removable record is used to program the machine and contains all of the permissable ballot formats. During set-up, the program and information on the removable record is read into the machine and is transferred to the permanent record. Vote selections as well as other data are recorded and a verification display for the voter is read from the record.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An electronic voting machine comprising, in combination: processor means for processing selections made by a voter; visual display means connected to said processor means for displaying a ballot to a voter; and vote selection means connected to said processor means for allowing a voter to ma

1. An electronic voting machine comprising, in combination: processor means for processing selections made by a voter; visual display means connected to said processor means for displaying a ballot to a voter; and vote selection means connected to said processor means for allowing a voter to make selections from the displayed ballot; said processor means including storage means for storing valid selections made by a voter, including recording means connected to said processor means for recording the valid selections made by a voter, verification means under control of a voter for causing display of the valid selections on said visual display means, said verification means effecting transfer of the valid selections from said storage means to said recording means whereby the displayed verification is identical with recorded information. 2. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 1 including exit control means under control of a voter for committing said displayed verification to said recording means. 3. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said vote selection means is effective to allow a voter to alter his selections after verification. 4. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 2 wherein said vote selection means is effective to allow a voter to alter his selections after verification. 5. An electronic voting machine comprising, in combination: processor means for processing selections made by a voter; visual display means connected to said processor means for displaying a ballot to a voter; vote selection means connected to said processor means for allowing a voter to make selections from the displayed ballot; said processor means including storage means for storing valid selections made by a voter; and means for causing said visual display means to display the alphabet in response to write-in request by a voter, and wherein said processor means stores as a write-in vote sequentially those letter selections effected from the alphabet display. 6. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 5 including recording means connected to said processor means for recording the valid selections made by a voter. 7. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 5 including verification means under control of a voter for causing display of the valid selections on said visual display means. 8. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 5 including exit control means under control of a voter for committing said displayed verification to said recording means. 9. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 6 including verification means under control of a voter for causing display of the valid selections on said visual display means, said verification means effecting transfer of the valid selections from said storage means to said recording means whereby the display verification is identical with recorded information. 10. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 7 wherein said vote selection means is effective to allow a voter to alter his selections after verification. 11. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 9 wherein said vote selection means is effective to allow a voter to alter his selections after verification. 12. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 8 wherein said vote selection means is effective to allow a voter to alter his selections after verification. 13. An electronic voting machine comprising, in combination: processor means for processing selections made by a voter; visual display means connected to said processor means for displaying a ballot to a voter; and vote selection means connected to said processor means for allowing a voter to make selections from the displayed ballot; said processor means including storage means for storing valid selections made by a voter; said visual display means being in the form of a cathode ray tube and said vote selection means being in the form of a light pen. 14. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 13 wherein each ballot contains discrete target areas corresponding to vote selection points and said visual display means includes circuitry for identifying the coordinates of a point on the display at which the light pen is placed, said processor means being effective to store a valid vote selection when the coordinates identified by said visual display means coincide with a discrete target area. 15. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 13 including recording means connected to said processor means for recording the valid selections made by a voter. 16. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 15 wherein each ballot contains discrete target areas corresponding to vote selection points and said visual display means includes circuitry for identifying the coordinates of a point on the display at which the light pen is placed, said processor means being effective to store a valid vote selection when the coordinates identified by said visual display means coincide with a discrete target area. 17. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 13 including means for causing said visual display means to display the alphabet in response to write-in request by a voter, and wherein said processor means stores as write-in vote sequentially those letter selections effected from the alphabet display. 18. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 14 wherein said light pen includes a light-sensitive diode and circuit means for producing an output pulse in time-related reference to the visual display. 19. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 14 wherein said light pen includes a light-sensitive diode and circuit means for producing an output pulse in time-related reference to the visual display. 20. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 15 including verification means under control of a voter for causing display of the valid selections on said visual display means, said verification means effecting transfer of the valid selections from said storage means to said recording means whereby the displayed verification is identical with recorded information. 21. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 15 including exit control means under control of a voter for committing said displayed verification to said recording means. 22. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 16 wherein said light pen includes a light-sensitive diode and circuit means for producing an output pulse in time-related reference to the visual display. 23. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 17 including verification means under control of a voter for causing display of the valid selections on said visual display means. 24. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 23 wherein each ballot contains discrete target areas corresponding to vote selection points and said visual display means includes circuitry for identifying the coordinates of a point on the display at which the light pen is placed, said processor means being effective to store a valid vote selection when the coordinates identified by said visual display means coincide with a discrete target area. 25. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 24 wherein said light pen includes a light-sensitive diode and circuit means for producing an output pulse in time-related reference to the visual display. 26. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 20 wherein each ballot contains discrete target areas corresponding to vote selection points and said visual display means includes circuitry for identifying the coordinates of a point on the display at which the light pen is placed, said processor means being effective to store a valid vote selection when the coordinates identified by said visual display means coincide with a discrete target area. 27. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 21 wherein each ballot contains discrete target areas corresponding to vote selection points and said visual display means includes circuitry for identifying the coordinates of a point on the display at which the light pen is placed, said processor means being effective to store a valid vote selection when the coordinates identified by said visual display means coincide with a discrete target area. 28. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 27 wherein said light pen includes a light-sensitive diode and circuit means for producing an output pulse in time-related reference to the visual display. 29. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 17 wherein each ballot contains discrete target areas corresponding to vote selection points and said visual display means includes circuitry for identifying the coordinates of a point on the display at which the light pen is placed, said processor means being effective to store a valid vote selection when the coordinates identified by said visual display means coincides with a discrete target area. 30. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 29 wherein said light pen includes a light-sensitive diode and circuit means for producing an output pulse in time-related reference to the visual display. 31. An electronic voting machine comprising, in combination: a processor means including a read only memory, a random access memory, a central processing unit and an input/output section; visual display means for displaying a ballot to a voter; vote selection means for allowing a voter to make selections in response to the displayed ballot; recording means for recording selections made by a voter; and bus means connecting said processor means with said visual display means, said vote selection means and said recording means, verification means under control of a voter for effecting transfer of valid selections made by the voter from said processor means to said recording means and for displaying such transferred information on said display means. 32. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 31 including exit control means under control of a voter for committing said displayed verification to said recording means. 33. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 32 wherein said vote selection means is effective to allow a voter to alter his selections after verification. 34. An electronic voting machine comprising, in combination: a processor means including a read only memory, a random access memory, a central processing unit and an input/output section; visual display means for recording a ballot to a voter; vote selection means for allowing a voter to make selections in response to the displayed ballot; recording means for recoring selections made by a voter; and bus means connecting said processor means with said visual display means, said vote selection means and said recording means; said visual display means being in the form of a cathode ray tube and said vote selection means being in the form of a light pen. 35. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 34 wherein each ballot contains discrete target areas corresponding to vote selection points and said visual display means includes circuitry for identifying the coordinates of a point on the display at which the light pen is placed, said processor means being effective to store a valid vote selection when the coordinates identified by said visual display means coincide with a discrete target area. 36. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 35 wherein said light pen includes a light-sensitive diode and circuit means for producing an output pulse in time-related reference to the visual display. 37. An electronic voting machine comprising, in combination: a processor means including a read only memory, a random access memory, a central processing unit and an input/output section; visual display means for displaying a ballot to a voter; vote selection means for allowing a voter to make selections in response to the displayed ballot; recording means for recording selections made by a voter; bus means connecting said processor means with said visual display means, said vote selection means and said recording means; and verification means under control of a voter for effecting transfer of valid selections made by the voter from said processor means to said recording means and for displaying such transferred information on said display means; said visual display means being in the form of a cathode ray tube and said vote selection means being in the form of a light pen. 38. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 37 wherein each ballot contains discrete target areas corresponding to vote selection points and said visual display means includes circuitry for identifying the coordinates of a point on the display at which the light pen is placed, said processor means being effective to store a valid vote selection when the coordinates identified by said visual display means coincide with a discrete target area. 39. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 38 wherein said light pen includes a light-sensitive diode and circuit means for producing an output pulse in time-related reference to the visual display. 40. An electronic voting machine comprising, in combination: a processor means including a read only memory, a random access memory, a central processing unit and an input/output section; visual display means for displaying a ballot to a voter; vote selection means for allowing a voter to make selections in response to the displayed ballot; recording means for recording selections made by a voter; bus means connecting said processor means with said visual display means, said vote selection means and said recording means; verification means under control of a voter for effecting transfer of valid selections made by the voter from said processor means to said recording means and for displaying such transferred information on said display means; and exit control means under control of a voter for committing said displayed verification to said recording means; said visual display means being in the form of a cathode ray tube and said vote selection means being in the form of a light pen. 41. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 40 wherein each ballot contains discrete target areas corresponding to vote selection points and said visual display means includes circuitry for identifying the coordinates of a point on the display at which the light pen is placed, said processor means being effective to store a valid vote selection when the coordinates identified by said visual display means coincide with a discrete target area. 42. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 41 wherein said light pen includes a light-sensitive diode and circuit means for producing an output pulse in time-related reference to the visual display. 43. An electronic voting machine comprising, in combination: a processor means including a read only memory, a random access memory, a central processing unit and an input/output section; visual display means for displaying a ballot to a voter; vote selection means for allowing a voter to make selections in response to the displayed ballot; recording means for recording selections made by a voter; bus means connecting said processor means with said visual display means, said vote selection means and said recording means; verification means under control of a voter for effecting transfer of valid selections made by the voter from said processor means to said recording means and for displaying such transferred information on said display means; and exit control means under control of a voter for committing said displayed verification to said recording means; said vote selection means being effective to allow a voter to alter his selections after verification; said visual display means being in the form of a cathode ray tube and said vote selection means being in the form of a light pen. 44. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 43 wherein each ballot contains discrete target areas corresponding to vote selection points and said visual display means includes circuitry for identifying the coordinates of a point on the display at which the light pen is placed, said processor means being effective to store a valid vote selection when the coordinates identified by said visual display means coincide with a discrete target area. 45. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 44 wherein said light pen includes a light-sensitive diode and circuit means for producing an output pulse in time-related reference to the visual display. 46. An electronic voting machine comprising, in combination: processor means for processing selections made by a voter; visual display means connected to said processor means for displaying a ballot to a voter; vote selection means connected to said processor means for allowing a voter to make selections from the displayed ballot; said processor means including storage means for storing valid selections made by a voter; exit control means under control of a voter for committing said displayed verification of said recording means; and said visual display means being in the form of a cathode ray tube and said vote selection means being in the form of a light pen. 47. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 46 wherein each ballot contains discrete target areas corresponding to vote selection points and said visual display means includes circuitry for identifying the coordinates of a point on the display at which the light pen is placed, said processor means being effective to store a valid vote selection when the coordinates identified by said visual display means coincide with a discrete target area. 48. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 46 including recording means connected to said processor means for recording the valid selections made by a voter. 49. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 46 including verification means under control of a voter for causing display of the valid selections on said visual display means. 50. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 46 wherein said vote selection means is effective to allow a voter to alter his selections after verification. 51. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 47 wherein said light pen includes a light-sensitive diode and circuit means for producing an output pulse in time-related reference to the visual display. 52. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 48 including verification means under control of a voter for causing display of the valid selections on said visual display means, said verification means effecting transfer of the valid selections from said storage means to said recording means whereby the displayed verification is identical with recorded information. 53. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 49 wherein said vote selection means is effective to allow a voter to alter his selections after verification. 54. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 48 wherein said vote selection means is effective to allow a voter to alter his selections after verification. 55. An electronic voting machine comprising, in combination: a processor means including a read only memory, a random access memory, a central processing unit and an input/output section; visual display means for displaying a ballot to a voter; vote selection means for allowing a voter to make selections in response to the displayed ballot; recording means for recording selections made by a voter; and bus means connecting said processor means with said visual display means, said vote selection means and said recording means, said visual display means being in the form of a cathode ray tube and associated logic circuitry; a second random access memory; a memory switching interface; a light pen; and a light pen interface; said memory switching interface and said light pen interface being connected to said bus means; said logic circuitry being connected to said light pen interface and to said memory switching interface; said second random access memory being connected to said memory switching interface and to said logic circuitry; and said light pen forming part of said vote selection means. 56. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 55 wherein each ballot contains discrete target areas corresponding to vote selection points and said visual display means includes circuitry for identifying the coordinates of a point on the display at which the light pen is placed, said processor means being effective to store a valid vote selection when the coordinates identified by said visual display means coincide with a discrete target area. 57. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 56 wherein said light pen includes a light-sensitive diode and circuit means for producing an output pulse in time-related reference to the visual display. 58. In an electronic voting machine, in combination; record means for containing a plurality of permissible ballots and for recording voter selections; processor means for processing selections made by a voter; visual display means connected to said record means through said processor means for displaying any of said ballots; and voter identification means connected to said processor means for causing display of a selected ballot upon which that particular voter is entitled to vote, including vote selection mean connected to said processor means for storing valid selections from said selected ballot, verification means under control of a voter for causing display of the valid selections on said visual display means, said verification means effecting transfer of the valid selections from said vote selection means to said record means whereby the display verification is identical with recorded information. 59. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 58 including exit control means under control of a voter for committing said displayed verification to said recording means. 60. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 59 wherein said vote selection means is effective to allow a voter to alter his selections after verification. 61. In an electronic voting machine, in combination: processor means for processing selections made by a voter and for selectively presenting to a voter a ballot upon which he is entitled to vote; and write-in means connected to said processor means for storing data therein corresponding to a write-in candidate written in by a voter, recording means connected to said processor means for recording valid vote selections including said data corresponding to a write-in candidate, display means connected to said processor means and verification means under control of a voter for causing said display means to display valid selections inclusive of write-in candidates on said display means, said verification means effecting transfer of the valid selections from said processor means to said recording means whereby the displayed verification is identical with recorded information. 62. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 61 including exit control means under control of a voter for committing said displayed verification to said recording means. 63. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 62 wherein said vote selection means is effective to allow a voter to alter his selections after verification. 64. In an electronic voting machine, in combination: processor means for processing selections made by a voter; storage means for storing a large number of different ballot formats which may be presented to a voter; voter identification means connected to said processor means for allowing a voter access to the machine and for causing the processor means to call up from said storage means and present to the voter that particular ballot format upon which he is entitled to vote; said processor means being effective to validate vote selections on each of the ballot formats presented to a voter; and write-in means connected to said processor means for storing data therein corresponding to a write-in candidate written in by a voter, including recording means connected to said storage means for recording the valid selections made by a voter, display means connection to said processor means and verification means under control of a voter for causing display of valid selections on said display means, said verification means effecting transfer of the valid selections from said storage means to said recording means whereby the displayed verification is identical with recorded information. 65. A voting system having a microcomputer section including a read only memory, a random access memory, a central processing unit and an input/output section all interconnected by a first bus, a second bus connected to the input/output section and a voting assembly connected to the second bus and including a CRT for display of a ballot and for voter selection with such ballot and a magnetic tape section for recording the vote selections. 66. A voting system according to claim 65 including provision for voter write-in selection and recordation of such write-in selection on a magnetic tape section. 67. A voting system according to claim 65 wherein said tape section includes first and second tapes one of which remains with the machine and the other of which is removable. 68. A voting system according to claim 65 wherein the CRT section includes provision for display of a voter's selection from the magnetic tape section prior to premanent storage of such selection on the tape. 69. The voting system according to claim 65 wherein the magnetic tape section stores the ballot to be displayed by the CRT and also records the running totals of the voting process. 70. The voting system according to claim 65 wherein the magnetic tape section stores the vote selections and the voters' user numbers on separate sections for separate recovery thereof. 71. The voting system according to claim 65 wherein the magnetic tape section stores a plurality of different ballots applicable to a given region and the voting assembly includes a card reading portion for calling up that ballot upon which a particular voter is entitled to vote. 72. The voting system according to claim 65 wherein the voting assembly includes a printer and control switch for printing out vote selection tallies at the close of an election day. 73. The voting system according to claim 65 in which a plurality of systems feed a central data processor. 74. A voting system according to claim 66 wherein said tape section includes first and second tapes one of which remains with the machine and the other of which is removable. 75. The voting system according to claim 72 wherein the voting assembly also includes an accoustic coupler for relaying the vote selection tallies over phone lines. 76. An electronic voting machine system comprising, in combination: processing means including a read only memory, a random access memory, an input/output section and a central processing unit; a series of peripheral units comprising a vote selection system proper, one of said peripheral units comprising means for storing voter selections in said random access memory; and bus means interconnecting said peripheral units with said processing means for forming a complete voting machine entity, one of said peripheral units comprising a bus extender for allowing connection thereto of at least certain redundant peripheral units comprising a second vote selection system proper, one of said peripheral units being a visual display means, said one of said peripheral units being a vote selection means under control of a voter, a further peripheral unit being a recording means for receiving and recording valid vote selections from said random access memory, verification means under control of a voter for causing display of the valid selections on said visual display means, said verification means effecting transfer of said valid selections in the random access memory to said recording means, said verification means effecting display of the valid selections from said recording means whereby the verification display is identical with recorded information. 77. An electronic voting machine system as defined in claim 76 including exit control means under control of a voter for committing said displayed verification to said recording means. 78. An electronic voting machine system as defined in claim 77 wherein said vote selection means is effective to allow a voter to alter his selections after verification. 79. An electronic voting machine system comprising, in combination: processing means including a read only memory, a random access memory, an input/output section and a central processing unit; a series of peripheral units comprising a vote selection system proper; bus means interconnecting said peripheral units with said processing means for forming a complete voting machine entity; one of said peripheral units being a visual display means; and means for causing said visual display means to display the alphabet in response to write-in request by a voter, and wherein said processor means stores as a write-in vote sequentially those letter selections effected from the alphabet display. 80. An electronic voting machine system comprising, in combination: processing means including a read only memory, a random access memory, an input/output section and a central processing unit; a series of peripheral units comprising a vote selection system proper; and bus means interconnecting said peripheral units with said processing means for forming a complete voting machine entity; one of said peripheral units being a visual display means; another of said peripheral units being a vote selection means under control of a voter; a further peripheral unit being a recording means for receiving and recording valid vote selections from said random access memory; said visual display means being in the form of a cathode ray tube and said vote selection means being in the form of a light pen. 81. An electronic voting machine system as defined in claim 80 wherein each ballot contains discrete target areas corresponding to vote selection points and said visual display means includes circuitry for identifying the coordinates of a point on the display at which the light pen is placed, said processor means being effective to store a valid vote selection when the coordinates identified by said visual display means coincide with a discrete target area. 82. An electronic voting machine system as defined in claim 81 wherein said light pen includes a light-sensitive diode and circuit means for producing an output pulse in time-related reference to the visual display. 83. An electronic voting machine system comprising, in combination: processing means including a read only memory, a random access memory, an input/output section and a central processing unit; a series of peripheral units comprising a vote selection system proper, one of said peripheral units comprising means for storing voter selections in said random access memory; and bus means interconnecting said peripheral units with said processing means for forming a complete voting machine entity, a peripheral unit comprising a card reader means for reading a voter identification card to record voter information and to select a ballot format for the voter in accord with said voter information, one of said peripheral units comprising a bus extender for allowing connection thereto of at least certain redundant peripheral units to comprise a second vote selection system proper, one of said peripheral units being a visual display means, said one of said peripheral units being a vote selection means under control of a voter, a further peripheral unit being a recording means for receiving and recording valid vote selections from said random access memory, verification means under control of a voter for causing display of the valid selections on said visual display means, said verification means effecting transfer of said valid selections in the random access memory to said recording means, said verification means effecting display of the valid selections from said recording means whereby the verification display is identical with recorded information. 84. An electronic voting machine system comprising, in combination: processing means including a read only memory, a random access memory, an input/output section and a central processing unit; a series of peripheral units comprising a vote selection system proper; and bus means interconnecting said peripheral units with said processing means for forming a complete voting machine entity; a peripheral unit comprising a card reader means for reading a voter identification card to record voter information and to select a ballot format for the voter in accord with said voter information; one of said peripheral units comprising a bus extender for allowing connection thereto of at least certain redundant peripheral units to comprise a second vote selection system proper; one of said peripheral units being a visual display means; another of said peripheral units being a vote selection means under control of a voter; a further peripheral unit being a recording means for receiving and recording valid vote selections from said random access memory; said visual display means being in the form of a cathode ray tube and said vote selection means being in the form of a light pen. 85. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 84 wherein each ballot contains discrete target areas corresponding to vote selection points and said visual display means includes circuitry for identifying the coordinates of a point on the display at which the light pen is placed, said processor means being effective to store a valid vote selection when the coordinates identified by said visual display means coincide with a discrete target area. 86. An electronic voting machine as defined in claim 85 wherein said light pen includes a light-sensitive diode and circuit means for producing an output pulse in time-related reference to the visual display.