Patent US5218528A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5218528A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Automated voting system
Assignee: Advanced Technological Systems Inc
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Filing: 1990-11-06
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Granted: 1993-06-08
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Expires: 2010-11-06
Abstract
Abstract An automated voting system that integrates the stages of registering and certifying voters and collecting their votes. A computer-based voter registration station accesses a database to verify that the voter is eligible to vote. Vote entry stations provide a computer-based interactive graphic interface for permitting the voter to enter votes. A vote entry controller activates and monitors the vote entry stations to prevent unauthorized voting. Votes may be collected at either the vote entry stations or at the vote entry controller to which they are downloaded, which enhances security by providing a means to compare votes collected at one point in the system with votes collected at another point.
Inventors
- 👤 George E. Wise
- 👤 Parimal A. Patel
- 👤 Clement L. Howe
- 👤 William P. Spiers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 05:08
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q50/00; G06Q50/34; G07; G07C; G07C13/00; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/32; G07F17/3286; G07F17/3288
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
An automated voting system, comprising: a number of vote entry stations, each having a computer programmed with a graphic interface for interactively displaying ballot screens and receiving votes from a voter only when activated with an activation code; and a vote entry controller in data communication with said vote entry stations, having a computer programmed to monitor the busy or idle status of said vote entry stations, to provide said activation code, and to receive downloaded votes from said vote entry stations, and having a data storage means for storing said downloaded votes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
93 words
An automated voting system, comprising: a number of vote entry stations, each having a computer programmed with a graphic interface for interactively displaying ballot screens and receiving votes from a voter only when activated with an activation code; and a vote entry controller in data communication with said vote entry stations, having a computer programmed to monitor the busy or idle status of said vote entry stations, to provide said activation code, and to receive downloaded votes from said vote entry stations, and having a data storage means for storing said downloaded votes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The voting system of claim 1, wherein said computer of said vote entry controller is further programmed to operate as a voter registration station to verify a voter's registration and to certify the voter as eligible to vote by matching data associated with that voter with data in a database.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The voting system of claim 2, and further comprising means for connecting said voter registration with a central voter information station, such that they are in data communication.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The voting system of claim 1, wherein said vote entry stations are further programmed to maintain a separate copy of said votes after said votes are downloaded to said booth controller, wherein said copy may be used to generate a physically transportable copy on electromagnetic media.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The voting system of claim 1, wherein said vote entry stations are further programmed to maintain a separate copy of said votes after said votes are downloaded to said booth controller and to electronically communicate said votes to a remote location.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The voting system of claim 1, and further comprising means for connecting said vote entry station with a central vote collection database, such that they are in data communication.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The voting system of claim 1, wherein said vote entry stations have a printer in communication with said computer and wherein a computer of one of said vote entry stations is programmed to print write-in ballots on said printer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The voting system of claim 1, wherein a computer of at least one of said vote entry stations is programmed to receive input from the voter to select a language in which said ballot will be displayed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
The voting system of claim 1, wherein a computer of at least one of said vote entry stations is programmed to permit a voter to vote a straight party by receiving input from the voter to select a particular party and designating all candidates in the selected party on said ballot screen.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The voting system of claim 1, wherein a computer of at least one of said vote entry stations is programmed to permit a voter to selectively review all ballot screens before said votes are made final.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The voting system of claim 1, wherein said computer of said vote entry controller is programmed to continually poll said vote entry stations to determine whether votes are ready for downloading.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The voting system of claim 1, wherein a computer of at least one of said vote entry stations is programmed so that downloading occurs only upon receipt of a correct downloading activation code.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The voting system of claim 1, wherein said vote entry station accept input from said voter via a keyboard having dedicated keys.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of using a computer network for automated voting, comprising the steps of: interactively displaying ballot screens and receiving voting input from a voter, using computer-based vote entry stations, each in communication with a computer-based vote entry controller; inactivating any of said vote entry stations when no authorized voter is voting at that station, using a computer code; delivering an activation code via data communications link to any of said vote entry stations to permit a voter to vote at that station, using a computer code; monitoring the busy or idle status of said vote entry stations, using a computer code to indicate said status; and downloading votes from said vote entry stations to the vote entry controller from any one of said vote entry stations when that vote entry station is determined to be idle.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of using a computer network for automated voting, comprising the steps of: interactively displaying ballot screens and receiving voting input from a voter, using computer-based vote entry stations, each in communication with a computer-based vote entry controller; inactivating any of said vote entry stations when no authorized voter is voting at that station, using a computer code; delivering an activation code via data communications link to any of said vote entry stations to permit a voter to vote at that station, using a computer code; monitoring the busy or idle status of said vote entry stations, using a computer code to indicate said status; and downloading votes from said vote entry stations to the vote entry controller from any one of said vote entry stations when that vote entry station is determined to be idle.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 14, and further comprising the step of storing said downloaded votes for subsequent collection.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 14, and further comprising the step of storing said votes at said vote entry stations.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 14, and further comprising the step of displaying said ballot screens in one of a number of languages, as determined by input from said voter.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 14, and further comprising the step of receiving input from a voter at any one of said vote entry stations, wherein that vote entry station responds by permitting said voter to review said ballot screens after voting.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 14, wherein said downloading step occurs only upon receipt of a correct downloading code at said vote entry station.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 14, and further comprising the step of verifying the eligibility of said voter as a register voter, using an interactive computer program stored in a computer-based voter registration computer that may be part of said computer network, and is at the same site as said computer network.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 20, and further comprising the step of certifying said voter as not having voted in a particular election, using said voter registration computer in communication with a database at the same site as said voter registration computer or at a database at the site, and the step of updating said database with information that the voter has voted.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 14, and further comprising the step of generating a voter registration affidavit for said voter, using said voter registration computer.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 14, and further comprising the step of generating write-in ballots at the option of the voter.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 14, and further comprising the step of automatically advancing each one of a number of ballot screens after said ballot screen has been displayed a predetermined time period.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-06-07 | 1996-12-07 | 1997-06-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-06-07 | 2000-12-07 | 2001-06-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-06-07 | 2004-12-07 | 2005-06-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |