Computer enhanced voting system including voter verifiable, custom printed ballots imprinted to the specifications of each voter

Abstract

An apparatus and method for creating and recording both an electronic and printed ballot for each voter during voting. The system can employ a variety of vote selection techniques, all of which can lead to the generation of an electronic tally of the vote in addition to the printing of a paper ballot. The printed ballot includes only the names of the candidates for whom the voter has voted in a form that is easily readable by both humans and machine. This unambiguous printed ballot makes it easy for voters to verify the accuracy of their intended vote and can subsequently be used to cast the voter's official vote or saved to provide an audit trail for subsequent confirmation of the electronic tally. These and other features accelerate the initial tabulation of results while providing multiple safeguards against fraud through the printing of a paper record for verifying voter intent.

1 . A voting apparatus comprising a computing unit, an entry device, and a printer, the computing unit being operatively connected to the entry device and to the printer, the computing unit being programmed to respond to the selection of one of a plurality of choices entered into the entry device by a voter in a manner causing the printer to print voter readable text on a tangible record, the appearance of the text identifying the voting choices selected by the voter and excluding the choices not selected. 
   
   
       2 . The voting apparatus of  claim 1  including programming for the computing unit to cause the printer to print voiding indicia on the tangible record in the event that after reviewing the tangible record the voter selects an option entered into the entry device to void at least one voting choice printed on the tangible record. 
   
   
       3 . A voting method for casting votes during an election, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a computing unit with at least one selection entry device and at least one printer device and paper;   (b) requiring each voter to make an entry of at least one voting selection from a variety of voting options using the selection entry device;   (c) after the voter has made the entry of at least one voting selection, using the printer device to print text on the paper creating a tangible record that identifies the at least one voting selection and excludes any text identifying unselected voting options;   (d) offering the voter an opportunity to read and verify the accuracy of the tangible record.   
   
   
       4 . A voting system comprising a computing unit with program memory, an entry device, and a printer, the computing unit being operatively connected to the entry device and to the printer, and the computer being programmed to utilize the printer to print a voiding mark on a tangible record of voting choices selected by a voter in the event that the voter, after examining the tangible record, desires to void the tangible record.