Patent ID: 7640181
Filing Date: 2009-12-29
Classification: G07C

Abstract:
1. A method of voting through use of a distributed network, the method comprising the steps of: creating a ballot viewer object that contains executable program instructions for authenticating a voter and electronic ballot information; transporting the ballot viewer object from an election system including a server to a personal computer at a location remote from the server system through use of a network; authenticating the voter through use of the executable program instructions for authenticating a voter by analysis of authentication information provided by the voter at the personal computer; permitting the voter to create a cast vote record by interaction with the electronic ballot information; and communicating the cast vote record to the server system for use in computation of election results; wherein the step of permitting the voter to create a cast vote record comprises printing the electronic ballot information to provide a printed form, and the step of communicating the cast vote record comprises mailing the printed from to an election authority for input to the election system; the step of authenticating the voter being performed in a self-sustaining mode that does not require interaction between the personal computer and the server after the step of transporting the ballot viewer object is complete.