Patent Publication Number: US-10332329-B1

Title: System and method for transparent elections

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority from provisional application No. 62/642,186 filed Mar. 13, 2018 which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Democratic elections are based on the concept that individual voters can vote in an election, have their ballots correctly read, and have the cumulative results of the ballots tallied to determine the winner of the election. Anonymity is a key part of the process as people want to assure that they cannot be identified from the ballot they cast in the election. Furthermore, a key aspect of the democratic process is that individual voters feel confident that their ballots are accurately recorded and tallied. There is always the possibility that honest errors can be made in recording and counting the ballots. There is also the possibility that nefarious people may tamper with the ballots or deliberately misread them in an attempt to unfairly influence the results of an election. To ensure that an election is both fair and safe, a method allowing voters to safely verify that their anonymous ballots have been correctly recorded is required. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, herein is disclosed a ballot for voting in an election. The ballot consists of first and second sheets having identical voting information for recording a vote printed thereon. The first and second sheets are attached together such that the first sheet overlays the second sheet and the identical voting information of the sheets overlap precisely. The first sheet is adapted to receive a first mark recording a vote by means of a writing implement. The first sheet is a copy paper which is configured to copy the first mark onto the second sheet. The first sheet is configured to be easily detachable from the first sheet. Each of the first and second sheets have an identifier, the identifier being unique to the ballot, the identifier on each sheet being obscured by a seal overlaying the identifier. The seal is configured to be easily removed to reveal the underlying identifier. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, here is disclosed a system for voting consisting of a plurality of ballots, and means for reading, recording and displaying the votes cast. The ballots each include first and second sheets having identical voting information for recording a vote printed thereon. The first and second sheets are attached together such that the first sheet overlays the second sheet and the identical voting information of the sheets overlap precisely. The first sheet is adapted to receive a first mark recording a vote by means ofa writing implement, the first sheet being a copy paper configured to copy the first mark onto the second sheet. The first sheet is easily detachable from the second sheet, each of the first and second sheets of each ballot having an identifier, each identifier being unique to each ballot. The identifier on each sheet is obscured by a seal overlaying the identifier, the seal being configured to be easily removed to reveal the underlying identifier. One of said first and second sheets is identified as a counting ballot when marked by a vote and the remaining one of said first and second sheets is identified as a voting receipt when marked by a copy of the vote. The system includes a vote reader for reading the unique identifier and the vote for each of the counting ballot. A computer database is coupled to the vote reader for recording the vote and matching it to the unique identifier of the ballot associated with said vote. The computer database is operatively coupled to a website for displaying the votes recorded and their matching unique identifiers. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a hypothetical election ballot made in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the ballot shown in  FIG. 1  with the security seal partially removed. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the ballot shown in  FIG. 1  with the security seal removed and the ballot marked by the voter. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic view of a page of posted election results created in accordance with the method of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic view of a voter voting in an election using the system of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic view of the vote verification system of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring firstly to  FIG. 1 , a ballot made in accordance with the present invention is shown generally as item  10  and consists of a small two part paper ballot  12  consisting of overlapping ballot sheets  14  and  16 . Information about the election is printed onto sheets  14  and  16 , including the names of candidates  20  and  22  and marking spots  24  and  26  corresponding to the name of candidates  20  and  22 , respectively. Sheet  16  is an exact copy of sheet  14  which is configured to overlay sheet  16  so that the material written on sheet  14  exactly overlays the corresponding material written on sheet  16 . Sheets  14  and  16  are releasably adhered to one another along spine  18  by means known generally in the art. Sheet  14  is preferably made of a carbonless copy paper having a front surface  25  which is adapted to be written on by a pen or pencil leaving an indelible mark. Sheet  14  is further configured to copy the markings made on surface  25  to surface  27  of sheet  16  in response to the voter marking sheet  14  by a pen or pencil. Since the two sheets are overlaid one on top of the other, marking surface  25  of sheet  14  causes surface  27  of sheet  16  to be marked identically. Hence, if the voter marks his or her vote on sheet  14 , the same exact vote is simultaneously recorded on sheet  16 . Sheet  14  is preferably made of a carbonless copy paper, although any sort of paper which is capable of copying markings onto an underlying sheet of paper can be used. Carbonless copy paper suitable for use in constructing ballot  10  are easily sourced in the marketplace for stationary and paper products. Traditional carbon paper can also be used for sheet  14 ; however, better alternatives capable of creating clearer and more permanent copies are available in the market. 
     Ballot  10  is indelibly printed with a unique identifier code positioned over security seals  28  and  30 . As best seen in  FIG. 2 , unique identifiers  32  and  34  are identical and are unique to the ballot. No two ballots would have the same unique identifier. In the example shown, the unique identifier is 157, but the unique identifier could be any sequence of letters, numbers and symbols. Security seals  28  and  30  are removable stickers which are applied to over unique identifiers  32  and  34 , respectively, when the ballot is manufactured. Seals  28  and  30  preferably comprise opaque adhesive seals which are adhered to the surface of the paper and can be easily peeled away to reveal the underlying unique identifier. Alternatively, seals  28  and  30  could comprise a removable coating which obscures the underlying unique identifier, but which can easily be scratched off with a fingernail to reveal the underlying unique identifier. Methods and devices for printing a unique identifier on each ballot and then covering up that unique identifier with a removable seal are readily available in the market. As best shown in  FIG. 3 , the voter uses ballot  10  by peeling off the security seals to reveal unique identifier  32  and  34 . Again, unique identifier  32  and  34  are identical and is unique to each ballot. The voter marks his or her vote by making mark  35  in one of the marking spots  24  or  26  on surface  25  of sheet  14 . Mark  35  could be a check mark, an “X” or any other mark as required by the rules of the election. Mark  35  is made by means of a pen, pencil or some other writing implement provided by the voting station where the ballot is used. When mark  35  is made, corresponding mark  37  is simultaneously made on sheet  16  as sheet  14  transfers the mark to sheet  16 . After the voter makes his or her vote, the voter detaches sheet  14  from  16 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , ballot  10  is used by voters in a voting station  40 . Individual voter  42  identifies himself/herself to voting official  44  who checks the official records to determine if voter  42  is registered to vote at voting station  40 . If voter  42  is registered to vote at station  40 , official  44  hands voter  42  ballot  10 . Each voter is handed a ballot, with each ballot being identical apart from the unique identifier printed on each ballot. Voter  42  then marks his or her ballot as desires and detaches sheet  14  from sheet  16 . The voter then deposits one of the sheets (preferably sheet  14 ) into ballot box  46  and leaves the polling station. The voter retains sheet  16  as his/her confirmation of how they voted in the election. At the end of the voting period, election official  44  collects ballot boxes  46  and reads all the cast ballots. Election official  44  enters each ballot collected into computer  48  which is coupled to a central server  52  via network  50 . The vote which is recorded on each ballot, together with the unique identifier for that ballot is transferred to a central database  54  located on remote server  52 . Each ballot is identified in database by the ballot&#39;s unique identifier and shows the vote cast for that ballot. The actual reading of the ballots can be done manually by voting officials  44  or an automated ballot reading machine can be employed. The automated voting machine is configured to read the ballot including the vote(s) cast by the ballot and the unique identifier for that ballot. Suitable ballot reading devices which incorporate optical scanning technology to read ballots are available in the marketplace. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , voter  42  can verify that his/her vote was correctly recorded by cross referencing his/her ballot receipt  16  with the vote recorded in central database  52  of remote server  54 . Voter  42  accesses database  52  by means of computing device  60  coupled to server  54  via network  50 . Computing device  60  may be a desktop or laptop computer, or it may consist of some sort of mobile computing device such as a tablet or smart phone. Network  50  is preferably the internet and database  52  is preferably coupled to a website ( 55 ) resident on (or operatively coupled to) server  54 . Preferably, the website  55  is designed to permit the user to easily locate the polling station or voting district where they voted, or to otherwise find a record of the ballot cast by the voter using the ballots unique identifier code. For example, the website can be configured such that the user engages computing device  60  to call up a voting summary page  62  for the polling/voting station the voter voted in. As best seen in  FIG. 4 , the summary page  62  lists all of the unique identifiers for the ballots cast in the relevant polling station and summarizes how each ballot was marked. Unique identifier  34  is shown and adjacent to it is the recording of how that voter voted on that ballot. This allows the voter to quickly verify whether or not his/her ballot was correctly recorded. If there is a discrepancy, then the voter can approach the voting authorities and inform them of the discrepancy. The ballot receipt acts as proof of how the voter voted and can be used as evidence in order to fix any errors in the database. 
     The invention allows for voters to have increased confidence that the election results are honest and valid. Voters can verify that their ballots were recorded correctly and third party independent bodies can quickly confirm the results of elections by simply tallying the ballots displayed on the web pages of the website displaying the ballot information. The privacy of the voter is maintained because the voter&#39;s name is only checked at the polling station to verify the right to vote. The voter&#39;s name is never matched with the ballot. The voter&#39;s name is not recorded on the ballot, so only the voter will know how he/she actually voted. 
     A specific embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed; however, several variations of the disclosed embodiment could be envisioned as within the scope of this invention. It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.