хог recording an Registering otes
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Aug., 1896
Complete Specification Left. 7th May, 1897-Accepted, 31st July, 1897
хог
recording an
Registering
otes
I CHARLES THOMAS MARZETTI of 9 John Street Crutched Friars in the City of
London Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of my Invention to be as follows:-
My Invention has for its object to provide simple apparatus or means whereby
secrecy of voting is ensured and the votes are registered without the necessity for the
usual expensive and unsatisfactory system of counting whilst votes can be recorded by
illiterate persons without assistance at the polling station and with secrecy.
According to my Invention I provide for each candidate a separate ballot box, or
receptacle, the several boxes or receptacles being arranged in any suitable manner
(preferably in the alphabetical order of the initial letters of the candidates names) in
a compartment or voting booth separated by a partition from and having no
communication with another compartment or chamber in which an attendant is
present. Each box or receptacle is marked with, or is situated in proximity to, a
distinguishing name, letter, number, or other mark, indicating the boxes or
receptacles in which the votes for the respective candidates are to be recorded.
The cover of each box or receptacle is preferably hinged thereto and is provided
with an opening or slot (hereinafter termed the stationary slot) with which another
slot, shoot or channel (hereinafter termed the movable shoot) can be made to coincide
when the box or receptacle is adjusted for receiving a voting card or the like. The
movable shoot is caused to move out of coincidence with, and, by a suitable plate or
projection close the stationary slot, after the voting card or the like has been
introduced.
The movable shoot is mounted in guides and is arranged so that when released, as
hereinafter described, it will be drawn out of coincidence with the stationary slot, by
means of a weight or spring.
The movable shoot may be released by the voter after the voting card or the like
has been inserted in the apparatus, operating a spindle so as to disengage a catch
lever from a hook, or projection connected with the movable shoot which is
immediately thereafter moved away from the stationary slot. Or the catch lever may
be mounted on, or be connected with, the movable shoot, and he disengaged from a
hook or projection secured to the body of the box or receptacle and the tail of the
said catch lever may enter the movable shoot so that when the voting card or the like
is passed into the movable shoot the catch lever will be released, and the movable
shoot will be moved by its spring or weight away from the stationary slot.
After the apparatus has been operated as described the inovable shoot is locked in
its then inaccessible position by a bolt or other locking device which is only accessible to,
aud can be released by the attendant occupying the adjacent compartment to which
the voter has not access.
Inside each box or receptacle is provided a hell or other signalling device which is
operated each time the apparatus is used or one bell or signalling device may be used
for two or more boxes, and a counter is provided for registering the number of votes.
Projecting from the before described apparatus into the compartment occupied by
the attendant and inaccessible to the voter is a handle or other device by which the

page_text: said apparatus is readjusted after each vote, the operation of the said handle or
equivalent device releasing the aforesaid bolt or locking device so that the movable
shoot returns to the position for the introduction of a voting card or the like. If
desired one rod or handle may serve for resetting two or more voting boxes or
receptacles.
The voting cards or the like after passing through the before described movable
shoot, fall into a receptacle which may be.detachable from the rest of the apparatus.
The voting boxes or receptacles are provided with locks the keys of which are
retained by the proper authorities when the apparatus is in use.
If desired, when the before described spindle is provided, the stationary and
movable shoots may be dispensed with and the registration of the votes effected by
the operation of the said spindle without the use of voting cards or the like.
Dated this 12th day of August. 1896.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47 Lincolns Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Recording and Registering Votes.
I, CHARLES THOMAS MARZETTI of 9 John Street, Crutched Friars in the City of
London, Gentlemen, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
My Invention has for its object to provide simple apparatus, or means, whereby
secrecy of voting is ensured, and the votes are registered without the necessity for
the usual expensive, and unsatisfactory, system of counting; whilst votes can be
recorded by illiterate persons without assistance at the polling station, and with
secrecy.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings
in which :-
Figure 1 is a plan of one form of my improved voting apparatus.
Figure 2 represents one form of the voting card.
Figure 3 is a plan of the apparatus shewn in Figure 1 with the cover, or covers,
removed.
Figures 4 and 6 are longitudinal vertical sections each on the line IV-IV of
Figure 3, Figure 4 shewing the apparatus, in its set, or open, position and Figure 6
shewing the apparatus in its un-set, or closed, position.
Figure represents a portion of the apparatus, shewing the manner in which the
apparatus may be closed at the termination of the poll.
Figure 7 is a transverse vertical section on the line VII-VII of Figure 3.
Figure 8 is a vertical section on the line VIII-VIII of Figure 7.
Figure 9 is a horizontal section on the line IX-IX of Figure 7.
Figure 10 is a plan shewing a voting booth fitted with four voting boxes of the
construction represented in Figure 1 and Figures 3 to 9 inclusive.
Figure 11 is a plan of an arrangement embodying a duplication of the apparatus
shewn in Figure 1 and Figures 3 to 9 inclusive.
Figure 12 is a view partly similar to Figure 11 and partly shewing the same
apparatus with the cover or covers removed.
Figures 13 and 14 are longitudinal vertical sections each on the line XIII-XIII
of Figure 12, Figure 13 shewing the apparatus, in its set, or open, position and
Figure 14 shewing the apparatus in its un-set, or closed, position, and

page_text: Figures 15 and 16 are vertical sections on respectively the lines XV-XV and
XVI-XVI of Figure 12.
The arrow-heads on the section lines above referred to indicate the directions from
which the various sectional views are seen.
Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the various figures of the
drawings.
According to my invention I provide for each candidate a separate ballot box, or
receptacle A, the several boxes or receptacles, as shewn in Figure 10, being arranged
in any suitable order, or manner, in a compartiment, or voting booth, B, separated by
a partition b, from, and having no communication with, another compartment, or
chamber B, in which an attendent is present. Each box, or receptacle, A, is marked
with, or is situated in proximity to, a distinguishing name, letter, number, or other
mark a, or, as represented in the drawings, two such devices indicating the boxes, or
receptacles, in which the votes for the respective candidates are to be recorded.
The cover A' of each box or receptacle A is preferably hinged as at a to an inner
cover A which may be hinged to the box, or receptacle, A at a Figure 7, and the
cover A' is provided with an opening, or slot, C, which permanently coincides with a
shoot C¹ fixed to the inner cover A2, which shoot C¹, together with the slot C, is
hereinafter termed the "stationary slot C, C." With this stationary slot C, C
another slot, shoot, or channel D (hereinafter termed the "movable shoot ") can be
made to coincide as shewn in Figure 4, when the box, or receptacles, is adjusted for
receiving a voting card, or the like, E, Figure 2. The movable shoot D, is caused to
move out of coincidence with, and, by a suitable plate, or projection, D', as shewn in
Figure 6, close, the stationary slot C, C', after the voting card, or the like, E, has been
introduced.
The movable shoot D, is secured to, or formed in one piece with, a plate D²,
mounted so as to slide in guides F, and is arranged so that when released, as
hereinafter described, it will be drawn out of coincidence with the stationary slot C, C
by means of a weight, or spring, d.
The movable shoot D may be released, by the insertion of the voting card, or the
like, E, so as to disengage a suitable catch device G and thereby enable the movable
shoot D, to be immediately thereafter moved by the weight or spring d away from
the stationary slot C, C. One way of effecting this is to pivot the catch device or
detent lever, G, on the plate D carrying the movable shoot D, this catch device
or detent lever G being capable of engaging with a hook, or projection, G secured to
the body of the box or receptacle A, when the movable shoot D is to be retained in
its open position as shewn in Figure 4, and to arrange the said catch device or detent
lever G so that its tail g passes through a slot d', into the movable shoot D, as shewn
in Figures 4 and 6. By this arrangement when the voting-card, token, or the like, E,
is passed into the inovable shoot D the catch-lever G will be released from the hook G¹
and the movable shoot D, will be moved, by its weight, or spring, d, away from the
stationary slot CC, as shewn in Figure 6, when the plate D' closes the stationary
slot C C so that a second card E cannot be inserted in the apparatus until after the
latter has been reset by the attendant in charge. A fixed wire, rod f, or equivalent
thereof, preferably secured to the guides F, extends across the lever G so that when
the plate D2 is moved to bring the movable shoot D out of coincidence with the
stationary shoot CC', the said wire f by acting on the inclined part g of the catch
lever G, will move the tail g of this catch lever downwards sufficiently to allow the
voting card E to fall past it through and from the shoot D.
The apparatus may be so arranged that after it has been operated as last described
the moveable shoot D, will be locked in its inaccessible position by a bolt, or other
locking device (not represented in the drawings) which is only accessible to, and can
only be released by, the attendant occupying the compartment B Figure 10 to which
the voter has not access.
Inside each box, or receptacle, A, there may be provided a bell, or other signalling
device, which is operated each time the apparatus is used, or, as hereinafter described
with reference to Figures 11 to 16 inclusive, one bell, or signalling device, may be

page_text: used for two, or more, boxes, and a counter H of any suitable construction is provided
for registering the number of movements of the apparatus and consequently the
number of votes. The counter H (see Figures 3, 7, 8 and 9) is operated by a spring
arm H¹ secured to a moveable part such as the plate D2, and adapted each time the
said plate is moved by the weight or spring d, to pass along one side, say the front,
of a guide plate h, and strike against, and to the extent of one tooth, rotate a ratchet,
or toothed wheel, h¹, of the counter H. On the plate D2 being moved back to its
normal position for the resetting of the apparatus, the spring arm H¹ is drawn away
from the ratchet wheel h¹ by, and passes along the back of, the guide plate h, and,
after leaving the guide plate, springs back into the position shewn in Figure 3 so as
to be ready for again engaging with the ratchet wheel h¹, when the plate D², is next
released. The counter H is situated immediately below a glazed opening A³, Figure 8,
in the cover A2 so that the number of votes recorded may be seen after the cover A¹,
is raised and without requiring to raise the cover A2, which, like the cover A¹, may be
locked in its closed position. Projecting from the before described apparatus into
the compartment B' occupied by the attendant and inaccessible to the voter, is a
handle or other device DS which is connected to, or formed in one piece with, the
plate D2, by which handle the said apparatus is re-adjusted after each vote (the
operation of the said handle Ds if desired serving to release the aforesaid bolt, or
locking device), so that the movable shoot D, is returned to the position in which it
is shewn in Figures 3 and 4 so as to be ready for the introduction of another voting-
card, or the like, E.
The voting cards, or the like, after passing through the before described movable
shoot D fall through an opening as in the bottom of the box A into a receptacle J part
of which is represented in dotted lines in Figures 4 and 6. The said receptacle J may
be detachable from the rest of the apparatus.
Each of the voting boxes, or receptacles, A, is provided with locks K (for securing
the covers A¹ A2 in their closed positions) the keys K¹ of which are retained by the
proper authorities when the apparatus is in use, and it is also provided with a movable
shutter c, arranged on the underside of the cover A¹, so that it may he moved from
the position in which it is shewn in Figures 4 and 6, which position it occupies when
the apparatus is in use, to that in which it is shewn in Figure 5, wherein it closes
the stationary slot C, C'.
In the arrangement shewn in Figures 11 to 16 inclusive the apparatus previously
described, is duplicated, the two boxes A being secured together at a little distance
apart with the before mentioned bell L, contained in a suitably perforated casing L¹
between them. In this example, the handle D³ is adapted to operate on two arms, or
projections D, connected each with one of the sliding plates D2, these arms being
free to move in a box, or case, M, closed by a lid M, in which box is pivotted a
shaft N provided with two arms n (one for each voting box A) and an arm n¹. Each
of the arms n is situated in the path of a hook, or projection, d², secured to one of the
arms D, (or to one of the sliding plates D), and the arm n¹ is arranged to act on the
tail o of a pivotted hammer o¹ which, when released, after being thus engaged, strikes
the bell L. The handle Ds is provided with a pin, or projection, d³, which, by abutting
against the inner face of the back-wall of the case M, limits the outward movement of
the said handle and the plates D².
The shaft N as shewn in Figures 11 and 12 is extended beyond the ends of the case M
so as to admit of it being coupled to the corresponding shaft, or shafts, of similar
apparatus, for example when there may be more than two candidates to be voted for,
so that the same bell L, may serve for, and operate in conjunction with, all the
voting boxes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what 1
claim is :-
1. In apparatus for recording and registering votes the combination with a spring-

page_text: position against the influence of the power controlling it, so arranged that it is
released by the insertion into the shoot of a voting ticket or the like, substantially as
herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
2. In apparatus for recording and registering votes the combination with a spring-
controlled or equivalently controlled movable device such as the plate D2 and a detent
for retaining it in position against the influence of the power controlling it, of a device
for releasing the detent on the insertion of a voting ticket or the like and a counter
operating in unison with the movable device, substantially as hereinbefore described
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
3. In apparatus for recording and registering votes the combination with a box or
casing such as A A1 having a slot or opening C of a spring-controlled or equivalently-
controlled movable shoot, such as D, a detent having its tail projecting partly into the
shoot D for retaining the shoot in position against the influence of the power
controlling it, and a counter operating in unison with the movable shoot substantially
as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
4. In apparatus for recording and registering votes, the combination with a spring-
controlled or equivalently controlled movable device such as the plate D2, a detent for
retaining it in position against the influence of the power controlling it, a device
accessible to the voter in one compartment for releasing the detent and a counter
operating in unison with the movable device, of means for resetting the apparatus
such as the handle Ds in a compartment inaccessible to the voter, substantially as
hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
5. The combination with voting apparatus of a bell or other audible signal for
indicating when the apparatus is used substantially as herein before described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
6. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the apparatus for
recording and registering votes substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated
in Figures 1 and 3 to 9 inclusive, of the accompanying drawings.
7. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the apparatus for
recording and registering votes substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated
in Figures 11 to 16 inclusive, of the accompanying drawings.
Dated th th 1
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C. Agents,