An Improved Method of and Means for Facilitating the Operation of Recording Secretly and Counting Ballot and other Votes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 27th July, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 26th Apr., 1898-Accepted, 27th July, 1898
An Improved Method of and Means for Facilitating the Operation of
Recording Secretly and Counting Ballot and other Votes.
I, JOHN FISK HOWARD, of 38, St. Leonard's Road, Norwich, England, Gentle-
man, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its objects to produce an apparatus whereby the system
and operation of recording and counting ballot and other votes shall be greatly
simplified.
In carrying the invention into effect I construct a screen of any suitable dimen-
sions and having a slot therein through which the presiding officer, after the usual
routine of verifying the number and right of the voter, passes a slip or card.
The slot aforesaid is covered by a suitable shutter which remains closed until the
voter, having passed behind the screen where he is entirely hidden from view has
operated, by means of a handle or the like, a piece of mechanism which will
cause the name or number of the candidate for whom the voter is voting to be
imprinted, or otherwise indicated upon the card. The mechanism aforesaid for
printing the candidate's name or number is out of sight of the presiding official
and is arranged so that the voter himself can by turning or pressing, as may be
the case, one of the handles, arrange that the name or number of his particular
candidate shall be printed as before stated. The operation of printing is really
performed by the voter himself pulling the card through the slot.
In connection with the mechanism last described is a rotating ballot box which
is placed in full view of the presiding officer, and divided internally into a series
of compartments or chambers, each being devoted to a different candidate. Upon
the voter manipulating the handle of the printing mechanism the box is caused
to revolve until the compartment devoted to the particular candidate whose name
or number appears upon the card is opposite a hole formed in the screen. Through
this hole the voter passes his hand and drops the card into the box in full view of
the presiding officer. It is necessary that during the time occupied by these
actions the voter shall keep his hand upon the handle, as otherwise it would be
to be
impossible for anything to be passed through the slot in the screen or
placed in the ballot box, the various apertures being open only when the handle
aforesaid is operated.
When there are a number of candidates it is obvious that it would be necessary
to have a corresponding number of handles, each handle being marked with a
candidate's name. The number of slots in the box would of course correspond
with the number of candidates for election but the top plate under which the box
would rotate would have but one.
The position of the slots in the top of the box and the slot in the top plate would
in each case have to correspond. To facilitate the operation of counting the votes,
a suitable card is used in place of the paper form hitherto employed for the
purpose. These cards may be bound together in book form and may be provided

page_text: with suitable counterfoils, each one of which could bear the register number of
the person voting.
The printing device, which as before stated, is brought into position by the
movement of any one of the handles by the voter, consists of a small type wheel
upon the spindle of which is a small pinion which is in gear with a suitable rack.
The rack itself is attached to the shutter covering the slot through which the
cards are passed. Upon the spindle of the type wheel is a pulley for a cord or
the like. This cord passes over a larger pulley upon the spindle of which is a
small pinion in gear with a larger one to which are attached metal rods or cords
of any suitable material, and these communicate with the handles before described.
The cords or the like are of different lengths and are arranged so that the amount
of rotation of the various pinions and pulleys shall vary. The wheel carrying the
larger pulley is supported in a bearing constructed to allow of the wheel centre
moving vertically, a spring being provided to return it to its normal position
when the handle is released.
The longitudinal movement of the wheel last described enables the various type
wheels to be brought into position with regard to the slot. The movement of
the ballot box, which box is cylindrical in form, is effected by means of teeth
formed upon the supporting base of the box, which has a square plug or projection
engaging with a suitable socket or hole formed in the bottom of the box.
The movement of the box is effected by means of a bevel gear wheel which may
be mounted upon a spindle, one end of which would carry a wheel in contact
with the wheel to which are secured the cords connected with the handles, and the
other would have a bevel wheel which would he in contact with the teeth upon the
base of the ballot box, or the wheel may be directly geared to the base. The base
may be returned to its normal position by means of a suitable spring, in which it
would be impossible for anything to be placed in the ballot box.
Datod this 27th day of July 1897
J. E. EVANS-JACKSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.
An Improved Method of and Means for Facilitating the Operation of
Recording Secretly and Counting Ballot and other Votes.
I, JOHN FISK HOWARD, of 30, Thorpe Road, Norwich, England, Gentleman,
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:-
This invention relates to prevention of fraud in the operations of recording and
counting ballot and other votes but principally in voting at Parliamentary and
other elections and ascertaining at any moment during an election the number
of votes for each candidate recorded at any place and rapidly verifying the same
by counting afterwards no matter what cross voting may occur. Whilst accommo-
dating itself to existing Acts of Parliament relating to such matters, this invention
aims at such accuracy that however small the majority may be against a defeated
candidate, there can be no room for him to doubt that the number of votes verified
and declared in each case is absolutely correct. Scrutiny delay and the inevitable
enormous costs are thus prevented.
At any place for voting or issuing slips or cards I propose to use the following
or such of the following as may be required.
1. Paper slip or card book with counterfoils.

page_text: 4. Kollers or markers.
5. Mechanism by applied power.
6. Automatic counters or recorders.
7. Electric light behind screen at and after dusk.
A paper slip, card, or ticket book for elections and like purposes may be of four
or more distinct and different colours, each page of the book or at least the back
of each page differing in colour from the preceding page or the back thereof
irregularly so that even the presiding or other officials shall not know what
particular colour the voting paper or card of any voter shall be until the papers
or cards allotted to him are to be detached from the book and not allow the voter
to know until he receives such papers or cards.
By this means I prevent the fraudulent system of depositing a dummy paper
or card in the ballot box by any voter in order to give his voting paper or card
to an agent outside to pass on marked for the candidate he desires to return to
some following voter to deposit in the ballot box, who will also hand over his own
voting paper or card to such agent to pass on to another, and so on secretly from
one voter to another throughout election, a system too often successful with ballot
papers hitherto. When cards are used in the formation of ballot books the shape
and size of each card may be similar to the ordinary railway ticket, or other suit-
able shape or size may be adopted according to requirements but in the case of
elections of any kind the particular date and kind of election and the register
numbers of the respective voters for whom the cards are prepared can always
be printed in small type prior to election on the respective cards.
propose that such books shall have a marginal space for the purpose of pro-
viding each voter with a counterfoil no matter how many cards or tickets may
fall to such voter, and on each respective counterfoil may also be printed prior
to election the register number of each respective voter, and the letters A. M. P. M.
By perforation or other suitable means the separation of cards or tickets from the
book in the cleanest and easiest manner may always be arranged for prior to
election.
Fig. 1 represents a page or portion of a page of such a book.
6.
"
one
In School Board elections and such like when it is definitely and publicly
known that arrangements have been made by contending parties to run
particular candidate for a certain district by and for each party, then, for polling
places concerned a special ballot book for the purpose of recording the full
cumulative vote pertaining to such election on one ballot paper or card may be
prepared. Large Roman numerals or other suitable device may be employed to
denote the special paper or card conspicuously printed or marked upon the face of
each paper or card prior to election, so that, if any voter is entitled to give 20
votes for any candidate the Roman number XX will appear upon every paper or
card in the special ballot book or such other device as may be employed to denote
that such paper or card conveys the full cumulative vote.
Each voter who desires such paper or card must ask for the special ballot book
whereupon his papers or cards in ordinary paper or card book are officially
cancelled. But when a voter prefers to distribute his votes, then the proper
allotted number of ordinary ballot cards may be passed to him as required and
the special paper or card bearing his register number in the special ballot book
is officially cancelled.
Screen A Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5, with marking slot B for cards, tickets or slips.
I prefer strong stud work for the screen suitably covered. It requires only a
small space and is much more portable than the usual constructions in polling
places.
The marking slot B may be conveniently near the centre of screen. Every
ballot card passed to voter by presiding officer is passed through this slot, and in
order that sufficient length of card may protrude through the slot for the voter

page_text: to take hold of, the entire thickness of the screen around the marking slot may
not exceed half the length of ballot card.
A bench or desk A¹ shielded by wings A² A³ at each side is fixed behind
the screen A and is partially extended in front of said screen, a hand-hole A5 in the
screen A allowing access to a voting slot A4 provided in said front extension of the
desk A. On or over said desk, I provide in a convenient position for the voter to
operate, as many handles, knobs buttons triggers or equivalents as there may be
candidates at an election or only one hinged radial handle C for all the candidates,
such handle to be rotated over a disc or portion of a disc D. conspicuously marked
at proper distances with the respective candidates names and provided with a
spring pin E working in a hole in said disc or other like device for each respective
candidate to be operated by said radial handle as hereinafter explained.
On or above or beneath the bench or desk A' I provide automatic counters or
recorders F connected with each pin E or its equivalent to register every manipu-
lation of the radial handle C so that the state of the poll at any polling place may
be known at any time for official or other purposes; but such automatic counters
or recorders will always be invisible being enclosed in a suitable case D₁ to which
the disc I may form a sealed cover easily removable for the inspection of the
counters F.
An electric light can be supplied behind the screen as required from accumu-
lators which may be used when electrical power is applied in this invention.
Divided ballot box G, Figs. 3, 4 and 6.
The ballot box G may be of suitable light metal and cylindrical or other
suitable shape, and divided into as many compartments at least as there are candi-
dates to be voted for at any election, as an example I have assumed 6 candidates,
each candidate to have a separate compartment. I prefer to arrange the lids of
all compartments to open and close at the centre of the box. All the lids thus
converging to one point when closed are easily sealed with any official seal.
A slot G¹ is provided in each lid of the ballot box G any one of which slots
comes directly under the voting slot A in the extended portion of the desk A¹
which covers the ballot box when said ballot box has been operated according
to whichever candidate the voter desires should receive his vote.
The compartments of the ballot box G may be allotted in the same order as the
alphabetical list of candidates generally published prior to an election.
When the ballot box G is placed in position on or in a suitable plate or
receptacle G³ mounted on an upright spindle G³ revolving in bearings in a suitable
case or frame G4 it rotates under the bench or desk A¹ partly behind and partly
in front of the screen A.
The rotary movement is effected by the voter in the following manner.
The hinged radial handle C herein before referred to is provided on the under-
side with a pin or projection C and a spring C which normally keeps the handle
and its pin clear of the disc D. The handle C is hinged in a vertical jaw H¹ on
the upper end of a vertical spindle H provided with suitable bearings at either
end.
When the spindle H is caused to revolve by means of the handle C the spindle G³
and with it the ballot box G is also caused to revolve by means of spur gearing J
which is so proportioned that for any given angular movement of the handle C
the ballot box G is caused to revolve through an angle equal to that contained
by one compartment that is to say when the handle C stands at zero-no one of
the slots G in the ballot box is beneath the voting slot A4 but when the handle C
is moved say to the point 3 the ballot box has revolved until the slot G in the
Corresponding compartment marked 3 is exactly beneath the voting slot A. The
handle C is then depressed the projection striking the spring pin E and
depressing it against its spring sufficiently to operate the counter and to strike
a gong
K attached to said counter whereupon a spring catch L shown to a larger ·
scale in Figs. 7 and 8 takes into a notch or above a shoulder E¹ on the spring
pin E preventing it from again rising until said catch is withdrawn by a lever M

page_text: operated in front of the screen A. All the catches L are mounted on a disc N
or its equivalent which is freely mounted on the spindle H and is caused to vibrate
by the lever M sufficiently to free simultaneously such pins E, as may at any time
have been depressed, from their corresponding catches L thus permitting them to
rise by means of their springs.
The catches L are pivotted near their centres at L¹ and are provided with springs
which tend to raise the catch end and a stop end L³. When one of the pins E is
depressed so far that the notch or shoulder E¹ passes the point of the catch L the
spring raises the catch above said shoulder E' until the stop end strikes the disc N
thus preventing the pin E from rising. To permit of the vibration of the disc N
whereby the catches L are withdrawn from the pins E the holes in said disc
through which the pins E pass are suitably slotted.
The handle C on being released returns to zero point by means of a barrel
spring P or the like which operates the spindle H, causing also the ballot box G
to return to its normal position as shown in Fig. 4.
Thus every card deposited in the ballot box G has to pass through the same
voting slot A+.
Ballot boxes with any reasonable number of compartments may be arranged,
but four kinds may probably be found sufficient namely boxes divided into 6, 12,
18 and 24 compartments.
A suitable flange or guard may be arranged partially around the voting slot A*
to prevent any card falling which may accidentally slip from any voter's hand, a
contingency highly improbable as the voting slot is plainly discernible to voter
and within very easy reach.
An envelope of same shape and material as the ballot box may be arranged to
cover the ballot box before and after an election. Such envelope may have two
suitable eyes through which a rod may be passed and locked to secure the box
and its contents. This envelope may be provided with a pocket of suitable size
fitted with a small slot to receive any unused card which any voter may not desire
to use although entitled to do so. In such case when the voter leaves the voting
screen the presiding official may at once cancel the unused card and drop it into
the envelope pocket the voter concerned being witness thereto.
The arrrangement of the sets of printing rollers or markers as shown in Figs. 3,
4, 5, 9, 10 and 11 is such that any name or number desired by the voter shall be
in correct position to receive and mark the voting card at the marking slot B
while at the same time the slot G¹ of the corresponding compartment in the ballot
box G is in position immediately below the voting slot A such combined move-
ments being effected simultaneously entirely by the voter.
Each set of printing or marking rollers consists preferably of a marking roller Q
having a guide or pressure roller Q₁ above it and an inker Q2 below it or other
suitable means of inking said marking roller. Each roller is provided with a
spindle running in bearings in a containing frame. The printing roller and type
are so arranged as to ensure when at rest that the type does not rest on the inker
or equivalent and also to ensure that the voting card is marked in the centre or
thereabouts. The type or other means of marking may consist of the name,
number or any sign by which each candidate may be known for the purposes
of election. The rollers are preferably of very small dimensions and the sets of
rollers are arranged in the same order as the compartments in the ballot box
each candidate to be voted for having a separate marking roller.
The sets of printing rollers or markers Q as shewn in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are
arranged to work in a frame Q3 sliding to and from the marking slot B within a slot
in the screen A and enclosed by suitable cover plates one on either side of the said
screen provided each with a slot B through which the voting card is passed to be
marked. The lower ends of the frame Q are formed with rack teeth Q into which
gear spur wheels R mounted on a spindle S provided with a mitre wheel S¹ into
which gears a mitre wheel H³ on the spindle H. The spindle S revolves in

page_text: suitable bracket bearings mounted on the screen A. The spur wheel R is so pro-
portioned that when the handle C is brought to-say-point 3 and thereby, as already
explained, the slot G¹ of the corresponding or No. 3 compartment in the ballot
box G brought beneath the voting slot A, the corresponding or No. 3 set of printing
rollers is brought in front of the marking slot B so as to permit of the voting card
being passed through the slot B and between the guide or pressure roller Q¹ and
marking roller Q. The act of pulling the voting card through the slot causes
the marking roller Q to revolve and thus mark the card with, in this instance,
the number 3. The top of the frame Q³ is formed solid so as to form a shutter
to close the marking slot B when the handle C is at zero point and consequently
the ballot box is in its normal position. Or, as shewn in Figs. 9, 10 and 11, I
attach the sets of rollers to the outside of the ballot box G so that they rotate
therewith, the top of each containing frame Q3 being preferably level with the top
of the ballot box G and extending more or less radially a few inches beyond its
outside circumference. To permit the roller frames Q3 to pass the screen A as
the ballot box revolves I provide a notch in the said screen. The marking rollers
are arranged in order around the ballot box to correspond with the order of the
compartments in the said ballot box, and in such a manner that when--for
instance the slot G¹ of the compartment-say No. 3 is beneath the voting slot A*
the corresponding No. 3 roller frame fills the notch in the screen A. The sets
of marking rollers are enclosed by cover plates secured on either side of the
frames Q3 each cover plate being provided with the marking slot B through
which the voting card is passed. I also provide a dummy frame Q³ or shutter
(not shewn on the drawings) attached in the same manner as the roller frame Q³
to the ballot box G but at such a point that when the handle C is at zero point
and consequently the ballot box is in its normal position the said dummy frame
will fill the notch in the screen A.
With this arrangement of marking rollers I preferably so arrange the height
of the desk A relatively to the ballot box that the marking rollers revolve above
the level of the said desk and in order to enclose the top of the ballot box and
the marking rollers I provide for that purpose a cover secured on the desk A' a
small portion of said cover on either side of the screen A being conveniently cut
away to permit the voting card to be passed through the marking slot B when
one of the frames fills the notch in the screen A already referred to. Or I may
attach the roller frames Q3 to a wheel revolving in a hollow space in the screen A
said wheel being controlled by a steel cord or equivalent connected with the
spindle which controls the ballot box.
In any case the ballot box and marking gear move simultaneously so that when
any particular name or number has been brought into position at the marking
slot, the corresponding compartment of ballot box has been brought into position
at the voting slot. But except in the act of voting the marking slot and voting
slot are not available because the mechanism is so geared that when at zero
position (or at rest) none of the slots in the lids of the ballot box comes under the
voting slot, and the marking slot is covered by a shutter or equivalent. The
ballot box and marking gear as well as the mechanism are hidden from view of
every person in polling place including the voter.
The automatic counters or recorders will register each vote the instant any
voter manipulates each handle or equivalent; but no person can have access to
the figures recorded by the counters unless duly authorized to examine them
At the close of
officially and to declare state of poll at any place at any time.
poll the respective totals may be entered on the official form which with other
papers may be secured in envelope which covers the ballot box when the box is
removed from screen. In the ordinary counting all the ballot boxes should only
be opened one corresponding compartment at a time. From various causes count-
ing of ballot votes has hitherto been unsatisfactory and slow, but by this method
of voting and counting that is entirely altered.

page_text: Instead of the aforesaid mechanically operated voting devices I may operate
said voting devices by means of electricity. For this purpose I use an electric
motor supplied with current from portable accumulators in each polling place or
supplied in any other convenient and reliable manner; such electric motor being
geared to the rotating ballot box preferably by worm gearing see Figs. 11 and 12
consisting of a worm T on the motor shaft T and a wormwheel U on the spindle G³
of the ballot box G the number of teeth in the wormwheel being equal to the
number of compartments in the ballot box or preferably some convenient multiple
thereof so that the spindle of the electric motor may be arranged to make the
requisite number of complete revolutions, and may be stopped automatically at
the same point of its revolution for each of the different positions of the ballot
box by means of a detent. As the voter closes the circuit, for example, by
pressing one of the contact pins V (shewn in Fig. 13) on the desk A¹ a gong or
other device is sounded as a signal to the official. This may be worked electrically
by the same current which also energises a magnet, and thus closes a switch which
switch completes the motor circuit, thereby causing the ballot box and marking
gear to move as required. I prefer to employ as many switches closed magneti-
cally as there are compartments in the ballot box and to fix these switches in a
circle concentric with the axis of the box in such a way that a projection or its
equivalent attached to the box will open the switch required when the box has
rotated sufficiently to bring the closed switch and the projection into contact.
The switch being thus opened, the circuit through the motor is interrupted and
the motor stops.
In order to stop the motor quickly and at the right point in its revolution, I
arrange a detent or brake or both in such a way that they are kept out of opera-
tion by a magnet so long as the current flows in the motor circuit, but as soon
as the current stops they arrest the motor and engage with a projection or
depression on a revolving part so as to stop the spindle always at the same point
of its revolution. By these means the ballot box is rotated to the required position
and the rollers or markers having simultaneously come into exact posi-
tion required by voter, the official whose attention is automatically called by
the gong places the ballot card in the marking slot for the voter to draw it
through the screen who then passes his hand through the aperture A5 in the screen
and drops the card through the voting slot A into the desired compartment. of
the ballot box.
After the voting card is deposited the motor is started again by the official and
runs on till the ballot box has rotated to its zero or normal position.
As soon as the ballot box and marking gear arrive at the zero or normal position
the motor circuit is interrupted by a projection or equivalent which opens the
switch previously closed by the act of the presiding official.
I will now more particularly describe the working of my improved method in
any polling place during an election:-
1. The presiding officer is seated in front of screen A with ballot paper or card
book near him and the usual necessaries the envelope cover of ballot box being
within reach. His hand commands the marking slot B in front of screen, and
his eye commands the voting slots A4 in desk A¹ over the ballot box G projecting
into the room quite near him. He verifies each voters right to vote (in the usual
way) and turning to the proper counterfoil in the ballot book marks the time of
day each voter presents himself, using for this purpose ink or pencil of one
uniform colour throughout election.
2. The voter goes behind the screen A by entrance side, and is hidden from
sight. He sees before him conspicuously the respective names and numbers of
all the candidates concerned each allotted a separate handle knob or equivalent,
or one radial handle for all candidates. Having operated the handle C or contact
pin V or any particular handle or equivalent and the gong having sounded the
marking slot B is ready to receive his card from the official,

page_text: 3. Meanwhile the presiding official has separated the proper card or cards from
the ballot book stamping the same with the official stamp or marker of any
suitable kind, and now places card in the marking slot. The voter in taking the
card marks it mechanically with the name number or sign of the candidate whose
handle or equivalent he has operated, and for the first time discerns the colour of
his card and now satisfies himself it is marked as he intended.
4. Equally simple is the act of depositing the card in the ballot box. The voter
receiving the card with the marked side toward himself may immediately without
changing the card from one hand to the other or shifting his position easily reach
his hand through the open aperture A5 in the screen and drop the card into the
ballot box through the voting slot A' without revealing the mark.
5. The presiding official witnesses the act of voting and though unable to see
how the card is marked has the opportunity of noting its colour, and if not the
same colour as just passed by him to the voter a change has been effected behind
the
screen, and the fraud at once detected before the card leaves the voter's hand..
6. In Parliamentary elections and such like directly the voter has deposited
his first card in ballot box he operates any other handle or equivalent for any
candidate for whom he may be entitled to vote, and the same process is repeated
and so on one vote per candidate but such handle or equivalent when once operated
remains locked by means of the catch L or equivalent so that the voter cannot give
two votes to the same candidate. The voter having passed from behind the
screen A the official releases the catches L by means of the lever M. In School
Board elections and such like allowing cumulative vote, the handles or equivalents
instantly return to normal position when released by voter so that any legitimate
number of votes may be given to the same candidate.
No one except to record votes is allowed behind the voting screen A during
election.
When the voter understands what has to be done a few seconds only are
required behind the screen for the process of voting so that half a minute is ample
to record two and probably three votes, and twice that number in the case of School
Board elections and such like.
It is most important to allow no voter more than a reasonable time and to sec
that every voter leaves the screen by the exit side.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. The combination in a voting screen or equivalent of a revolving or recipro-
cating ballot box divided into compartments with mechanism arranged to operate
the same together with means for secretly marking the ballot card or equivalent
simultaneously, and for automatically counting the number of votes for each
candidate substantially as described.
2. Book of paper slips cards or tickets with readily detachable papers cards or
tickets the pages of such book or the back of the pages being of different colours
substantially as described.
3. Special ballot plump book for cumulative voting substantially as described
4. A method whereby each voter marks his. ballot card or equivalent mechani-
cally with the name number or sign of his chosen candidate so that he is enabled
to satisfy himself before the ballot card or equivalent leaves his hand that he is
depositing the vote he intended to give as herein described.
5. Divided ballot box fitted with lock up envelope cover, and containing at
least as many compartments as candidates to be voted for at Parliamentary and
other elections substantially as described.
6. The arrangement of mechanism for operating a ballot box simultaneously
with a marking or other similar apparatus connected or rotating with ballot box
or in gear to any part such box is in gear to as herein described."
7. The use of automatic counters or recorders for registering each vote as

page_text: given in such a way that the presiding official may be enabled at any time to sec
by inspection the state of the poll at his polling place without having access
to ballot cards or equivalents substantially as described.
8. The separation of votes mechanically as herein described.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.