Integrated vote by mail processing system

US7240835B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Diebold Election Systems, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Brian Brucker · North Canton, US
• Harminder Patria · Everett, US
• Brian Clubb · O'Fallon, US
• Lester Wright · Lynnwood, US
• Bryan Pittman · Alliance, US
• Donald S. Nelson, Jr. · Akron, US
• Robert L. Leonard, Jr. · Canal Fulton, US
• Bradley Borne · Uniontown, US
• Brett Barrett · Everett, US
• Jerry Wagoner · Everett, US
• Gary Lemmon · Bothell, US
• John Elder · Tempe, US
• Darrin Heffernan · Olympia, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 18, 2005
• Grant date: Jul 10, 2007
• Expiry date: Jul 18, 2025

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G07C13/00
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A modular integrated software and hardware suite can accept data exported from a voter registration database corresponding to requests for mail ballots, sort the data as necessary for ballot preparation, create a road map for ballot mailing preparation, provide for mail presorting, scan returned ballot envelopes using a ballot envelope scanner, and accept data from the scanner. The scanner uses a passive feed system, a separator brush, and a variable speed straight paper path to minimize jamming through the ballot envelope scanner. The scanner can work with a workstation application to interpret a barcode, store an image of the ballot envelope signature in association with a specific voter, print an endorsement on each verified ballot envelope, and store the endorsement with the signature image. The scanner can divert ballot envelopes with unrecognizable or unmatched barcodes to a separate tray for manual processing.