Ballot marking system and apparatus utilizing multiple key switch voter interface

Abstract

A ballot marking system and apparatus for marking a paper ballot listing a plurality of candidates which includes a marking space for each candidate which can be either hand-marked by a voter, or machine-marked by the marking apparatus. The voting station includes a multiple key-switch navigation sub-panel by which the voter enters his or her selections in response to audio prompts. If a ballot is to be machine marked, the ballot is inserted into the marking device and candidate selections are presented to the voter through an audio voting sequence and/or on the touchscreen. Candidate selections entered on the sub-panel or touchscreen are marked on the ballot by a print mechanism which marks spaces corresponding to the selected candidates, and the ballot is returned to the voter in a form which enables the voter to visually confirm that his selections have been marked. The ballot, whether hand-marked or machine-marked, is inserted in a ballot scanning device, wherein it is tallied and deposited in a ballot box.

1 . (canceled)  
   
   
       2 . A voter interface panel for enabling a voter to select one or more options in an election environment having a plurality of contests wherein each contest comprises a plurality of options, said voter interface comprising: 
 a central push-button switch actuable by the voter for making a selection;    a first pair of push-button switches generally disposed horizontally on either side of said central push-button switch actuable by the voter for choosing one of said contests;    a second pair of push-button switches generally disposed above and below said central push-button switch for choosing an option within said chosen contest; and    said central selection switch when activated signaling selection of said chosen option by the voter.    
   
   
       3 . A voter interface panel as defined in  claim 2  wherein at least two of said buttons are uniquely shaped.  
   
   
       4 . A voter interface panel as defined in  claim 3  wherein said first pair of buttons are generally triangularly shaped and point left and right respectively, said second pair of buttons are generally triangularly shaped and point up and down respectively, and said central button is generally rectangularly shaped.  
   
   
       5 . A voter interface panel as defined in  claim 2  further having one or more auxiliary buttons located remote from said first and second pairs and said central button.  
   
   
       6 . A voter interface panel for enabling a voter to select one or more options in an election environment having a plurality of contests wherein each contest comprises a plurality of options, said voter interface comprising: 
 a display screen viewable by the voter;    said election being presented to the voter one contest at a time in a series of screens on said display;    a central push-button switch actuable by the voter for making a selection;    a first pair of push-button switches generally disposed horizontally on either side of said central push-button switch actuable by the voter for scrolling between contests in said election;    a second pair of push-button switches generally disposed above and below said central push-button switch for scrolling a cursor up and down through said plurality of options within each of said contests; and    said central selection switch when activated signaling selection of said chosen option by the voter.    
   
   
       7 . A voter interface panel as defined in  claim 6  wherein at least two of said buttons are uniquely shaped.  
   
   
       8 . A voter interface panel as defined in  claim 7  wherein said first pair of buttons are generally triangularly shaped and point left and right respectively, said second pair of buttons are generally triangularly shaped and point up and down respectively, and said central button is generally rectangularly shaped.  
   
   
       9 . A voter interface panel as defined in  claim 6  further having one or more auxiliary buttons located remote from said first and second pairs and said central button.  
   
   
       10 . A voter interface panel for enabling a voter to select one or more options in an election environment having a plurality of contests wherein each contest comprises a plurality of options, said voter interface comprising: 
 a set of headphones;    said election being presented to the voter one contest at a time through a series of digitized audio prompts through said headphones;    a central push-button switch actuable by the voter for making a selection;    a first pair of push-button switches generally disposed horizontally on either side of said central push-button switch actuable by the voter for controlling the audible presentation of said plurality of contests;    a second pair of push-button switches generally disposed above and below said central push-button switch for controlling the audible presentation of said plurality of options within each of said contests; and    said central selection switch when activated signaling audible selection of said chosen option by the voter.    
   
   
       11 . A voter interface panel as defined in  claim 10  wherein at least two of said buttons are uniquely shaped.  
   
   
       12 . A voter interface panel as defined in  claim 11  wherein said first pair of buttons are generally triangularly shaped and point left and right respectively, said second pair of buttons are generally triangularly shaped and point up and down respectively, and said central button is generally rectangularly shaped.  
   
   
       13 . A voter interface panel as defined in  claim 10  further having one or more auxiliary buttons located remote from said first and second pairs and said central button.