Granted Patent B2

US 7,216,807 · App. 10/461,586 · Granted May 15, 2007

Abstract

Claims (51)

1. A system for use in packaging ballots in envelopes, comprising:

data storage including voter-specific address information associated with a ballot type identifier;

a ballot printing subsystem configured to access instances of the voter-specific address information to print a plurality of ballots where individual ballots are selected as a ballot type associated with the voter-specific address information and printed to contain first indicia identifying the ballot type;

a scanner configured to read the first indicia from the individual ballots to produce a scanned ballot identifier signal;

ballot insertion equipment configured to place the ballot in a corresponding envelope;

an envelope printing subsystem configured to print the envelope with the voter address information, second indicia representative of the scanned identifier signal, and third indicia representing the ballot type identifier that is associated with the voter address information; and

a scanning subsystem configured to compare the second indicia against the third indicia to assure that the ballot type is correct for the voter address information.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the scanning subsystem comprises means for directing the ballot packaged in the envelope to an outgoing mail location in instances where the second indicia and the third indicia do match, and for redirecting the ballot packaged in the envelope to means for other processing when the second indicia and the third indicia do not match.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the means for other processing comprises program instructions for halting ballot packaging processes when the second indicia and the third indicia do not match.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the ballot type identifier identifies a precinct-level ballot.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first indicia is a bar code.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the ballot printing system comprises a mobile ballot box configured to store a plurality of ballot types in one of an electronic, magnetic or optical storage format.

7. The system of claim 1 , where the envelope printing subsystem accesses a random access queue that disables the voter information for a particular voter from future access as the envelopes are printed.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the ballot insertion equipment comprises means for folding the ballot prior to inserting the ballot into an envelope.

9. The system of claim 8 , further comprising means for inserting materials in addition to the ballot into the envelope.

10. A method of ballot packaging comprising the steps of:

storing data that includes voter-specific address information associated with a ballot type identifier;

printing a plurality of ballots associated with the voter address information, the plurality of ballots including individual ballots that bear first indicia identifying the ballot;

scanning the first indicia to produce a scanned ballot identifier signal;

inserting individual ballots each into a corresponding envelope;

printing the envelopes with the voter address information, second indicia representative of the scanned identifier signal, and third indicia representing the ballot type identifier that is associated with the voter address information;

scanning the envelope to provide scanned information characterizing the second indicia and the third indicia to provide scanned information; and using the scanned information to compare the second indicia with the third indicia to determine whether the ballot type is correct for the voter address information.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising a step of directing the ballot packaged in the envelope to an outgoing mail location in instances where the second indicia and the third indicia do match, as determined in the comparing step, and redirecting the ballot packaged in the envelope to other processes when the second indicia and the third indicia do not match.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the redirecting step comprises halting ballot packaging processes.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of printing a plurality of ballots includes accessing a mobile ballot box configured to store a plurality of ballot types in one of an electronic, magnetic or optical storage format.

14. The method of claim 10 , where the step of printing the envelope includes accessing a random access queue and disabling from the random access queue the voter information for a particular voter from future access as the envelopes are printed.

15. A system for use in packaging ballots in envelopes, comprising:

data storage including voter-specific address information associated with a ballot type identifier;

a ballot printing subsystem configured to access instances of the voter-specific address information to print a plurality of ballots where individual ballots are selected as a ballot type associated with the voter-specific address information and printed to contain first indicia identifying the ballot type;

a scanner configured to read the first indicia from the individual ballots to produce a scanned ballot identifier signal;

ballot insertion equipment configured to place the ballot in an envelope;

an envelope printing subsystem configured to print the envelope with the voter address information as indicated by the ballot identifier signal, second indicia representative of the scanned identifier signal, and third indicia representing the ballot type identifier that is associated with the voter address information; and

a means for reading the second indicia and the third indicia from the envelope and for comparing the second indicia against the third indicia to assure that the ballot type is correct for the voter address information.

16. The system of claim 15 , further comprising program instructions for directing additional processing of the envelope on different physical paths according to the comparison outcome.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the ballot type identifier identifies a precinct-level ballot.

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the first indicia is a bar code.

19. The system of claim 15 , wherein the ballot printing system comprises a mobile ballot box configured to store a plurality of ballot types in one of an electronic, magnetic or optical storage format.

20. The system of claim 15 , where the envelope printing subsystem accesses a random access queue that disables the voter information for a particular voter from future access as the envelopes are printed.

21. The system of claim 15 , wherein the ballot insertion equipment comprises means for folding the ballot prior to inserting the ballot into an envelope.

22. The system of claim 21 , further comprising means for inserting materials in addition to the ballot into the envelope.

23. A method of ballot packaging comprising the steps of:

storing data that includes voter-specific address information associated with a ballot type identifier;

printing a plurality of ballots associated with the voter address information, the plurality of ballots including individual ballots that bear first indicia identifying the ballot;

scanning the first indicia to produce a scanned ballot identifier signal;

inserting individual ballots each into a corresponding envelope;

printing the envelopes with the voter address information according to the ballot identifier signal, second indicia representing the ballot type identifier that is associated with the voter address information; and

reading the second indicia and the third indicia from the enveloped and comparing the second indicia against the third indicia to assure that the ballot type is correct for the voter address information.

24. The method of claim 23 , directing the ballot packaged in the envelope to an outgoing mail location in instances where the envelope contains the intended ballot type, and redirecting the ballot packaged in the envelope to other processes when the envelope does not contain the intended ballot type.

25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the redirecting step comprises halting ballot packaging processes.

26. The method of claim 23 , wherein the step of printing a plurality of ballots includes accessing a mobile ballot box configured to store a plurality of ballot types in one of an electronic, magnetic or optical storage format.

27. The method of claim 23 , wherein the step of printing the envelope includes accessing a random access queue and disabling from the random access queue the voter information for a particular voter from future access as the envelopes are printed.

Assignments (14)