Postal voting printing certificate

Abstract

Postal voting printed product with combined ballot paper (WS) and shipping envelope (K) based on a common printing medium with separability along predefined perforation lines (5, 6, 7) for separating ballot paper (WS) and shipping envelope (K), characterized by the fact that The shipping envelope (K) is designed as a three-sided closed structure with a closure flap (1) prior to the individualized printing by the authorities, wherein a plurality of indentations (2) are provided distributed along the long side of the closure flap (1), which make any unauthorized opening of the shipping envelope (K) recognizable after it has been closed. The shipping envelope (K) has glued inner side flaps to utilize the maximum internal dimension, so that ballot papers can be inserted without folding, wherein the perforation lines (5; 7) for separating the ballot paper (WS) and shipping envelope (K) are designed and arranged in such a way that folding along at least one perforation line (7) results in a DIN A4 print format with dimensions of essentially 210 mm x 297 mm, in order to carry out the official individualization in a single printing process.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a postal voting printed product with a combined ballot paper and postage envelope based on a common printing carrier with separability along predetermined perforation lines for separating the ballot paper and postage envelope, according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] From DE 10 2016 204 678 A1 a procedure for conducting an election, in particular postal voting with several eligible voters, is known, wherein the procedure includes sending an election mailing to at least one such eligible voter.

[0003] The election kit includes a voter registration card, a ballot paper, a ballot envelope into which the ballot paper can be placed, and a return envelope. To reduce the number of invalid votes, it is suggested that the voter registration card be detachably attached to the ballot envelope. Furthermore, the detachable registration card preserves the voter's anonymity.

[0004] Specifically, the voting authorization is attached to the outside of the ballot envelope, so that it can be detached from the sealed envelope. This allows voters to return the sealed ballot envelope, containing the ballot paper and the voting authorization attached, to the election office.

[0005] The election office then checks the voter's eligibility. If the voter's eligibility is confirmed, the ballot paper is removed from the envelope without opening the envelope.

[0006] The voting authorization is attached to the ballot paper in such a way that, after it has been detached from the ballot envelope, it is permanently evident that the voting authorization has been detached from the envelope at least once. This allows for the detection of tampering with the election documents.

[0007] Specifically, the voting authorization is attached to the ballot paper via a perforation. The perforation is sufficiently robust to keep the voting authorization attached to the ballot envelope during mailing. The perforation also provides predetermined breaking points, allowing the voting authorization to be easily detached from the ballot paper. This perforation is designed to ensure that even after a single detachment, it is clear that the voting authorization has been removed from the ballot envelope at least once.

[0008] Alternatively, the ballot envelope and the voter registration card can be folded from a single sheet, with the voter registration card separated from the ballot envelope portion by a perforation. This allows for cost-effective production of both the ballot envelope and the voter registration card.

[0009] It is also proposed that the voting authorization be personalized before being sent out. In this regard, the name and address or a personal identifier that identifies the respective voter can be added to the voting authorization, in particular printed on it.

[0010] A sealing flap can be used for the ballot envelope, which, once sealed, can only be opened visibly. This prevents unauthorized persons from unknowingly replacing the ballot paper inside the envelope.

[0011] The ballot envelope may have at least one adhesive surface designed to glue the closure flap to the back of the ballot.

[0012] The generic patent DE 10 2018 008 153 A1 relates to a printing product for the combined provision of a ballot paper and a shipping envelope.

[0013] Since personal data must be printed on both the outer envelope of election documents and on the ballot papers, when sending postal voting documents to the participants in the election it is necessary to print the corresponding ballot papers and envelopes separately with this data and then assign them to each other.

[0014] Since a large number of postal voting documents usually have to be sent out in the electoral districts during an election, the allocation involves a great deal of logistical effort, which requires a corresponding deployment of personnel and therefore costs.

[0015] To reduce the increased administrative burden, it has already been proposed to combine the outer mailing envelope and the ballot paper in one printed product, which can then be printed and sent to the postal voter in one operation without the need for time-consuming allocation or sorting.

[0016] The aforementioned DE 10 2018 008 153 A1 aims to create a further developed printing product for the combined provision of a ballot paper and a shipping envelope.

[0017] The printed product to be created in this regard comprises a printing medium with a front and a back.

[0018] The front is divided into a first section, which is printed with individualized data of a personal data record, and a front envelope section, with the sections being separated from each other by a first perforation line.

[0019] The front section of the envelope is then divided again and provided with several fold lines in order to obtain a corresponding envelope with a one-sided opening after it has been cut out of the printing substrate by folding and gluing.

[0020] Additionally, there is a front closure section for the envelope, which is delimited by another fold line.

[0021] The reverse side of the known data carrier contains unalterable, non-personal data, such as an official text in accordance with the election regulations, i.e., a statutory declaration regarding postal voting.

[0022] The known printing medium has a width of essentially 420 mm and a height of essentially 300 mm, the dimensions advantageously preferably corresponding to those of a DIN A3 sheet in order to avoid additional trimming of the printing medium.

[0023] However, the state of the art described above has the following disadvantages.

[0024] With regard to DE 10 2018 008 153 A1, after removing components of the printed carrier, the front and back of the envelope must be folded together. Furthermore, the envelope must be sealed laterally using the provided adhesive strips.

[0025] The closing flap or flap of the envelope must also be folded, with guidelines provided for this purpose.

[0026] However, a particularly serious disadvantage of the state of the art is that the printed product is in DIN A3 format.

[0027] Almost all government agencies dealing with postal voting only have A4 printers in their offices. These printers cannot process DIN A3 format paper.

[0028] This would either require additional folding processes, which would necessitate a complete redesign of the printed product, or the purchase of printers that can print larger formats in one go.

[0029] The stepped lateral gluing proposed in DE 10 2018 008 153 A1 has the disadvantage that approximately 10 mm of the net insertion dimension is lost laterally due to the width of the necessary adhesive. Furthermore, a butt joint or glue joint tends to make it difficult to insert the contents during envelope insertion, causing them to become jammed.

[0030] From the above, the object of the invention is therefore to provide a further developed postal voting printed product which is based on the principle of a combined ballot paper with a shipping envelope, which meets all security requirements and which can be individualized, i.e. printed, by widely used printers that are only capable of carrying out a printing process in the DIN A4 format of the corresponding printing medium.

[0031] The problem of the invention is solved by a postal voting printed product according to the combination of features according to claim 1, wherein the dependent claims include at least suitable embodiments and further developments.

[0032] The postal voting printed product according to the invention, as a combined ballot paper, unites important components of the election documents on a single DIN A4 form, namely the personal ballot paper and the return envelope for the ballot paper in the ballot paper envelope. Both of the aforementioned parts can be personalized for the postal voter by printing them in one pass.

[0033] In a single step, the ballot paper with the personal data of the respective postal voter is printed, and the return envelope receives the corresponding ballot paper number and the correct electoral district in the same printing process. The previously manual matching of these two documents is completely eliminated, thus reducing the risk of mix-ups and therefore invalid voting materials.

[0034] The postal voting printed product therefore consists of a combined ballot paper and postage envelope based on a common printing medium with separability along predetermined perforation lines for separating the ballot paper and postage envelope, as briefly outlined above.

[0035] Before being individually printed by the authorities, the shipping envelope is designed as a three-sided closed structure with a closure flap, with a large number of indentations distributed along the long side of the closure flap, which make unauthorized opening of the shipping envelope recognizable after it has been closed.

[0036] The shipping envelope has glued inner side flaps to utilize the maximum internal dimensions, so that ballot papers can be inserted without folding.

[0037] The perforation lines for separating ballot papers and postage envelopes are designed and arranged in such a way that folding along at least one perforation line results in a DIN A4 print format with dimensions essentially of 210 mm x 297 mm, in order to carry out the official individualization in a single printing process.

[0038] In a further development according to the invention, the indentations are arranged in such a way that they come into contact with an adhesive or adhesive strip located there after the shipping envelope has been closed.

[0039] The indentations can take the form of a "V", "W" or "U".

[0040] The clear internal dimensions of the shipping envelope are designed for envelope contents with dimensions of essentially up to 122 mm x 232 mm.

[0041] The shipping envelope can be separated from the printed material via two perforation lines and has dimensions of essentially 125 mm x 235 mm.

[0042] In the case of using different sizes of shipping envelopes with a predetermined uniform size of essentially 210 x 150 mm for the ballot paper, one or two perforation lines are formed, whereby the single perforation line simultaneously forms a folding edge and in the case of two perforation lines only one perforation line close to the ballot paper forms a folding edge.

[0043] The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment and with the aid of figures.

[0044] The Fig. 1 and Fig. Figure 2 shows a product-related sample in schematic representation with some election-relevant information already printed on it, which, however, does not in any way restrict the scope of protection or reduce it to the content shown there.

[0045] Fig. Figure 1 shows the template intended for printing in A4 format, with the one in the right part of the image. Fig. 1. The recognizable free reverse side of the ballot paper, intended for printing, is folded over in the direction of envelope K along a perforation line or fold edge, as symbolized by the arrow.

[0046] The reference symbol D is used as an example to mark a field to be printed.

[0047] The Fig. Figure 2 shows the reverse side of the postal voting printed product according to Fig. 1 with back of envelope K, the closure flap with indentations and perforation lines for detaching or removing envelope K.

[0048] According to the front view of the postal voting printed product according to Fig. 1 is therefore the ballot paper, the side of which not shown is provided with an exemplary declaration in lieu of an oath for postal voting and is folded towards the envelope according to the arrow indication.

[0049] The overall dimensions of the postal voting printed product according to Fig. The envelope is now in DIN A4 format and can be printed on with a standard printer. The shipping envelope has a closure flap 1 which features numerous perforations 2 that constitute a security feature.

[0050] To close envelope K, the closure flap 1 can be folded along line 3. On the reverse side (see Fig. 2) an adhesive material, in particular in the form of an adhesive strip 4, is present in this regard.

[0051] Across perforation lines 5 and 6 ( Fig. 2) The envelope K can be separated from the printing carrier.

[0052] The ballot paper WS can be removed from the printed carrier via the perforation or fold line 7.

[0053] In the example shown, according to the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 is the clear internal dimension of the shipping envelope K designed for envelope contents with dimensions of essentially up to 122 mm x 232 mm.

[0054] Perforation lines 5 and 6 are positioned so that a shipping envelope with dimensions of essentially 125 mm x 235 mm can be torn out.

[0055] In the case of using different sizes of mailing envelopes K with a predetermined fixed or uniform size of the ballot paper WS of essentially 210 mm x 150 mm, two perforation lines 5 and 7 can be provided, as shown in the example. These also serve as folding edges.

[0056] For larger shipping envelopes, it is possible to provide only a single fold line, for example, fold line or positioning line 7. The resulting space Z1 and Z2 after Fig. 2 serves as additional available space for the correspondingly larger shipping envelope K. In this case, too, it remains possible to limit the overall printing format to the dimensions according to DIN A4, so that the necessary personalization can be carried out in a single printing process.

[0057] To simplify the handling process for the recipient of the postal voting documents, as in the Fig. 2. Examples provided - information in the form of an arrow representation in conjunction with written instructions such as "Detach here".

[0058] According to the exemplary embodiment, envelope K is sealed laterally by internal side flaps. This avoids a butt joint that restricts the available space inside the envelope.

[0059] With the embodiment of a postal voting printing product according to the invention, different ballot paper sizes or ballot paper envelope sizes can be developed, simple printing of the combined ballot paper thus produced can be achieved and thereby considerable costs in the required handling can be reduced.

[0060] The perforations along the longitudinal side of the envelope's closure flap or flap, combined with the priority given to a material-bonded closure using adhesive, are designed such that the closure flap or flap breaks into several components upon unauthorized opening. Regarding the adhesive bond 4, a laser-resistant self-adhesive with a cover strip is provided on the envelope's closure flap in a preferred embodiment. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2016 204 678 A1

[0002] DE 10 2018 008 153 A1 [0012, 0016, 0024, 0029]

Claims

[1] Postal voting printed product with combined ballot paper (WS) and mailing envelope (K) on the basis of a common printing medium with separability along specified perforation lines (5, 6, 7) for separating the ballot paper (WS) and mailing envelope (K), characterized by , that the shipping envelope (K) is designed as a three-sided closed structure with a closure flap (1) before the individualised printing by the authorities, wherein a plurality of punched holes (2) are provided distributed over the long side of the closure flap (1), which make any unauthorised opening of the shipping envelope (K) recognizable after it has been closed, the shipping envelope (K) has glued inner side flaps to utilize a maximum internal dimension, so that ballot papers can be inserted without folding, wherein the perforation lines (5; 7) for separating the ballot paper (WS) and the shipping envelope (K) are designed and arranged such that by folding along at least one perforation line (7) a DIN A4 print format with the dimensions of essentially 210 mm x 297 mm is obtained in order to carry out the individualization by the authorities in a single printing process. [2] Postal voting printed product according to claim 1, characterized by that the punched holes (2) are arranged in such a way that, after the shipping envelope (K) has been closed, they come into contact with an adhesive or adhesive strip (4) located there. [3] Postal voting printed product according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the indentations (2) have the shape of a “V”, “W” or “U”. [4] Postal voting printed product according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the clear internal dimensions of the shipping envelope (K) are designed for envelope contents with dimensions of up to 122 mm x 232 mm. [5] Postal voting printed product according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the shipping envelope (K) can be separated from the printing medium via two perforation lines (5; 6) and has dimensions in the range of substantially 125 mm x 235 mm. [6] Postal voting printed product according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that in the case of the use of different sizes of the shipping envelope (K) with a given equal size of the ballot paper of substantially 210 mm x 150 mm, a single or two perforation lines are formed, wherein the single perforation line simultaneously forms a folding edge and in the case of two perforation lines only a perforation line close to the ballot paper forms a folding edge (7).

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