Transparent ballot box cover with digital counting of ballots under opaque envelopes

Abstract

Ballot box cover (10) comprising a ballot slot (11) for admitting ballots (20) in opaque envelopes (21) and its opening / closing device (12) characterized in that the admission slot (11) opens into a ballot viewing chamber (31) which, in a dark chamber (38), includes a projector (32) that emits light towards a camera (33) that aims at the projector and scans the surface of the projector in its image capture. The camera (33) and the projector (32) are connected to a computer (34) powered by an electrical source (35) and controlled by secure admission software. The computer (34) interacts with a mechanical back-and-forth actuation system (41) for pressing, holding, and releasing ballot envelopes in the viewing chamber (31) to fall or not through a lower exit slot (37) of the dark chamber (38) which opens in the urn (1),as well as with the opening / closing actuation device (12) of the urn slot (11). Figure for the abbreviation: Fig. 8,

Description

Title of the invention: Transparent ballot box cover with digital counting of ballot papers in opaque envelopes

[0001] The present invention relates to an improved ballot box cover which allows the viewing of ballot papers in opaque envelopes in an entry airlock in the ballot box. This function provides a new double security for the holding of votes.

[0002] There is indeed FR2949270A1, a new ballot equipped with an electronic chip. There is indeed EP1939817A2, a mail-in envelope that protects the confidentiality of the voter's signature. There is indeed FR3002357A1, a ballot box that cooperates with barcoded ballots and windowed envelopes. But there is currently no prior art system for securely reading paper ballots without electronic addition in an opaque envelope in an airlock entering the ballot box.

[0003] The invention therefore aims to secure the voting system by allowing members of the polling station to double count the votes; Indeed, the invention aims to allow both the digital counting of the votes, digital counting which is doubled by a manual count. The invention also aims to identify and count blank votes. This solution offers great security for the vote and makes it possible to avoid possible cases of fraud or errors.

[0004] The invention also aims to enable digital accounting to be verified by doubling it with manual counting.

[0005] The invention also aims to enable the voter to be warned if a problem is detected with his ballot paper. It is thus possible to indicate to the voter that the ballot paper contains an anomaly.

[0006] A main object of the invention is to propose a voting system which conforms to traditional voting practices with a transparent ballot box and ballots in an opaque envelope, but which offers new functions which are to secure the vote by qualifying the validity of the ballots in a secure viewing chamber before they fall into the ballot box, and which digitizes the reading of the ballots which can then be compared to the manual count.

[0007] The present invention proposes a security which can be deactivated with a ballot box which can continue, with the security deactivated, to operate in the traditional manner with an exclusively manual recount.

[0008] The present invention aims to improve the transparent reading of the ballot paper through an envelope.

[0009] The invention aims to propose a solution which complies with current standards.

[0010] The invention aims to propose a solution which can be industrialized and whose price is returns to be acceptable to customers.

[0011] The invention aims to propose a solution that cannot be hacked.

[0012] In a main aspect, the invention provides an improved transparent ballot box cover with a secure viewing hatch.

[0013] In a particular aspect, the secure viewing airlock comprises a dark room in which two transparent plates actuated by a reciprocating mechanism press together, hold and release the envelopes containing the ballot papers, the transparent plates are located opposite a light source on the one hand and a camera on the other hand. The camera sends the information to a computer system integrated into the cover which checks the validity of the ballot papers.

[0014] The invention will be better understood on reading the attached figures in which:

[0015] - [Fig.l] represents a perspective view of a traditional voting box

[0016] - [Fig.2] represents a view of a ballot paper and its envelope according to a traditional solution

[0017] - [Fig.3] represents a view from below of the hood according to the invention

[0018] - [Fig.4] represents a side view of the hood without its viewing hatch according to the invention

[0019] - [Fig.5] represents a top view of the hood according to the invention

[0020] - [Fig.6a] represents a view of the principle of actuation of the mechanism of va and comes from the hood viewing hatch according to the invention, according to a first embodiment

[0021] - [Fig.6b] represents a view of the principle of actuation of the mechanism of va and comes from the hood viewing hatch according to the invention, according to a second embodiment

[0022] - [Fig.7] represents a side view of the principle of the electromechanical treatment of a envelope with its bulletin in the viewing hatch of the hood, according to one of the possible embodiments.

[0023] - [Fig.8] represents a side view of the hood with its viewing hatch according to the invention

[0024] - [Fig.9] represents a view of a ballot paper and its envelope according to the invention

[0025] - [Fig.l] represents a perspective view of a traditional voting box (1) which is commonly in the form of a parallelepiped box with a cover (10) on top which includes a voting slot (11) whose opening / closing is actuated by an actuating device (12). At the end of the vote the cover is opened by the team of scrutineers, the envelopes are scattered on the table and are counted. Commonly the side walls of the ballot box are transparent to prevent fraud.

[0026] - [Fig.2] represents a view of a ballot paper and its envelope according to a traditional solution with a rectangular ballot paper (20), which is positioned in an envelope (21) with its triangular flap. Depending on the vote, the ballot paper may or may not be folded in the envelope.

[0027] - [Fig.3] represents a view from below of the hood according to the invention with symbolized and not detailed the viewing hatch (31) which is positioned substantially in the center of the hood, comprising a projector (32) which emits light towards a camera (33) which aims at the projector and which scans the surface of the projector in its image capture. The camera (33) and the projector (32) are connected to a computer (34) itself powered by an electrical source (35) 220 V socket, or autonomous battery. The computer (34) is also linked to a mechanical back and forth actuation system (41) of the viewing hatch (31) and to a closing / opening actuation device (12) of the urn slot (11), described later. Software interacts and controls the respective actions of the closing / opening actuation device (12) of the ballot box slot (11), of the mechanical back-and-forth actuation system (41) of the viewing airlock (31), of the image capture by the camera (33), and of the emission and stopping of the light by the projector (32).

[0028] - [Fig.4] represents a side view of the hood without its airlock according to the invention, and on which shows how the image capture cone (36) by the camera aims at the projector (32) and how this camera assembly (33), image capture cone (36), projector (32) is located in a so-called dark room casing (38) which protects them from light and external scrutiny. This airlock and its contents are therefore protected from external viewing by the opaque walls of the dark room (38). Only a low exit slot (37) is provided to drop the ballot papers once they have passed the airlock validation procedure.

[0029] - [Fig.5] represents a top view of the hood according to the invention on which appears in dotted lines the surface occupied by the entire so-called back and forth mechanism (41) which will be described later and whose function is to operate the mechanical part of the viewing airlock (31). Also appearing in the figure is the ballot box slot (11) and its opening / closing actuating device (12).

[0030] - [Fig.6a] represents a view of the principle of actuation of the mechanism of va and comes (41) from the viewing chamber (31) according to the invention. This mechanism comprises two transparent pressure and holding plates (48a, 48b) between which the envelope is pressed and held. The transparent plates are of a dimension adapted to that of the voting envelope (21) and of a very slightly larger size. In the attached figure, a back and forth mechanism is described, several other equivalent mechanisms can be developed. In a first embodiment, two transparent plates, which we will call first plate (48a) and second plate (48b), are surrounded by a plate holding mechanism (45a and 45b) each, and a mechanism called frame each (46a and 46b) which will act alternately on the two transparent plates (48a and 48b) by inverted pivot points to spread or press the upper edge of the plate (48b) to insert, press and retain the envelope in the airlock to validate the vote, and spread or press the lower edge of the plate (48a) to release it into the ballot box (1) if the ballot paper it contains is valid.

[0031] - [Fig.6b] represents a view of the principle of actuation of the mechanism of va and comes (41) from the viewing airlock (31) according to the invention, according to a second embodiment. This mechanism comprises two transparent holding plates (48a, 48b) between which the envelope is pressed and held. In this embodiment, the second plate (48b) is surrounded by a plate holding frame (45), and a so-called frame mechanism (46) will act on the frame of the second plate (48b) either to superimpose and press the second plate (48b) on the first plate (48a), or to press the lower edge of the frame (45) and separate the upper edge of the frame (45), or to separate the lower edge of the frame (45) and press the upper edge of the frame (45).

[0032] - [Fig.7] represents a principle side view according to the first embodiment of the electromechanical processing of an envelope provided with its ballot in the viewing airlock (31) of the cover, with the back and forth mechanism (41) of the cover which interacts with the ballot box slot actuation device (12) and with the calculator (34). The envelope is first introduced (I). It is then pressed and held between the transparent plates (II) to launch the analysis by the calculator (34) of the validity of the ballot, the pressure of the two transparent plates between them improving the viewing of the ballot contained in the envelope by the software. If the ballot is validated then the envelope is released into the ballot box (IIIA), if the ballot is refused then access to the airlock is released so that the envelope can be taken back by the voter (IIIB). This principle of carrying out the electromechanical processing of an envelope will be adapted to any other equivalent mechanism which may be developed.

[0033] - [Fig.8] represents a side view in section of the hood with its airlock according to the invention, which shows the path of the ballot paper in its envelope which passes the ballot box slot (11) to enter the airlock of the dark room (38), held between the two transparent holding plates (48a, 48b) to, if accepted, then fall into the ballot box through the lower exit slot (37) once they have passed the airlock validation procedure

[0034] - [Fig.9] represents a view of a ballot paper and its envelope according to the invention. The ballot paper (20) is sized, without needing to be folded, to the dimension of the available interior surface of the voting envelope (21), which has a longitudinal rectilinear oblong flap on at least one of the sides. The idea being that the flap does not interfere with the reading of the ballot paper in the airlock.

[0035] The present invention therefore relates to a cover (10) for a voting box (1) comprising a slot (11) for admitting ballot papers (20) in an envelope (21) and its opening / closing device (12) characterized in that the admission slot (11) opens onto a viewing airlock (31) which in a dark room (38) comprises a projector (32) which emits light towards a camera (33) which aims at the projector and which scans the surface of the projector in its image capture, the camera (33) and the projector (32) are connected to a computer (34) powered by an electrical source (35) and controlled by secure admission software, the computer (34) interacting with a mechanical back-and-forth actuation system (41) for pressing, holding and releasing the ballot paper in the viewing airlock (31) to fall or not through a low exit slot (37) of the dark room (38) which opens into the ballot box (1), as well as with the actuation device closing / opening (12) of the urn slot (H).

[0036] The present invention therefore relates to a ballot box cover characterized in that the mechanical back-and-forth actuation system (41) comprises a first transparent pressure and holding plate (48a) and a second transparent pressure and holding plate (48b), the envelope is pressed and held in the viewing airlock (31) between the two transparent pressure and holding plates (48a, 48b), the transparent plates are of a dimension adapted to that of the voting envelope (21) and of a very slightly larger size, a plate holding frame (45) surrounds one or more of the transparent pressure and holding plates (48a, 48b), and at least one so-called frame mechanism (46a, 46b) acts either to superimpose and press the transparent plates together, or to press the lower edge of the transparent pressure and holding plates (48a, 48b) together and separate the upper edge of the plates transparent pressure and holding (48a,48b) between them, or to press the upper edge of the transparent holding plates (48a, 48b) between them and to separate the lower edge of the transparent holding plates (48a, 48b) between them.

[0037] The present invention relates to a ballot paper (20) for a cover (10) of a ballot box (1) characterized in that the ballot paper is sized, without needing to be folded, to the format of the available interior surface of the voting envelope (21), the envelope (21) comprises a flap (24) in a longitudinal rectilinear oblong shape on at least one of the sides so that the flap does not interfere with the reading of the ballot paper in the viewing chamber (31)

[0038] It is therefore clearly understood that the assembly described here constitutes a secure viewing device in the airlock of a cover that can be fixed on a transparent ballot box for a ballot paper in its completely opaque envelope. This operation is carried out in the dark room of the cover, subjected to a flow of light, the ballot paper then being viewable by a camera. At the end of the verification of the ballot paper by the electronic system, it is validated or not and released into the ballot box or rejected and returned to the voter.

[0039] Any variation or equivalent to this description remains covered by the scope of this document.

Claims

1.

2.

3. Claims Cover (10) of a ballot box (1) comprising a slot (11) for admitting ballot papers (20) in an envelope (21) and its opening / closing device (12) characterized in that the inlet slot (11) opens onto a viewing airlock (31) which in a dark room (38) comprises a projector (32) which emits light towards a camera (33) which aims at the projector and which scans the surface of the projector in its image capture, the camera (33) and the projector (32) are connected to a computer (34) powered by an electrical source (35) and controlled by secure admission software, the computer (34) interacting with a mechanical back-and-forth actuation system (41) for pressing, holding and releasing voting envelopes in the viewing airlock (31) to fall or not through a low exit slot (37) of the dark room (38) which opens in the urn (1), as well as with the closing / opening actuating device (12) of the urn slot (11).Ballot box cover according to claim 1 characterized in that the mechanical back and forth actuation system (41) comprises a first transparent pressure and holding plate (48a) and a second transparent pressure and holding plate (48b), the envelope is pressed and held in the viewing airlock (31) between the two transparent pressure and holding plates (48a, 48b), the transparent plates are of a dimension adapted to that of the voting envelope (21) and of a very slightly larger size, a plate holding frame (45) surrounds one or more of the transparent pressure and holding plates (48a, 48b), and at least one so-called frame mechanism (46a, 46b) acts either to superimpose and press the transparent plates together, or to press the lower edge of the transparent holding plates (48a, 48b) together and separate the upper edge of the transparent holding plates (48a, 48b) between them,either to press the upper edge of the transparent holding plates (48a, 48b) together and to separate the lower edge of the transparent pressure and holding plates (48a, 48b) from each other., Ballot paper (20) for cover (10) of ballot box (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that the ballot paper is sized, without needing to be folded, to the format of the available interior surface of the voting envelope (21), the envelope (21) has a flap (24) in longitudinal rectilinear oblong shape on at least one of the sides so that the flap does not interfere with the reading of the ballot paper in the viewing chamber (31).

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