Systems and methods for tracking election material transport and configuration changes

Abstract

The present invention provides systems and methods for tracking the transport and configuration changes of election materials, including ballots, voting machines, and 5 canvassing systems. The system includes a configuration management module to track and record configuration changes, such as inputting ballot information, verifying candidate lists, defining voting options, and setting up parameters for result aggregation and tabulation. A transport tracking module monitors the movement of election materials within warehouses and during shipment to polling stations, providing real-time tracking information. The 0 invention further features a timestamping mechanism integrated with security protocols to ensure the integrity and authenticity of each recorded change and transport event.

Description

[0001] SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TRACKING ELECTION MATERIAL TRANSPORT

[0002] AND CONFIGURATION CHANGES

[0003] TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention relates to systems and methods for tracking election material transport and configuration changes.

[0005] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Present day elections rely on various assets such as ballots, voting machines, and canvassing systems, all of which need accurate configuration and secure transport to uphold the credibility of the electoral process. Any discrepancies in configuration or delays in transport can undermine public trust and potentially affect election outcomes. Warehouse personnel play a critical role in preparing these materials, necessitating a system that accurately records and timestamps each configuration change to maintain a verifiable audit trail.

[0007] The transport of election materials presents a complex logistical challenge, involving real-time tracking of shipments, ensuring timely delivery to polling stations, and optimizing storage space within warehouses. Existing systems often lack comprehensive tools for real-time monitoring and do not integrate secure timestamping mechanisms, leading to inefficiencies and vulnerabilities. There is a significant need for a robust system that can seamlessly track both configuration changes and the transport of election materials, ensuring security, transparency, and efficiency.

[0008] The present invention addresses these needs by providing an integrated system and method for tracking election material transport and configuration changes. This system includes timestamping mechanisms, security protocols, and optimization tools to enhance the reliability and efficiency of the election process. By allowing warehouse personnel to input and verify configuration settings, monitor material movements, and manage storage space effectively, this invention ensures that election materials are handled with the utmost integrity and precision, thereby upholding transparency and trustworthiness of the electoral process.

[0009] Technologies relating to the management and administration of employee data within an organization have been widely reported in the art. US11803723B2 (723) presents a system and method for tracking election equipment using electronic display tags. '723 discloses the functions of the invention's election management and configuration, security, and logistics tracking components. However, '723 fails to mention access control, inventory reconciliation, and compliance monitoring. Moreover, '723 focuses on tracking election assets wherein the tag is affixed. In contrast, the invention tracks both configuration changes and transport activities observed on ballots, voting machines, and canvassing systems.

[0010] US2012048930A1 ('930) provides a system and device that facilitates the storage and tracking of warehoused voting machines. '930 discloses the invention's election management and configuration component, security component, transparency portal, location tracking, access control, and logistics tracking mechanisms. Yet, '930 also lacks the features of inventory reconciliation and compliance monitoring. Furthermore, '930 focuses on the tracking of voting machines alone.

[0011] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present invention relates to systems and methods for tracking election material transport and configuration changes, wherein the system comprises a processing unit configured to at least: designate an at least one election officer to make an at least one configuration change to an at least one election material; allow the election officer to conduct an at least one transport activity of the election material to and from an election venue; generate timestamps for each of the configuration change and transport activity; implement an at least one security protocol for the timestamped configuration change and transport activity; collate the configuration change and transport activity from the election material; store the collated configuration change and transport activity to an at least one data storage device connected to the processing unit, and update said storage when new configuration changes and transport activities are received; sort the stored configuration change and transport activity according to their respective timestamps; and present the sorted configuration change and transport activity via an at least one digital means. The system further comprises an at least one user interface, connected to the processing unit, for allowing access and configuration to the said processing unit; an at least one data storage device for storing the timestamped configuration change and transport activity by the processing unit; and an at least one communications unit, connected to the processing unit, configured to at least send the timestamped configuration change and transport activity to an at least one third-party device and / or an at least one remote server.

[0013] In the second aspect of this invention, the system comprises an election management and configuration component for managing the at least one configuration change associated to the election material, a ballot designer component for designing an at least one ballot, a security component for implementing the at least one security protocol for the timestamped configuration change and transport activity, and a transparency portal for presenting the collated and sorted configuration change and transport activity via an at least one digital means.

[0014] In the third aspect of this invention, the system further comprises one or more logistics tracking component for tracking the transport of one or more election materials such as a ballot, one or more canvassing systems, and one or more voting machines within the election venue or during the transport of the said election materials to a voting precinct or a predetermined location.

[0015] In the fourth aspect of this invention, the system further comprises one or more access control components for permitting at least one election officer to conduct configuration changes and transport activities, and track the same.

[0016] In the fifth aspect of the invention, the system further comprises one or more inventory components for reconciling physical inventory counts with collated transport activity.

[0017] In the sixth aspect of the invention, the system further comprises one or more compliance components for monitoring and documenting the regulatory compliance of the system and / or the election process, wherein the compliance component provides at least one recommendation for improving compliance of the system.

[0018] The method according to the present invention, comprises the steps of: designating an at least one election officer to make an at least one configuration change to an at least one election material via an least one user interface; allowing the election officer to conduct an at least one transport activity of the election material to and from an election venue; generating timestamps for each of the configuration change and transport activity; implementing an at least one security protocol for the timestamped configuration change and transport activity; collating the configuration change and transport activity from the election material; storing the collated configuration change and transport activity to an at least one data storage device connected to the processing unit, and updating said storage when new configuration changes and transport activities are received; sorting the stored configuration change and transport activity according to their respective timestamps; and presenting the sorted configuration change and transport activity via an at least one digital means.

[0019] In another aspect of the invention, the method further comprises the steps of entering ballot information, verifying candidate lists, defining voting options, and setting up parameters for aggregating and tabulating election results.

[0020] In a related aspect of the invention, the method further comprises the step of defining one or more locations, one or more transport status, and the election officer associated with the configuration change and transport activity.

[0021] In yet another aspect of the invention, the method further comprises the step of communicating the configuration change and transport activity to at least one third-party device and / or at least one cloud or remote server.

[0022] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0023] The accompanying drawings, which are included to understand the present invention further, are incorporated herein to illustrate the embodiments of the present invention. Along with the description, they also explain the principle of the present invention and are not intended to be limiting. In the drawings:

[0024] FIG. 1 presents a diagram of system components in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 presents a diagram of system components in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

[0025] FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of the method for tracking election material transport and configuration changes.

[0026] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] The present invention relates to systems and methods for tracking election material transport and configuration changes.

[0028] FIG. 1 presents the block diagram of the system for managing an election event, wherein the system 100 communicates with at least one internal or external device such as at least one training kiosk 101, at least one voting machine 102, at least one cloud or remote server 103. This enables the system 100 to exchange data between the said devices preferably the exchange of election data or communication data associated to the election event. The said system 100 may also exchange data between other similar systems 108 for managing the election event or a third-party device 109.

[0029] The system 100 preferably comprises at least one processing unit 104, at least one user interface 105, at least one data storage device 106, and at least one communications unit 107. It is conceivable that the at least one processing unit 104, at least one user interface 105, at least one data storage device 106, and at least one communications unit 107 are interconnected such that a data exchange exists between them. The at least one processing unit 104 processes the data received by the system 100 which can be through the at least one user interface 105 as inputted by one or more users or received via the at least one communications unit 107. The processed data can be training data or profile associated to at least one election officer relating to the training and / or certification of the said election officer via the processing unit 104 or a dedicated component of the processing unit 104. The processed data can also be data exchanged with at least one training kiosk 101 as preprocessed by at least one kiosk processing unit and communicated via the training kiosk's 101 kiosk communications unit. In another preferred embodiment, the processed data relate to the election data communicated by at least one voting machine 102. In a preferred embodiment, the system 100 comprises at least one processing unit 104 which can be any microcontroller, microprocessor, or any hardware device capable of processing data, issuing instructions, or executing calculations associated to the election event. The processing unit 104 is configured to perform at least one functionality such as: allow an at least one voter to register for the election event; deploy an at least one election officer; manage an at least one election activity and an at least one election subprocess associated to the election event; implement at least one security protocol for the election event; collate result data from an at least one voting machine 102; process the collated result data; and present the collated and processed result data via an at least one digital means.

[0030] In another preferred embodiment, the processing unit 104 is configured to perform at least one functionality such as: designate an at least one election officer to make an at least one configuration change to an at least one election material; allow the election officer to conduct an at least one transport activity of the election material to and from an election venue; generate timestamps for each of the configuration change and transport activity; implement an at least one security protocol for the timestamped configuration change and transport activity; collate the configuration change and transport activity from the election material; store the collated configuration change and transport activity to an at least one data storage device connected to the processing unit, and update said storage when new configuration changes and transport activities are received; sort the stored configuration change and transport activity according to their respective timestamps; and present the sorted configuration change and transport activity via an at least one digital means. The at least one processing unit 104 preferably performs advanced processing means such as intelligent systems, predictive algorithm, artificial neural networks, fuzzy logic, genetic algorithm, machine learning, deep learning, or combinations thereof. This enables the system 100 to perform its operations with more time efficiency and accuracy.

[0031] In a preferred embodiment, the system 100 comprises at least one user interface 105 which is provided to at least one election officer or an authorized user. This can then display the data associated to the election event or means for controlling the system 100 such as accessing the system configuration, security settings, any means for managing the said system 100, or an overview of the management of the election event. Preferably, the user interface 105 is one or more input devices, input / output devices or display / input devices which may include simple analog buttons, a system of switches, digital displays, liquid crystal displays (LCD), light emitting diode (LED) displays, multi-point touch input screens, or combinations thereof. It is conceivable that the user interface 105 provides an at least one means for user interaction with the system 100.

[0032] In a preferred embodiment, the system 100 comprises at least one data storage device 106 for storing election data, configuration changes, and transport activities associated to the election event, after being processed by the processing unit 104. The at least one data storage device 106 stores the processed result data by the processing unit 104. Preferably, the said election data, configuration changes, and transport activities are stored before sending the said data to other devices. This aims to lessen the risk of data loss by providing a backup storage within the system 100 which can also be used in data aggregation. It is preferred that the at least one data storage device 106 is a non-transitory machine-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions or memory devices that can be any medium or mechanism for storing or transmitting information in a form readable by a machine or computer. The at least one data storage device 106 or the memory device can have a primary memory device and / or a secondary memory device as a backup storage device. The at least one data storage device 106 can be a read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disk storage media, hard disk storage, optical storage media, flash memory devices, universal serial bus (USB) drive, secure digital (SD) card, memory chip, or a combination thereof.

[0033] In a preferred embodiment, the system 100 comprises at least one communications unit 107 to enable the exchange of data between the system 100 and at least one internal or external device such as, but is not limited to, at least one training kiosk 101, at least one voting machine 102, at least one cloud or remote server 103, one or more similar systems for managing the election event 108, and / or one or more third-party devices 109. The exchange of information can be the transfer of sensitive election data such as the polling results, the user or voter's data including personal data, and / or election event data, for example. The at least one communications unit 107 can be any transmitter, receiver, or transceiver used for long range (LoRa) modulation, radio frequency (RF), wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), Bluetooth, infrared, near field communication (NFC), visible light communication, microwave communication, satellite communication, Li-Fi, WiMax, ZigBee, cellular communication, code division multiple access (CDMA), 2G, global system for mobiles (GSM), 3G, 4G, long term evolution (LTE), long term evolution advanced (LTE-advanced), 5G, 5.5G, 6G, 6.5G, 7G, any other wireless communications protocol, or a combination thereof. The use of the said communications protocols establishes versatility and future proofing of the system 100 by allowing the selection of the most suitable communications unit for a certain physical environment or the location of the voting precinct. For example, if the voting precinct is located in a remote rural area, then the communications unit 107 can be configured to use long range (LoRa) modulation, radio frequency (RF), microwave communication, satellite communication, or combinations thereof. This further enables the assurance of data transmission while also incorporating means for data security.

[0034] In another preferred embodiment, the system 100 communicates with at least one training kiosk 101 via the at least one communications unit 107 via wired or wireless means. The at least one training kiosk 101 is configured to provide one or more modules for recruitment, training, and deployment of at least one election officer. The training kiosk 101 operates with the processing unit 104 to provide comprehensive training, simulations, and assessments in a digital environment.

[0035] In yet another preferred embodiment, the system 100 communicates with at least one voting machine 102 via the at least one communications unit 107. The at least one voting machine 102 is preferably a device for computing, collating, verifying authenticity, or performing an at least one process on the machine-readable data in the election ballots via the scanning of the said ballots, counting the votes for a particular candidate, and collating election data, for example. The said machine-readable data are preferably election data associated to the election event. The voting machine 102 can also be an advanced counting machine that ensures the security, accuracy, and transparency of the election event of the election process. Preferably, the at least one voting machine 102 is reconfigurable and offers easy customization by an authorized election officer to accommodate a wide range of election types and election related activities. This ensures interoperability with the system 100 as well as the other devices used for the election event. It is preferred that the voting machine 102 comprises parts allowing modularity and ensuring the ease to upgrade the voting machine's 102 parts accommodating new technologies. The said features ensure that the voting machine 102 remains up to date with the latest advancements, providing long-term sustainability and reliability in election management. For example, the voting machine 102 utilizes user authentication and digital signing using hardware cryptography preferably through public key infrastructure (PKI) wherein the PKI is a system of processes, technologies, and policies that allows the encryption and signing of data. Moreover, the use of PKI allows the voting machine 102 to issue digital certificates that authenticate the identity of the voters, ballots, services relating to the election event, other voting machines and / or the voting machine 102 itself. The said digital certificates creates a secure connection between the system 100 and / or voting machine 102 with the cloud / remote server 103. In another possible embodiment, the voting machine 102 comprises one or more means for authentication such as biometric authentication to check if the voter is registered to cast votes on a specific voting machine 102. In another preferred embodiment, the voting machine 102 utilizes multilingual support which aims to provide translation of machine instructions to different languages or dialects, as well as handicapped persons or persons with disability (PWD)-friendly instructions depending on the voting machine's 102 location or user preferences such as the use of audible instructions or the Braille system. This feature ensures that the voting machine 102 is operable by the election officer and / or the voter regardless of any disability while also dismissing language barriers. In yet another preferred embodiment, the voting machine 102 comprises one or more tracking device to monitor or determine the voting machine's geographical location and one or more internal or external condition using at least one sensor, wherein the internal or external condition relates to, but is not limited to, ambient temperature, internal temperature, humidity, vibration, orientation, or combinations thereof. In another embodiment, the voting machine 102 can be located remotely to facilitate absentee voting, for example. In this case, the voting machine 102 determines and logs its geographical location and transmits the data to the system 100 or a central server for security and monitoring. This feature is to facilitate the election to voters living abroad or those who are unable to attend the official voting location in the determined time.

[0036] According to an embodiment of the invention, the election data comprises one or more information relating to the election process such as, but not limited to, at least one election title, at least one precinct name associated to at least one geographical location where the election process is conducted, one or more election candidate information or the candidates' names for a particular position, or at least one political party name, for example. It is conceivable that the said election data are machine-readable data or intelligible codes that are configured to be accessed and / or processed by at least one system 100, at least one training kiosk 101, at least one voting machine 102, at least one cloud or remote server 103, and / or at least one third-party device 109 in a secured manner via at least one wired or wireless means.

[0037] In still another preferred embodiment, the system 100 communicates with at least one cloud or remote server 103 via the at least one communications unit 107. The at least one cloud or remote server 103 is a remotely available complex processing unit that can utilize one or more servers, databases, computers, microcontrollers, microprocessors, or any hardware device capable of processing data, issuing instructions, or executing calculations. It is conceivable that the cloud or remote server 103 can perform parallel computing if complex data, analysis, or decision is required. The cloud or remote server 103 can be accessed via any communications protocol such as but is not limited to long range (LoRa) modulation, radio frequency (RF), wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), fiber optics, wired communications media, Bluetooth, infrared, near field communication (NFC), visible light communication, microwave communication, satellite communication, Li-Fi, WiMax, ZigBee, cellular communication, code division multiple access (CDMA), 2G, global system for mobiles (GSM), 3G, 4G, long term evolution (LTE), long term evolution advanced (LTE-advanced), 5G, 5.5G, 6G, 6.5G, 7G, or a combination of thereof.

[0038] In another preferred embodiment, the system 100 communicates with one or more other systems 108 for managing another election process, any election subprocess, or any election related process via the at least one communications unit 107. The one or more other systems 108 can be connected in a same local area network (LAN), a wireless local area network (WLAN), a cellular network, a metropolitan area network (MAN), or a wide area network (WAN). It is conceivable that the one or more systems 108 are located in a different geographic location such as one or more precincts and / or one or more voting areas to perform the tasks associated to the election process.

[0039] In another preferred embodiment, the system 100 communicates with one or more third- party devices 109 via the at least one communications unit 107. The one or more third-party devices 109 can be an authorized network device capable of receiving election data such as the election results which can be a smartphone or computer connected either to an internal or external network.

[0040] FIG. 2 presents a diagram of system components in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The processing unit 104 of the system 100 is expanded to include at least one component that is dedicated to process at least one functionality. This may further enable faster processing times, increased accuracy, and / or better system management exhibited by device isolation in case an error in the system occurs. The said advantages are achieved by having a dedicated component that is focused on a certain task wherein its processing power or computational capability is fully optimized. Preferably, the processing unit 104 comprises at least one component such as, but is not limited to, at least one registration component 203, at least one training and certification component 204, at least one election management and configuration component 205, at least one ballot designer component 206, at least one security component 207, at least one result aggregation component 208, at least one online voting component 209, at least one transparency portal component 210, and / or at least one analytics component 211.

[0041] In a preferred embodiment, the processing unit 104 comprises one or more components, wherein the components are interconnected, such as but is not limited to:

[0042] • a registration component 203 for allowing an at least one voter to register for the election event;

[0043] • a training and certification component 204 for managing the deployment of an at least one election officer; • an election management and configuration component 205 for managing an at least one election activity and an at least one election subprocess associated to the election event;

[0044] • a security component 207 for implementing at least one security protocol for the election event;

[0045] • a result aggregation component 208 for collating result data from an at least one voting machine 102;

[0046] • an at least one online voting component 209 for allowing voters to vote online via an online voting platform; and

[0047] • an analytics component 211 for processing the collated result data from the result aggregation component.

[0048] In a preferred embodiment, the processing unit 104 comprises at least one registration component 203. The at least one registration component 203 is preferably configured to allow an at least one voter to register for the election event. The registration component 203 preferably manages the registration of eligible voters while ensuring the accuracy and the integrity of voter rolls, eligible voters list, voter registration data, and / or voter database. Preferably, the registration component 203 comprises at least one means to verify the identity of at least one voter as well as to ensure that the voters meet the eligibility criteria, and / or at least one voting requirement.

[0049] In a preferred embodiment, the processing unit 104 comprises at least one training and certification component 204. The at least one training and certification component 204 is preferably configured to manage the deployment of an at least one election officer.

[0050] In a preferred embodiment, the processing unit 104 comprises at least one election management and configuration component 205. The at least one election management and configuration component 205 is preferably configured to manage an at least one election activity and an at least one election subprocess associated to the election event.

[0051] In a preferred embodiment, the processing unit 104 comprises at least one ballot designer component 206. The at least one ballot designer component 206 is preferably a digital platform, app, or software that is used for designing a ballot for the election process. In a preferred embodiment, the processing unit 104 comprises at least one security component 207. The at least one security component 207 is preferably configured to ensure the security of the election event. It is preferred that the at least one security component 207 is configured to safeguard digital assets and ensure the integrity and authenticity of the election related transactions such as the processing and transmission of the election data.

[0052] In a preferred embodiment, the processing unit 104 comprises at least one result aggregation component 208. The at least one result aggregation component 208 is preferably configured to collate result data from an at least one voting machine 102.

[0053] In a preferred embodiment, the processing unit 104 comprises at least one online voting component 209. The at least one online voting component 209 is, preferably, a digital platform configured to perform means for implementing security measures or maintaining the accuracy and transparency of the election event or election process. The online voting component 209 comprises a modular architecture that allows for easy customization and adaption to accommodate different election events or election scenarios.

[0054] In a preferred embodiment, the processing unit 104 comprises at least one transparency portal component 210. The at least one transparency portal component 210 is preferably configured to allow at least one voter or any person to have access to the result data and / or election data or the election results via at least one electronic means such as, but is not limited to, an online application or website accessible by a smartphone, a computer, a third-party device, or combinations thereof. It is conceivable that the transparency portal component 210 provides a trusted and reliable source of information about the status of the election results.

[0055] In a preferred embodiment, the processing unit 104 comprises at least one analytics component 211. The at least one analytics component 211 is preferably configured to process the collated result data from the result aggregation component 208. In some embodiments, the at least one analytics component 211 preferably performs advanced processing means such as intelligent systems, predictive algorithm, artificial neural networks, fuzzy logic, genetic algorithm, machine learning, deep learning, or combinations thereof. The analytics component 211 provides an analysis tool for post-election statistics and helps the election officer to easily analyze election data or result data, log files, search, and filter any data to help optimize the system's 100 performance, identify security threats, and streamline the troubleshooting of the election event or process, election activities, or election subprocesses.

[0056] In another preferred embodiment, the system 100 communicates with at least one training kiosk 101 via wired or wireless means provided by the at least one communications unit 107. The at least one training kiosk 101 comprises at least one kiosk interface 200, at least one kiosk communications unit 201, and at least one kiosk processing unit 202.

[0057] The at least one training kiosk 101 comprises at least one kiosk interface 200, wherein the at least one kiosk interface 200 can be one or more input devices, input / output devices or display / input devices which may include simple analog buttons, a system of switches, digital displays, liquid crystal displays (LCD), light emitting diode (LED) displays, multi-point touch input screens, or combinations thereof.

[0058] The at least one training kiosk 101 comprises at least one kiosk communications unit 201, wherein the at least one kiosk communications unit 201 enables the transfer of data via wired or wireless means from the training kiosk 101 to the system 100, to another system used for election 108, or to a third-party device 109. The at least one kiosk communications unit 201 can be any transmitter, receiver, or transceiver used for long range (LoRa) modulation, radio frequency (RF), wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), Bluetooth, infrared, near field communication (NFC), visible light communication, microwave communication, satellite communication, Li-Fi, WiMax, ZigBee, cellular communication, code division multiple access (CDMA), 2G, global system for mobiles (GSM), 3G, 4G, long term evolution (LTE), long term evolution advanced (LTE-advanced), 5G, 5.5G, 6G, 6.5G, 7G, any other wireless communications protocol, or a combination thereof.

[0059] The at least one training kiosk 101 comprises at least one kiosk processing unit 202, wherein the at least one kiosk processing unit 202 is a dedicated processing unit that is integrated or embedded in the training kiosk 101. This enables the isolation of the processing function from the system 100. Moreover, the at least one training kiosk 101 can be a device that is remotely located physically or geographically and is connected in a different network from the system 100. The connection between the training kiosk 101 and the system 100 is then enabled by the at least one kiosk communications unit 201. Preferably, the at least one kiosk processing unit 202 can be any microcontroller, microprocessor, or any hardware device capable of processing data, issuing instructions, or executing calculations associated to the election process preferably related to the management of the training and deployment of one or more election officer for the election process.

[0060] In a preferred embodiment, the at least one kiosk processing unit 202 preferably performs advanced processing means such as intelligent systems, predictive algorithm, artificial neural networks, fuzzy logic, genetic algorithm, machine learning, deep learning, or combinations thereof. This enables the training kiosk 101 to perform its operations with more time efficiency and accuracy.

[0061] The at least one training kiosk 101 further comprises at least one kiosk data storage device for storing any data associated to the election or training process. It is preferred that the at least one kiosk data storage device is a non-transitory machine-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions or memory devices that can be any medium or mechanism for storing or transmitting information in a form readable by a machine or computer. The at least one kiosk data storage device or the memory device can have a primary memory device and / or a secondary memory device as a backup storage device. The at least one kiosk data storage device can be a read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disk storage media, hard disk storage, optical storage media, flash memory devices, universal serial bus (USB) drive, secure digital (SD) card, memory chip, or a combination thereof.

[0062] FIG. 3 shows the flow chart of the method for tracking election material transport and configuration changes. The method comprises the steps of: designating an at least one election officer to make an at least one configuration change to an at least one election material via an least one user interface (step 300); allowing the election officer to conduct an at least one transport activity of the election material to and from an election venue (step 301); generating timestamps for each of the configuration change and transport activity (step 302); implementing an at least one security protocol for the timestamped configuration change and transport activity (step 303); collating the configuration change and transport activity from the election material (step 304); storing the collated configuration change and transport activity to an at least one data storage device connected to the processing unit, and updating said storage when new configuration changes and transport activities are received (step 305); sorting the stored configuration change and transport activity according to their respective timestamps (step 306); and presenting the sorted configuration change and transport activity via an at least one digital means (step 307).

[0063] In step 300, the configuration changes are performed through the election management and configuration component 205, wherein the changes comprise the steps of entering ballot information, verifying candidate lists, defining voting options, and setting up parameters for aggregating and tabulating election results.

[0064] In step 301, the transport activities include the delivery of ballots, voting machines, and canvassing assets from central warehouses to various polling stations and canvassing locations.

[0065] In step 302, the timestamps also comprise details on the location, transport status, and election offices associated with the configuration change and transport activity.

[0066] In step 303, the at least one security protocol may include encryption, authentication, access control, audit logging, digital signatures, tamper-evident seals, secure communication channels, intrusion detection systems, and physical security measures among others.

[0067] In steps 304 and 305, the collation and storage of the tracked data is dynamically updated when new configuration changes and transport activities are received allowing for real-time monitoring.

[0068] In steps 306 and 307, the sorted timestamps are presented through a digital means. Access control components are integrated in such displays to regulate access to tracked data. Inventory components are used for reconciling physical inventory counts with collated transport activity. For monitoring and documenting the regulatory compliance of the system and / or the election process, a compliance component is also defined which provides recommendations for compliance improvement. It is contemplated for embodiments described herein to extend to individual elements and concepts described herein, independently of other concepts, ideas or system, as well as for embodiments to include combinations of elements recited anywhere in this application. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. As such, many variations and modifications will be apparent to practitioners skilled in this art. Illustrative embodiments such as those depicted refer to a preferred form but are not limited to its constraints and are subject to modification and alternative forms. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents. Moreover, it is contemplated that a feature described either individually or as part of an embodiment may be combined with other individually described features, or parts of other embodiments, even if the other features and embodiments make no mention of the said feature. Hence, the absence of describing combinations should not preclude the inventor from claiming rights to such combinations.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A system for tracking election material transport and configuration changes, comprising: an at least one processing unit configured to at least:— designate an at least one election officer to make an at least one configuration change to an at least one election material;— allow the election officer to conduct an at least one transport activity of the election material to and from an election venue;— generate timestamps for each of the configuration change and transport activity;— implement an at least one security protocol for the timestamped configuration change and transport activity;— collate the configuration change and transport activity from the election material;— store the collated configuration change and transport activity to an at least one data storage device connected to the processing unit, and update said storage when new configuration changes and transport activities are received;— sort the stored configuration change and transport activity according to their respective timestamps; and— present the sorted configuration change and transport activity via an at least one digital means; an at least one user interface, connected to the processing unit, for allowing access and configuration to the said processing unit; an at least one data storage device for storing the timestamped configuration change and transport activity by the processing unit; and an at least one communications unit, connected to the processing unit, configured to at least send the timestamped configuration change and transport activity to an at least one third-party device and / or an at least one remote server.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit comprises one or more components, wherein the components are interconnected, such as but is not limited to:— an election management and configuration component for managing the at least one configuration change associated to the election material;— a ballot designer component for designing an at least one ballot;— a security component for implementing the at least one security protocol for the timestamped configuration change and transport activity; and— a transparency portal for presenting the collated and sorted configuration change and transport activity via an at least one digital means.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit further comprises one or more logistics tracking component for tracking the transport of one or more election materials such as a ballot, one or more canvassing systems, and one or more voting machines within the election venue or during the transport of the said election materials to a voting precinct or a predetermined location.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit further comprises one or more access control components for permitting the at least one election officer to conduct configuration changes and transport activities, and track the same.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit further comprises one or more inventory components for reconciling physical inventory counts with collated transport activity.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit further comprises one or more compliance components for monitoring and documenting the regulatory compliance of the system and / or the election process, wherein the compliance component provides at least one recommendation for improving compliance of the system.

7. A method for tracking election material transport and configuration changes, the method comprising the steps of:— designating an at least one election officer to make an at least one configuration change to an at least one election material via an least one user interface;— allowing the election officer to conduct an at least one transport activity of the election material to and from an election venue;— generating timestamps for each of the configuration change and transport activity;— implementing an at least one security protocol for the timestamped configuration change and transport activity;— collating the configuration change and transport activity from the election material;— storing the collated configuration change and transport activity to an at least one data storage device connected to the processing unit, and updating said storage when new configuration changes and transport activities are received;— sorting the stored configuration change and transport activity according to their respective timestamps; and— presenting the sorted configuration change and transport activity via an at least one digital means.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the step of making the at least one configuration change comprises the steps of entering ballot information, verifying candidate lists, defining voting options, and setting up parameters for aggregating and tabulating election results.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of generating the timestamps comprises the step of defining one or more locations, one or more transport status, and the election officer associated with the configuration change and transport activity.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of communicating the configuration change and transport activity to an at least one third-party device and / or at least one cloud or remote server.

Images