Ballot Image Tabulation With Time-Synced Audit Records
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing voting systems utilizing ballot images face audit insecurity due to unavailability of records from loss or corruption, ballot insertions and tampering, and suspicion that the electorate's intent is not honored, particularly in close or contested elections.
Innovation Solution
An enhanced security ballot image tabulator provides a tangible, publicly accessible record of ballot images, time-stamped and synchronized with real-time broadcasting, allowing for diachronic and synchronic coordination, and includes environmental and voter authentication parameters to ensure integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If ballot images are stored in digital format for tabulation, then tabulation efficiency is improved, but audit security deteriorates due to potential loss or corruption of records
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates multiple copies of ballot images and stores them in different formats and locations. Digital images are captured at high resolution and stored both electronically and in physical form, ensuring that if one copy is lost or corrupted, other copies remain available for audit purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by capturing and storing ballot images immediately when ballots are cast, before any potential loss or corruption can occur. The images are timestamped and sequentially numbered during the tabulation process itself, creating a permanent record that preserves both tabulation efficiency and audit security.
2Reliability
If ballot images are made publicly accessible for audit, then audit security is improved, but system complexity increases due to broadcasting and verification infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary broadcasting system that acts as a mediator between the tabulation device and the public. The system captures images and broadcasts them through standardized channels (such as video feeds or network streams), allowing public access without requiring direct connection to the complex tabulation infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the ballot image record into individual, sequentially numbered images that can be independently verified. Each image is timestamped and can be individually accessed and audited, allowing the public to verify results without needing to access the entire complex system at once.
3Loss of information
If real-time broadcasting of ballot images is implemented, then transparency is improved, but data transmission requirements increase bandwidth and storage capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by broadcasting only the necessary portions of ballot images at real-time speeds, while storing complete high-resolution versions for later detailed audit if needed. The live broadcast uses optimized formats that convey the essential information (vote selections) without requiring the full bandwidth and storage capacity of complete high-resolution images.
Data Source
AI summary
The system and method providing enhanced security ballot image records of the present invention includes an enhanced security ballot image tabulator and an enhanced security ballot image audit station. The tabulator processes each ballot of a plurality of ballots to be tabulated to provide an enhanced security ballot image record having diachronically and synchronically coordinated enhanced security ballot image files, each for another ballot of the plurality of ballots to be tabulated. The enhanced security ballot image record may be broadcast upon completion of tabulation and/or simulcast real time during tabulation or otherwise provided such as on a secure media upon completion of tabulation to the public or other parties interested in the tabulation of cast votes. The enhanced security audit station receives the enhanced security ballot image record and analyzes it to selectively identify out-of-bounds diachronic and/or synchronic security parameters. Any identified ballots may then be reviewed by election officials or other interested parties for validity and authentication purposes. The tabulator may be used to also produce images of the voter sign-in sheets, for the purpose of analytic correlation with the enhanced security files of the enhanced security ballot image record and their tabulation.