Voting machine

Claim 2

A voting machine for connection to a source of electricity comprising: a plurality of juxtaposed electrically removably connected individual vote modules, each of said vote modules including: a. an electrically actuated counting means for recording the number of electrical pulses received by the means, and b. first switch means for activating said counter means to receive a pulse; c. an input switch means connected to said vote modules and electrically connected to one side of said source of electricity; d. a first circuit for connecting a side of the counting means of all of said vote modules to the other side of said source of electricity; e. a second circuit for connecting the other side of the counter means of all of said vote modules to said input switch means; and f. means connected with each of said vote modules for deactuating said counting means of all vote modules except said counting means associated with the selected vote module wherein said first switch means of the selected vote module is activated.

Claim 3

A voting machine for connection to a source of electricity including; support means; a plurality of modules carried by said support means in a stacked side-by-side relationship; and, means for electrically connecting each of said modules carried by said support means with said source of electricity; said plurality of modules including a first module connected to said source of electricity and including: vote switch means connected to said source of electricity, reset switch means connected to said source of electricity, and first relay means connected to said vote switch means and said reset switch means, said first relay means being energized upon closure of said vote switch means and de-energized upon closure of said reset switch means; said plurality of modules further including a plurality of second modules connected to said source of electricity through each other and said first module, each of said second modules including: select switch means connected to said source of electricity, lockout means connected to said source of electricity, said lockout means disconnecting said select switch means of all of said second modules for said source of electricity upon closure of one of said select switch means, second relay means connected to said source of electricity, said second relay means being energized upon closure of said select switch means and de-energized upon closure of said reset switch means, and counter means connected to said source of electricity from one side thereof through said second relay means and from the other side thereof through said vote switch means, said counter means being energized to record one vote each time said vote switch means is closed while second relay means is energized.

Claim 4

A voting machine for connection to a source of electricity including; support means; a plurality of modules carried by said support means in a stacked side-by-side relationship; and, means for electrically connecting each of said modules carried by said support means with said source of electricity; said plurality of modules including a first module connected to said source of electricity and including: vote switch means connected to said source of electricity, reset switch means connected to said source of electricity, and first relay means connected to said vote switch means and said reset switch means, said first relay means being energized upon closure of said vote switch means and de-energized upon closure of said reset switch means; said plurality of modules further including a plurality of second modules connected to said source of electricity through each other and said first module, each of said second modules including: select switch means connected to said source of electricity, lockout means connected to said source of electricity, said lockout means disconnecting said select switch means of all of said second modules for said source of electricity upon closure of one of said select switch means, second relay means connected to said source of electricity, said second relay means being energized upon closure of said select switch means and de-energized upon closure of said reset switch means, and counter means connected to said source of electricity from one side thereof through said second relay means and from the other side thereof through said vote switch means, said counter means being energized to record one vote each time said vote switch means is closed while second relay means is energized.

Claim 5

A voting machine constructed of a number of selectively removable modules including: a. power supply means; b. at least one control module, said control module being operatively associated with said power supply means and including an operable control element effective for transmitting a power pulse from said power supply means in response to operation of said control element; c. at least two vote counting modules, each of said vote counting modules including power operable counting means detailed for serially accumulating individual votes cast for a candidate in an election, said counting means including selectively operable control means movable between an operative count input condition and an inoperative condition and wherein a count of one is registered in said counting means when said counting control means is in said operative input condition and in response to a power pulse delivered from said power supply means by actuation of said control element on said control module; and d. first and second groups of releasable connecting elements provided on each of said counting modules and said control module for releasably interconnecting said modules in an operative relationship, said releasable connecting elements detailed for transmitting power to said module counting control means and for transmitting power from one group of said connecting elements to said other group of connecting elements, whereby power from said power supply means can be transmitted through said control module to each of said counting modules.

Claim 6

A voting machine constructed of a number of selectively removable modules including: a. power supply means; b. at least one control module, said control module being operatively associated with said power supply means and including an operable control element effective for transmitting a power pulse from said power supply means in response to operation of said control element; c. at least two vote counting modules, each of said vote counting modules including power operable counting means detailed for serially accumulating individual votes cast for a candidate in an election, said counting means including selectively operable control means movable between an operative count input condition and an inoperative condition and wherein a count of one is registered in said counting means when said counting control means is in said operative input condition and in response to a power pulse delivered from said power supply means by actuation of said control element on said control module; and d. first and second groups of releasable connecting elements provided on each of said counting modules and said control module for releasably interconnecting said modules in an operative relationship, said releasable connecting elements detailed for transmitting power to said module counting control means and for transmitting power from one group of said connecting elements to said other group of connecting elements, whereby power from said power supply means can be transmitted through said control module to each of said counting modules.

Claim 7

A vote counting machine as described in claim 3 further characterized in that said control module and said vote counting modules include indicator means detailed for indicating when said control means are in their operative condition.

Claim 8

A voting machine as described in claim 3 further characterized in that said voting machine includes frame support means detailed for supporting said releasably connected modules in an associated operative condition and wherein said frame support means includes locking means for retaining said modules in said operative relationship.

Claim 9

A voting machine as described in claim 3 further characterized in that each of said vote counting modules includes vote count indicator means operatively associated with said counting means for reflecting the number of votes cast for an individual candidate.

Claim 10

A voting machine as described in claim 6 further characterized in that said voting machine includes vote count indicator shield means, said shield means including locking support means detailed for locking said shield means in an shielding position relative to said vote Count indicator means.

Claim 11

A voting machine as described in claim 3 further characterized in that said voting machine includes a number of groups of said vote counting modules and wherein each of said groups of vote counting modules includes at least two vote counting modules.

Claim 12

A voting machine as described in claim 8 further characterized in that each of said groups of vote counting modules includes a write-in module.

Claim 13

A voting machine as described in claim 9 further characterized in that said voting machine includes a control module operatively connected between each of said groups of vote counting modules.

Claim 14

A voting machine as described in claim 3 further characterized in that said power supply means includes an electrical power supply and wherein said electrical power supply is operatively connected to said control module and wherein said control module and each of said counting modules are releasably and electrically connected whereby an electrical pulse can be transmitted from said electrical power supply means to said control module and to each of said counting modules.

Claim 15

A voting machine as described in claim 3 further characterized in that said voting machine includes a number of groups of said modules and wherein each of said groups includes a control module and at least two counting modules and wherein said groups of modules are releasably and operatively connected together in an aligned array and further including frame support means for supporting said groups of vertically stacked modules in a substantially rigid supporting relationship and wherein said frame support means includes locking means for retaining said modules in said vertically stacked array.

Claim 16

A voting machine as described in claim 3 further characterized in that said control module includes means for deactivating said counting means of each of said counting modules after a power pulse has been supplied to the selected counting means, and reset means on said control module for resetting said voting machine to a condition such that a selected counting means can again count an additional pulse in response to said selected counting control means being placed in said operative input condition.

Claim 17

A voting machine constructed of a number of selectively removable modules including: a. power supply means; b. at least one master control module, said master control module being operatively associated with said power supply means and including an operable control element effective for transmitting a power pulse from said power supply means in response to operative of said control element; c. at least two groups of vote counting modules, each of said groups of said vote counting modules including at least one secondary control module and at least two vote counting modules, said secondary control module being operative for transmitting a power pulse from said master control module or from one of said counting modules therethrough to actuate said second group of counting modules, each of said vote counting modules including a power operable counting means detailed for serially accumulating individual votes cast for a candidate in an election, said counting means including selectively operable control means movable between an operative counting input condition and an inoperative condition and wherein a count of one is registered in said counting means when said counting control means is in said operative input condition and in response to a power pulse delivered from said power supply means by actuation of said control element on said master control module; and d. releasable connecting means provided on each of said counting modules and said control modules for releasably interconnecting said modules in an operative relationship whereby power from said power supply means can be transmitted through said control modules to each of said counting modules.

Claim 18

A voting machine constructed of a number of selectively removable modules including: a. power supply means; b. at least one master control module, said master control module being operatively associated with said power supply means and including an operable control element effective for transmitting a power pulse from said power supply means in response to operative of said control element; c. at least two groups of vote counting modules, each of said groups of said vote counting modules including at least one secondary control module and at least two vote counting modules, said secondary control module being operative for transmitting a power pulse from said master control module or from one of said counting modules therethrough to actuate said second group of counting modules, each of said vote counting modules including a power operable counting means detailed for serially accumulating individual votes cast for a candidate in an election, said counting means including selectively operable control means movable between an operative counting input condition and an inoperative condition and wherein a count of one is registered in said counting means when said counting control means is in said operative input condition and in response to a power pulse delivered from said power supply means by actuation of said control element on said master control module; and d. releasable connecting means provided on each of said counting modules and said control modules for releasably interconnecting said modules in an operative relationship whereby power from said power supply means can be transmitted through said control modules to each of said counting modules.

Claim 19

A voting machine as described in claim 14 further characterized in that said master control moduLe includes means for deactivating all of said counting means after a pulse has been supplied to each of said selected counting means, and reset means on said master control module for resetting the voting machine to a condition such that a selected activated counting means can again count an additional pulse.