An electronic voting system is described that utilizes printed vote records (PVRs) in which a voter's vote selections are recorded in voter readable characters. Optical character recognition (OCR) techniques may then be utilized to scan the PVR to record the voter's selections. The OCR data is then utilized to generate the cast vote record. Thus, the electronic voting system directly interprets the voter selections from the PVR just as the voter sees the data. In this manner what you see is what you get printed vote record data is provided for a voter's viewing and that same data is used to generate the cast vote record.

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. The enhanced security ballot image record may be broadcast upon completion of tabulation and/or simulcast real time during tabulation or otherwise provided 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 also produce images of the voter sign-in sheets.

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. The enhanced security ballot image record may be broadcast upon completion of tabulation and/or simulcast real time during tabulation or otherwise provided 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 also produce images of the voter sign-in sheets.

Herein is disclosed a ballot for voting in an election. The ballot consists of first and second sheets having identical voting information for recording a vote printed thereon. The first and second sheets are attached together such that the first sheet overlays the second sheet and the identical voting information of the sheets overlap precisely. The first sheet is adapted to receive a first mark recording a vote by means of a writing implement. The first sheet is a copy paper which is configured to copy the first mark onto the second sheet. The first sheet is configured to be easily detachable from the first sheet. Each of the first and second sheets have an identifier, the identifier being unique to the ballot, the identifier on each sheet being obscured by a seal overlaying the identifier. The seal is configured to be easily removed to reveal the underlying identifier.

Herein is disclosed a ballot for voting in an election. The ballot consists of first and second sheets having identical voting information for recording a vote printed thereon. The first and second sheets are attached together such that the first sheet overlays the second sheet and the identical voting information of the sheets overlap precisely. The first sheet is adapted to receive a first mark recording a vote by means of a writing implement. The first sheet is a copy paper which is configured to copy the first mark onto the second sheet. The first sheet is configured to be easily detachable from the first sheet. Each of the first and second sheets have an identifier, the identifier being unique to the ballot, the identifier on each sheet being obscured by a seal overlaying the identifier. The seal is configured to be easily removed to reveal the underlying identifier.

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.

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.

A see through apparatus receives a paper document. The see through apparatus includes a first scanning element, a second scanning element, and a processor coupled to the first scanning element and the second scanning element. Each of the first and second scanning elements illuminate a respective side of the paper document while the other scanning element captures an image. The processor detects kinematic artifacts on the paper document and determines that the paper document is fraudulent based on the detected kinematic artifacts. The processor also detects an alignment feature from the image capture from the first image or the second image, and determines that the document is not aligned based on the detected alignment feature.

A see through apparatus receives a paper document. The see through apparatus includes a first scanning element, a second scanning element, and a processor coupled to the first scanning element and the second scanning element. Each of the first and second scanning elements illuminate a respective side of the paper document while the other scanning element captures an image. The processor detects kinematic artifacts on the paper document and determines that the paper document is fraudulent based on the detected kinematic artifacts. The processor also detects an alignment feature from the image capture from the first image or the second image, and determines that the document is not aligned based on the detected alignment feature.

The present invention comprises a system and method of conducting a publicly auditable election using secret ballots. The invention allows an elector to verify their ballot has been counted towards the result of an election in the manner in which it was cast. The elector is capable of cryptographically proving if their ballot has been altered or deleted. Any interested individual or entity is capable of auditing the election using an anonymized database of published ballots.