Ballot tallying system including a digital programmable read only control memory, a digital ballot image memory and a digital totals memory

摘要

Ballot receiving, storing, and tallying system, capable of reading individual ballots and of delivering a printed record showing the subtotals of votes cast for the various candidates, propositions, and the like, and incorporating solid-state logic circuits for carrying out various functions of the system. The system includes a digital programmable read-only control memory for storing a group of instruction words representing possible vote marking positions on ballot formats interpreted by the system; a digital ballot image memory for temporarily storing representations of all marks on a ballot sensed as the ballot passes a mark sensing station; and a digital totals memory for maintaining incrementally up-dated totals accumulated for each vote marking position on the ballot. Also included is an interlocking circuit which prevents the accepting and feeding of any ballots, for example, until after a key operated switch has been properly actuated.