METHOD AND DEVICE FOR COMPUTER-AIDED PROCESSING OF BALLOT-PAPERS AND BALLOT-PAPER SCANNER Russian patent published in 2001 - IPC

FIELD: computer-aided voting-data acquisition. SUBSTANCE: method involves preparation of ballot-papers, their input and displacement over channel followed by scanning their images, identifying type of ballot-paper and information entered therein, classifying ballot-papers, and counting the votes. Optical channel of scanner read-out module is symmetrical arrangement, therefore ballot-papers are scanned throughout entire width of each sheet and image being read out. Upon scanning identification station classifies ballot-papers by means of its software in the course of their processing into following categories: valid, invalid, non-standard form; it also identifies voters' marks made in pertinent squares; both scanning and transmission of images obtained for further identification are made concurrently. Using results of classification identification station sends instruction to scanner to sort out ballot- papers or not at the same time marking invalid ballot-papers. EFFECT: facilitated procedure; provision for receiving ballot-papers of any orientation without return of those in wrong position. 15 cl, 3 dwg