BALLOT-COUNTING SYSTEM FOR ELECTRONIC VOTE AND

METHOD THEREOF

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a ballot counting and examining system for an electronic vote and a method thereof, and more particularly, to a ballot counting and examining system for an electronic vote and a method thereof, wherein ballots can be very rapidly counted and examined with high reliability. Background Art

[2] In parliamentary democracies including South Korea, many elections including a presidential election, an Assemblyman election, an election of a representative to a specific organization, and the like are usually performed. A conventional voting method is performed by affixing a voting stamp to a column of a desired candidate on a ballot on which several candidates' names and symbols are printed, and putting the ballot into a ballot box.

[3] However, such a conventional voting method has problems in that ballot counting persons need to confirm sheets of ballots one by one, and data on ballot counting results should be manually obtained, resulting in prolonged ballot-counting time.

[4] To solve these problems, many studies on electronic voting methods and ballot counting and examining methods have been conducted and some of them were successful.

[5] Notwithstanding, conventional electronic voting methods and ballot counting and examining methods have many problems with their practical use due to lack of supplementary measures to prevent falsification of poll results and loss of data. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[6] The present invention is conceived to solve the aforementioned problems. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a ballot counting and examining system for an electronic vote and a method thereof, wherein ballots can be very rapidly counted and examined with high reliability.

[7] Another object of the present invention is to provide a ballot counting and examining system for an electronic vote and a method thereof, wherein ballot counting results can be represented in real time as numerical data or graphs that can be displayed on a display means.

[8] A further object of the present invention is to provide a ballot counting and examining system for an electronic vote and a method thereof, wherein only specific

sections of poll-recording paper can be examined or only sections thereof for a specific candidate can be collected and examined. Technical Solution

[9] In order to accomplish the objects, a ballot counting and examining system for an electronic vote according to the present invention comprises a ballot counting deck for acquiring image information by imaging recording areas of roll-type poll-recording paper on which poll results of a plurality of voters have been consecutively printed, while feeding the poll-recording paper; a central control unit for reading the image information and converting the image information into data; and a display means for displaying the data thereon.

[10] The ballot counting deck may comprises a body for loading the cartridge therein; a reel motor assembly for rotating the supply roll and the take-up roll; and an image sensor for acquiring the image information by imaging the recording areas of the poll- recording paper. Each of the cartridge and the body may comprise a display window for enabling check of the recording areas with the naked eye, and the display windows of the cartridge and the body correspond to each other.

[11] Further, it is preferred that the poll-recording paper have control codes formed at uniform intervals, and the body further comprise a control code recognition sensor for recognizing the control codes.

[12] Moreover, preferably, the poll-recording paper is formed with a start mark for indicating a start point and an end mark for indicating an end point, and the body further comprises a start point recognition sensor and an end point recognition sensor capable of recognizing the start mark and the end mark, respectively.

[13] Furthermore, it is preferred that the poll-recording paper have boundary codes for indicating boundaries between adjacent ones of a plurality of recording areas, and the body further comprise a boundary code recognition sensor capable of recognizing the boundary codes.

[14] In addition, the reel motor assembly may comprise a supply reel and a take-up reel to which the supply roll and the take-up roll are respectively coupled; a reel motor for providing driving forces to the supply reel and the take-up reel; and a control means including a solenoid and a brake pad.

[15] A ballot counting rate and ballot counting results may be represented in real time as numerical data or graphs on the display means. The display means may also display the image information thereon in order to confirm the poll-recording paper with the naked eye during ballot examination.

[16] A ballot counting and examining method for an electronic vote according to the present invention comprises the steps of 1) acquiring image information by con-

secutively imaging recording areas of poll-recording paper on which poll results of a plurality of voters have been consecutively printed, while feeding the poll-recording paper; 2) reading the acquired image information and converting it into data; and 3) displaying the data on a display means. The method may further comprise the step of displaying the image information on the display means.

[17] In addition, the method may further comprise the step of confirming the poll- recording paper with the naked eye through a display window.

Advantageous Effects

[18] According to the present invention, ballot counting can be very rapidly performed by imaging, at a high speed, poll-recording paper on which poll results of a number of voters have been consecutively printed, and converting an image into data. [19] Further, ballot counting results can be represented in real time as numerical data or graphs on a display means. [20] In addition, the poll-recording paper can be fed at a low speed so that ballot counting and examining persons can check the poll-recording paper through the display means or a display window, thereby obtaining highly reliable ballot counting and examining results. [21] Particularly, there is an advantage in that only specific sections of the poll-recording paper can be examined at a low speed or only sections for a specific chosen candidate can be collected and examined.

Brief Description of the Drawings [22] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a ballot counting and examining system for an electronic vote according to the present invention. [23] Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a ballot counting deck according to the present invention. [24] Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a cartridge according to the present invention.

[25] Fig. 4 shows poll-recording paper according to the present invention.

[26] Fig. 5 shows a leading end and a trailing end of the poll-recording paper according to the present invention. [27] Fig. 6 is a view showing an operating state of the ballot counting deck according to the present invention.

[28] Fig. 7 is a rear view showing a reel motor assembly of the present invention.

[29] Fig. 8 shows feeding speeds in respective sections of the poll-recording paper.

[30] Fig. 9 shows that ballot counting results are displayed in real time on a display means according to the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[31] The constitution and operation of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[32] Referring to Fig. 1, a ballot counting and examining system for an electronic vote according to the present invention includes a ballot counting deck 200, a central control unit 100, and a display means 300.

[33] The central control unit 100 is configured to read image information, which is acquired from the ballot counting deck 200, using an information recorder and to convert the image information into data. The information recorder includes optical character recognition (OCR) and a bar code reader.

[34] Referring to Fig. 2, the ballot counting deck 200 includes a body 210 for loading a cartridge 200 therein, a reel motor assembly, and an image sensor 240.

[35] The body 210 has a cartridge loading unit 213 at its front side. The body also has a display window 211 in an upper surface thereof. The display window 211 enables a ballot counting person to confirm, with the naked eye, recording areas of poll- recording paper on which poll results have been printed in the form of characters or encrypted bar codes, so that ballot counting can be manually performed.

[36] Referring to Fig. 3, poll-recording paper 224 is wound in the form of a roll within a case 221. To this end, the case 221 includes a supply roll 222 and a take-up roll 223 therein.

[37] The case 221 also has an opening in an upper surface thereof so that an image sensor can image the recording areas of the poll-recording paper, and a display window 225 corresponding to the display window 211 of the body.

[38] Referring to Fig. 4, the poll-recording paper 224 contains consecutive recording areas 224b on which poll results of a number of voters have been printed. More specifically, poll results are printed in the form of characters and bar codes obtained by encrypting the characters on the recording areas 224b. A boundary code 224c is printed between adjacent ones of the recording areas 224b, and a leading blank 224d and a trailing blank 224e are formed between one of the recording areas 224b and an upper boundary code 224c and between the recording area 224b and a lower boundary code 224c, respectively. The body 210 is provided with a boundary code recognition sensor (not shown) that is disposed to correspond to the boundary code 224c so as to recognize the boundary code 224c.

[39] Further, control codes 224a are printed on a front or rear surface of the poll- recording paper 224. The control codes 224a are recognized by a control code recognition sensor (not shown) provided in the body 210 of the ballot counting deck 200. Therefore, by counting the control codes 224a from a point when ballot counting is started, it is possible to check the feeding state of the poll-recording paper 224, thereby controlling the feeding speed of the poll-recording paper, checking the amount

of ballots counted in real time, and searching for specific sections of the poll-recording paper.

[40] The characters and the bar code contain a variety of information about election as well as the position, symbol, and name of a chosen candidate.

[41] Referring to Fig. 5, the poll-recording paper 224 includes a start mark 253 at its leading end and an end mark 254 at its trailing end. Of course, the body 210 includes a start point recognition sensor 251 and an end point recognition sensor 252 capable of recognizing the start mark 253 and the end mark 254, respectively. In this embodiment, both the start mark 253 and the end mark 254 are formed of black marks. The start mark 253 has a greater width than that of the end mark 254. It can be seen that the positions of the start point recognition sensor 251 and the end point recognition sensor 252 are not on the same extension line.

[42] If both the sensors 251 and 252 recognize the black marks 253 and 254, this means the start point of the poll-recording paper 224. If only one of the sensors 252 recognizes the black mark, this means the end point of the poll-recording paper. In this manner, the current state of the poll-recording paper 224 is recognized, thereby preventing an error in counting and examining ballots.

[43] Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, the cartridge 220 loaded in the cartridge loading unit

213 is accommodated within the body 210, wherein the supply roll 222 and the take-up roll 223 are coupled to a pair of reels 23 Ia and 23 Ib of the reel motor assembly. A reel motor (not shown) is provided for rotating the pair of reels, i.e., a supply reel and a take-up reel. Transparent windows 227 are formed in a front surface of the cartridge 220.

[44] While the reel motor assembly is operated to feed the poll-recording paper 224 in response to an electric signal from the central control unit 100, the image sensor 240 images the characters and bar codes on the recording areas 224b.

[45] The reel motor assembly 230 includes a solenoid 233, a transmission member 234, and a brake pad 235, which control rotational forces from the reel motor 232.

[46] The solenoid 233 is a known means extending or contracting as power is applied or cut off. That is, the solenoid 233 is operated by controlling the power. The brake pad 235 can be operated via the transmission member 234 depending on the operating state of the solenoid 233. The rotational speed of the reel motor 232 is controlled by means of the operation of the brake pad 235. Consequently, the feeding speed of the poll- recording paper 224 can be controlled.

[47] Fig. 8 shows the operation of the reel motor 232 for feeding the poll-recording paper 224. Referring to the figure, when the boundary code 224c is recognized by the boundary code recognition sensor, the reel motor 232 is accelerated so that the section of the leading blank 224d is passed as quickly as possible, thereby shortening ballot

counting time. After the leading blank 224d has been passed, the reel motor is driven at a constant speed for acquisition of a correct image in the section of the recording area 224b. After the section of the recording area 224b has been passed, the reel motor 232 is decelerated. By repeating this operation, ballots can be rapidly counted and examined with high reliability.

[48] Referring to Fig. 9, data collected by the central control unit 100 are displayed on the display means 300. That is, the ratios of votes obtained for respective candidates and a ballot counting rate are displayed in real time in the form of numerical data and graphs. Although not shown, the number of votes obtained may also be displayed. The image of a current recording area 224b may be displayed for a check with the naked eye.

[49] Next, the operation of the ballot counting and examining system for an electronic vote and a ballot counting and examining method according to the present invention will be described.

[50] When the cartridge 220 containing the poll-recording paper 224 wound in the form of a roll is loaded into the cartridge loading unit 213, the wound state of the poll- recording paper 224, i.e., the start point or end point thereof, is detected by the start point recognition sensor 251 and the end point recognition sensor 252, so that a condition required for ballot counting can be established to complete preparation of ballot counting.

[51] When ballot counting is initiated in response to a signal from the central control unit 100, the reel motor 232 is operated to rapidly feed the poll-recording paper 224 and the image sensor 240 simultaneously images each of the recording areas 224b. In this case, it is very important to acquire a single piece of image information without a breakpoint about each of the recording portions 224b. This will be described below.

[52] The reel motor 232 is accelerated in the section of the leading blank 224d between the corresponding recording area 224b and the upper boundary code 224c. When a control code 224a corresponding to the start point of the recording area 224b is recognized during the acceleration of the reel motor 232, the reel motor 232 is then driven at a constant speed at that point. Simultaneously, the number n of the control codes 224a corresponding to the length of the recording area 224b is counted. Since the length of the recording area 224b is set in advance whenever a specific election is performed, it is possible to check the feeding state of the recording area 224b by counting them. In this manner, data acquired until the control codes are passed from the recording area 224b to the trailing blank 224e are converted into a single piece of image information.

[53] The obtained image information such as characters and bar codes is recognized by the information recorder of the central control unit 100.

[54] As described above, the aforementioned method is directed to a ballot counting method, wherein image information is consecutively acquired while the poll-recording paper 224 is fed at a high speed, and is then represented as data.

[55] The present invention is very useful for examining ballots after a ballot counting process has been performed, and the examination of ballots may be performed in either low-speed mode or search mode.

[56] Specifically, in the low-speed mode, the examination is performed with the naked eye by examining each of the recording areas displayed on the display means 300 or through the display windows 211 and 225 of the body 210 and the cartridge 220 while rotating the reel motor 232 at a low speed.

[57] In addition, the search mode is not a mode in which imaging and data analysis are continuously performed while feeding the poll-recording paper 224 thoroughly from the start point to the end point, but a mode in which only specific sections of the poll- recording paper 224 are examined or only recording areas for a specific candidate are precisely examined.