JP2003109058A - Electronic voting machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic voting machine that guarantees privacy and fairness even to a qualified voter who is visually handicapped similar to those of a healthy person. SOLUTION: This electronic voting machine records voting data on an electronically or magnetically recordable electromagnetic recording medium and further prints the voting data on a printing medium. In the case a visually handicapped qualified voter performs a voting operation, the voting machine controls a printing medium in a visually unrecognizable state, prints a prescribed recording code corresponding to a voting results on the printing medium, and reads a printed code with a prescribed recorded code reader after each printing. Thus the voting machine reliably monitors the operation state of a printer in a visually unrecognizable state, further records voting results on the printing medium and subsequently records the voting results on an electronically or magnetically recordable electromagnetic recording medium.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic voting machine for conducting an election, and in particular, it has a printing means for recording a voting result in a record for an audit trail, and also improves privacy of an elector who has a physical disability. Concerning the electronic voting machine considered.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in the election of Diet members, prefectural governors, members of the Diet, mayors of municipalities, members of the Diet, etc. The ballots were posted in a ballot box for voting, and after that, the ballot boxes were collected at gymnasiums and other facilities to open votes. At this time, the counting of votes was done visually by hand and the voting results were totaled.

In such a vote counting method, the operation burden and work burden on the voter and the vote manager are large,
It took a lot of time and effort. As a method for solving such a problem, the present applicant discloses in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-40111, and various electronic voting machines (hereinafter, also referred to as voting terminals) have already been disclosed in Japanese Patent Nos. 2747171 and 2885.
No. 657 and the like.

In the electronic voting, it is pointed out that it is necessary to inspect the voting result by checking whether or not the voting is fraudulent or falsified after the voting. From the perspective of recording for such audits, electronic voting is electronically or magnetically recorded by an electronic voting machine, and a thermal printer is installed in the electronic voting machine to print and record the voting results. Developed and known in Brazil. In addition, in the electronic voting machine, all voting results recorded electronically or magnetically are aggregated for each candidate, and printed after all voting is completed.
oVote) has been proposed.

However, in the technology related to electronic voting that has been proposed so far, an electronic voting machine at a polling place is used to confirm the name or political party name of the candidate displayed on the display screen of the electronic voting machine. It is configured to operate electronically by operating buttons, touch panel, etc., but the elector is
It was not possible to confirm after the vote which candidate voted in which election in which election. According to the method known in Brazil as described above, the printing by the printer is provided inside the electronic voting machine so that the elector cannot see it. They can, but they can't keep track of the raw votes cast by each elector, and they print after all votes are complete, so the elector couldn't see what was printed.

Therefore, when an elector votes with an electronic voting machine that accepts votes electronically, the voting results are printed on roll paper, and the printed contents can be directly visually confirmed to confirm. Is proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-75692.

[0007]

However, the technology relating to electronic voting that has been proposed so far is configured to print the voting result so that the elector can visually confirm it. Had. In other words, if a visually impaired elector performs a voting operation using an electronic voting machine,
Not only can you not confirm the voting contents recorded on the print medium, but there is a risk that other voters will look into the voting results.
No electronic voting machine has been proposed that prints the voting results in consideration of the privacy of voters who are blind.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems.
An electronic voting machine that records the voting results on an electromagnetic recording medium that can be recorded electronically or magnetically, and also prints on the printing medium, prints the voting results in consideration of the privacy of the elector who is blind. The purpose is to provide an electronic voting machine.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a voting means having a barrier-free function for allowing an elector other than a normal person to vote like a normal person. An electronic voting machine having, selection means for selecting the voting means according to the content of the disability of the elector,
Presenting means for presenting candidates and candidate selection information to the elector through a presenting device, voting acceptance means for accepting electronic voting so that the elector can select a candidate and vote, and the vote acceptance Recording means for recording the electronic voting data received by the means on an electromagnetic recording medium capable of being recorded electronically or magnetically, printing means for printing the voting result on a printing medium, and printing on the printing medium The contents printed on the print medium can be visually checked according to the visual means for displaying the content so that the elector can visually check it, the storing means for storing the print medium, and the selecting means. An electronic voting machine is provided that includes a first control unit that disables the information, and a second control unit that controls the candidate device not to present the selected information to the presentation device according to the selection unit. It is.

Further, according to the present invention, the selecting means includes:
The electronic voting machine according to claim 1, wherein the information about the obstacle of the elector, which is pre-recorded in a predetermined recording medium, is read and the voting means is selected according to the read information.

Further, according to the present invention, according to the selecting means, by projecting only a specific combination of pin members out of a plurality of pin members arranged in the same direction, the candidate and the candidate are selected. The electronic voting machine according to claim 1, further comprising a presenting unit that presents a selection information and a voting result or a code related to the candidate, the candidate selection information and the voting result so that they can be touched and recognized.

According to the present invention, there is provided an electronic voting machine according to claim 1, further comprising voice output means for outputting the candidates, the candidate selection information and the voting result by voice in accordance with the selection means. To be done.

Further, according to the present invention, a printing means for printing a predetermined recording code corresponding to the voting result on a print medium, a reading means for reading the predetermined recording code printed by the printing means, and the reading means. The predetermined recording code is read by, and when it is determined that the predetermined recording code is normal, control means for electronically or magnetically recording the voting result in the electromagnetic recording medium, and the predetermined recording code The electronic voting machine according to claim 1, further comprising an output unit that outputs an error of the printing unit when it is determined that is abnormal.

Further, according to the present invention, by projecting only a specific combination of pin members out of a large number of pin members arranged in the same direction, the candidate, the candidate selection information and the voting result or the An electronic voting machine comprising a presenting means for presenting a candidate, candidate selection information, and a code related to a voting result so that they can be touched and recognized, and a predetermined recording code corresponding to the voting result is printed on a print medium. A printing unit, a reading unit for reading a predetermined recording code printed by the printing unit, and a reading unit for reading the predetermined recording code by the reading unit, and when the predetermined recording code is determined to be normal, the voting result is electronically displayed. Of magnetically or magnetically recording on the electromagnetic recording medium and displaying on the presenting means and the predetermined recording code are judged to be abnormal If the electronic voting machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the error of the printing means and a control means for displaying on said presentation means.

Further, according to the present invention, the electronic voting machine is provided with a voice output means for outputting the candidate, the candidate selection information and the voting result by voice, and a predetermined recording code corresponding to the voting result. When a predetermined recording code is determined to be normal by a printing unit that prints on a print medium, a reading unit that reads the predetermined recording code printed by the printing unit, and the predetermined recording code that is read by the reading unit. , The control means for electronically or magnetically recording the voting result in the electromagnetic recording medium and displaying it on the voice output means, and when it is determined that the predetermined recording code is abnormal, the printing means The electronic voting machine according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit that displays an error on the voice output unit. An electronic voting machine having is provided.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of an electronic voting machine 1 (also referred to as a voting terminal 1) of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of an electronic voting machine 1 according to the present invention. The electronic voting machine 1 of the present invention is arranged at a polling place and displays candidates who have run for election to the elector,
The elector accepts votes electronically by selecting candidates for voting. The basic structure of the electronic voting machine 1 is Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-
The one shown in Japanese Patent No. 40111 can be used.

In FIG. 1, a voting card insertion unit 3 is provided in the electronic voting machine 1, and a voting card issued by a ticket issuing terminal device in a polling place is inserted into the voting card insertion unit 3 by an elector. A magnetic recording card, an IC card or the like can be used as the voting card. In addition, a card reader 19 is arranged inside the electronic voting machine 1, reads the recorded contents of the voting card, determines whether the card is a legitimate voting card, and when it is determined that the card is a legitimate voting card. Only one voting operation is possible. Further, the electronic voting machine 1 is provided with a touch panel type LCD 2, and when the voting operation becomes possible based on the judgment by the card reader 19 described above, the touch panel type LCD 2 displays the election name and a plurality of candidate names. . Then, if the elector is a healthy person, press the finger or stylus pen on the display part of the candidate who is going to vote to select it (hereinafter,
You can choose). That is, the touch panel LCD 2 functions as a vote acceptance unit. Further, the electronic voting machine 1 is provided with a speaker 4 for guiding by voice.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a voting card inserted in the voting card insertion section 3 provided in the electronic voting machine 1.
This voting card is provided with an IC, and a physical disability characteristic ID indicating the type of the characteristic of the disability is recorded on this IC and issued to each voter. At the time of voting, the above-mentioned voting card is inserted into the voting card insertion portion 3 and the information on the IC of this voting card is read.

The physical disability characteristics are non-disabled people (normal people), visually impaired people, audio-visually impaired people, and physically handicapped people, as shown in the column of "Disability characteristics" in the second column of the table shown in FIG. Person. Further, even among visually impaired persons, the external selection device to be used differs depending on the degree of disability. For example, a visually impaired person can vote using a flat panel display means such as a touch panel, but a blind person must use a keyboard provided with a stereoscopic display means capable of tactile recognition and voice guidance in combination. Therefore, for the display means (display screen) and the input device (the external selection device to be used) used at the time of voting, all voters are provided with a "physical disability characteristic ID" which is an identification number for distinguishing the disability characteristics.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the electronic voting machine 1. In the figure, the solid line indicates a normal control line, and the dotted line indicates a control line selectively controlled by the physical disability characteristic. As described above, when the elector is a healthy person, the electronic voting machine 1 presents a candidate list and candidate selection information on the LCD 11, and selects the candidate by pressing the touch panel 12. However, in the case of a visually impaired elector, it is not preferable to display the candidate selection information on the LCD 11 because it may be seen by others. So LCD
11 is a CPU screen displayed according to the physical disability characteristics
It is configured to be controlled by 14. LCD
11 and the touch panel 12 are the touch panel type LCD of FIG.
Make up 2. The external selection device 22 used by the visually impaired elector instead of the LCD 2 is a CPU based on the information of the disability characteristics recorded in the issued voting card.
The control by 14 selects the one that fits this elector. Further, the electronic voting machine 1 uses the memory card 1 as an electromagnetic recording medium for electronically recording voting data.
8. Hard disk 1 as a magnetic recording medium
5 is provided. The hard disk 15 has a backup function for storing voting data at the same time as recording election data and a voting program described later.

Since the memory card 18 is portable, it can be easily taken out and replaced, and the taken out memory card can be sent to the counting place for collection and the voting data can be aggregated. That is, it is possible to collect the voting data via the communication interface 17 of the telecommunication line without sending it to the counting place. Although there is an advantage that the totaling by communication can be performed quickly, there is a possibility that the totaling cannot be performed when a communication failure occurs. Therefore, it is desirable to use a portable type as one of the electromagnetic recording media for recording the voting data. The fixed hard disk 15 is also used for backup of voting data as described above. A plurality of memory cards 18 may be provided, a recording medium such as a flexible disk for magnetically recording may be used, or a plurality of types of recording media may be used together.

FIG. 5 is an overall view of an electronic voting system in which the electronic voting machine 1 is used. The operation management terminal device 31 (also simply referred to as the operation management terminal 31), the electronic voting machine 1 and the ticket issuing terminal device 32 (also simply referred to as the ticket issuing terminal 32) are placed in a polling place. The voting place 33 is installed in a place different from the voting place 34. The operation management terminal 31 and each electronic voting machine 1, and the operation management terminal 31 and the ticket issuing terminal 32 are connected by wire or wirelessly. By the operation of the voting manager, each electronic voting machine 1 requests the operation management terminal 31 to transmit the voting program before the start of voting. The operation management terminal 31 transmits the voting program to each electronic voting machine 1 based on the request. Each electronic voting machine 1 develops the transmitted voting program on the hard disk. The ticket-issuing terminal 32 is installed at the voting reception place, and the ticket-issuing terminal 32 becomes the operation management terminal 33 according to the input of the receptionist
Send elector information including disability characteristics to. The operation management terminal 33 transmits the serial number and the voting ID to the ticket issuing terminal 32 based on the electoral information. Voting ID is the physical disability characteristic ID, election type ID, polling place ID shown in FIG.
Is a general term such as.

The operation management terminal 31 holds the issued serial number, and collates the serial number when the serial number of the voting card inserted in the electronic voting machine 1 is transmitted from the electronic voting machine 1. If the serial number is valid, the electronic voting machine 1 that has transmitted the serial number is notified of voting permission. The electronic voting machine 1 that has received the voting permission is ready to start voting. If the serial number is invalid, the electronic voting machine 1 that has transmitted the serial number is notified that voting is not permitted. The electronic voting machine 1 that has received the non-permission of voting displays that voting is not possible.

After the election, the memory card 18 in which the voting data is recorded is collected after the election and collected at the vote counting station 33 for aggregation. The electronic balloting system 33 changes the electronic voting system into various forms, such as counting up via the communication interface 17 during or after voting, and each electronic voting machine 1 itself has the function of the operation management terminal 31. be able to.

The electronic voting machine 1 shown in FIG. 4 has a RAM 13 and a ROM 16 in addition to the above configuration. RAM
The voting result is temporarily recorded in 13. The voting result temporarily recorded in the RAM 13 is stored in the memory card 18 and the backup hard disk 15 when the candidate is confirmed.
At the same time, the roll paper 20F as a print medium is transmitted to a print recording device (printer) 20 described later.
Is printed and recorded on. The circuits and elements shown in each of these blocks are connected to a CPU (central processing unit) 14. The ROM 16 is a read-only memory, and stores a diagnostic program after the device power is turned on, a boot program for starting up the system, and the like. The CPU 14 internally or externally has a functional part as an I / O that controls the input / output of data.

The bar code reader 21 has a function of reading the one-dimensional bar code corresponding to the voting result printed by the printer 20, and is provided to judge whether the operation of the printer is normal or not. The external selection device 22 is an external selection device for an elector having a visual impairment, a physical disability, etc. to execute an electronic vote, and will be described in detail later. The printer window cover 23 has a function of selectively opening and closing according to the disability characteristics of the elector. The speaker 4 selectively outputs sound according to the disability characteristics of the elector.

FIG. 6 shows the data structure of voting data stored in the memory card 18. The voting data records the serial number, election type, candidate number, and total number of votes. It is advisable to randomly issue a serial number so that the elector cannot deduce it from the serial number. As the election type, a number for identifying the type of election such as the lower house, the House of Councilors election, the mayoral election, etc. is recorded. The candidate number is the number corresponding to the candidate name, and the total number of votes is recorded by counting up the number of votes stored up to that time by 1 for each election type.

FIG. 7 is a schematic top view of an external selection device 70 connected to the electronic voting machine of FIG. 1 and mainly used by people with visual and hearing disabilities to perform electronic voting. The external selection device 70 includes
A character display 71 that can sense the display content by touching is provided.

The character display 71 has an upper surface in which a large number of vertically movable pins and other protrusions (tactile pins) are densely arranged and arranged in a matrix in a vertical direction. A tactile pin display using a so-called dot matrix, in which a specific tactile pin rises upward from the initial position and pops out, and the pop-up pattern of the tactile pins forms a character or graphic to display the character or graphic. (Stimulator). FIGS. 15A and 15B show examples of schematic diagrams of the tactile pin display 110. As shown in FIG. 15A, the tactile pins 111 having a diameter of 1.3 mm are arranged with a pin interval of 3 mm, and the tactile pins 111 have a rising height of 0.7 mm. The tactile pins 111 are arranged in a square of 16 rows and 16 columns to form the tactile pin display 110.

The tactile pin display described above can be constructed based on a tactile information output device which is a well-known technique, which is particularly configured as an information transmitting means to a visually impaired person. Further, according to the above-mentioned known technology, a stimulator consisting of a plurality of tactile needles arranged in a matrix within an area about that the operator touches with a finger is driven based on the information of the character to be displayed, A person with an audio-visual impairment can now sense Braille or normal non-Braille character information with his / her fingertip. For example, Japanese Patent No. 29475.
The disclosure is made in Japanese Patent Publication No. 15. Furthermore, according to the above disclosed technology, it is possible for an audiovisually impaired person to read a sentence or the like expressed by normal characters without waiting for braille. By using this stimulator as an external selection device for an electronic voting machine, the present embodiment intends to greatly reduce the burden of voting operation.

On the above-mentioned upper surface (display surface) of the character display 71, the first letter of the election type and the voting result is displayed in katakana, and the elector touches the character display 71 with his / her upper or lower limbs to raise the character. It is possible to know the information displayed by the tactile pin.

Although only one kana character is displayed on the character display 71, the "right arrow button" (progress key) 72 or "modus" arranged on the left and right of the character display 71 is displayed as "Sussum". By pressing the "left arrow button" (backward key) 73 displayed as "", a predetermined character is displayed on the character display 71 in the forward direction or in the reverse direction. You can read the kana characters of.

At this time, when the display is the last or first character of the character string, the forward key 72 for sending the character in the forward direction or the backward key 73 for sending the character in the reverse direction is provided.
The display is not changed even when is pressed.

Although it is possible to display hiragana on the character display 71, hiragana has many curves and is difficult to recognize as compared to katakana, so that katakana is displayed in this embodiment.

In the case of katakana display, for example, “so” and “n” or “tsu” and “shi” have similar patterns, and it is considered that the probability of misrecognition is particularly high. Therefore,
The tactile pins that make up the dots of the kana characters should not rise at the same time, so that the tactile pins rise in a staggered manner, not in the same order, but in the same order as the strokes of the letters.
It constitutes the character display 71.

With the above configuration, the displayed characters can be easily recognized, more erroneous recognition can be prevented, and more reliable recognition can be performed, and the number of voting errors can be reduced. That is, in the external selection device 70 connected to the electronic voting machine 1 of the present embodiment, the kana display of the character guidance means for displaying the election type, the voting result, etc. received from the electronic voting machine 1 is dotted in the stroke order of the characters. Is displayed.

Further, the external selection device 70 has various input keys on the upper surface of the housing and has a numeric keypad 76 of a telephone type arrangement,
A correct / wrong confirmation key 74 for controlling confirmation and cancellation of voting is provided. For example, the ○ key in the correctness confirmation key 74 is confirmed, ×
The key has a function of canceling.

FIG. 8 shows a sectional view of each of the keys 76 and 74 described above. As shown in FIG. 8A, a key top 78, which protrudes upward from the surface of the housing (exterior) of the external selection device 70 and is the upper surface of each key, is engraved with numbers, symbols, or Braille. It is possible to recognize the engraved numbers, symbols or Braille by touching with a finger.

FIG. 8B shows the keys 76 and 74 described above.
It is sectional drawing when the key guard 75 is attached to the circumference | surroundings. The key guard 75 is a numeral key 7 of the external selection device 70.
6. The purpose of this is to protect the upper surface of the correctness confirmation key 74 from being touched unintentionally by fingers and the like. The vibrator 77 vibrates at the time of a predetermined operation and confirms or cancels with an elector with a visual impairment.
Inform you that you have accepted. In addition, the external selection device 70
Is connected to the electronic voting machine 1 by wire or wirelessly.

FIG. 9 is provided with a braille display 91, which is connected to the electronic voting machine 1 separately from or at the same time as the external selection device 70 described above, and which is mainly used by people with visual and hearing disabilities to perform electronic voting. 3 is a schematic top view of an external selection device 90.

In FIG. 9, the Braille display 81 included in the external selection device 90 is a piezoelectric drive or electromagnetic drive 32.
Arranged tactile pin elements in close contact in series, a specific tactile pin rises according to control, and the election pattern or voting result is displayed by the aggregate pattern of the raised tactile pins Has been done. Braille display 91
Is excellent in that a plurality of characters can be displayed at once instead of displaying the character string one by one. In addition, by using together with the Kana character display 71 described above, the elector may be configured to vote with more reliable recognition. Functions and structures of other keys and key guards other than the above in FIG. 9 are the same as those of the external selection device 70 in FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a schematic top view of the external selection device 100, mainly for visually impaired people to perform electronic voting. The external selection device 100 does not include a display output unit unlike the character display 71 of the external selection device 70 and the braille display 91 of the external selection device 90. When the external selection device 100 is connected to the electronic voting machine 1 to perform a voting operation, the election type and the candidate name are output by voice. Although voice can be output from the speaker 4 of the electronic voting machine 1, earphones or headphones can be connected to the electronic voting machine 1 for listening in consideration of privacy.

While the external selection device 70 and the external selection device 90 are mainly for the visually impaired, the external selection device 10
Since 0 is for visually impaired persons, there is an advantage that cost reduction can be achieved by using the display output means as voice output. By using the progress key 102, the next candidate name can be output by voice, and by using the backward key 103, the previous candidate name can be returned and output by voice. The other keys and the functions and structures of the key guard are the same as those of the external selection device 70 of FIG. 7.

A printer 20 for recording voting results is built in the exterior portion 6 which constitutes the casing of the electronic voting machine 1. A printer window 20A (see FIG. 11) made of a transparent block material is provided on the exterior portion so that a predetermined range of the print surface of the print medium (roll paper) 20F mounted in the printer can be seen.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing the structure of the printer 20. The printer 20 is a roll paper 20F which is a print medium.
A printing reel (thermal head) 20C for printing the voting result on the roll paper, a guide roller 20D for guiding the roll paper, and a take-up roll 20E for winding the printed roll paper. Printer 20
Has a motor (not shown) for driving the take-up reel 20E, and under the control of the CPU 14, it winds up a predetermined distance after printing the voting result. When the next elector stands in front of the electronic voting machine 1, the roll paper 20F is in a blank state so that the voting results of the former elector cannot be seen.

A bar code reader 21 is provided inside the printer. The bar code reader 21 is driven under the control of the CPU 14 to read the one-dimensional bar code printed on the roll paper after completion of printing, and read the read contents. Transfer to the CPU 14. Further, inside the printer, a printer window cover 23 is provided below the exterior portion 6A, and the printer window cover 23 moves between the bottom portion of the printer window 20A and the bottom portion of the exterior portion 6A under the control of the CPU 14. The printer window cover 23 is used to switch the voting result printed on the roll paper between a visually observable state and a visually unobservable state according to the disability characteristics of the elector.

As the block material for the printer window 20A, for example, a synthetic resin molded product such as acrylic or a plate material which has a sufficiently large plate pressure and is not easily broken can be used. The block material needs to be light transmissive so that the electorate can read the printed content. It is also possible to attach a magnifying glass or the like to enlarge and display the print content. The configuration in which the content printed on the roll paper is not directly visible to the elector, and the content of the print is not directly visible from the printer window 20A by displaying the print content on the printer window 20A via a prism or a mirror. Good. Printer window cover 23
Is for preventing electors from reading the printed contents, so a light-impermeable synthetic resin molded product or plate is used.

The exterior portion 6A is locked to the electronic voting machine 1 by the lock 7, and the roll paper 20F on which the voting result is recorded can be easily taken out from the outside without going through a regular procedure such as using a predetermined key. You can't.

By the way, the recording on the roll paper 20F has the purpose of making it possible to confirm the candidates voted by the elector and to be a trail in case of doubt or dispute. However, with the electronic voting machines that have been proposed so far, electors with visual impairments cannot confirm the voting content printed on the roll paper from the printer window, and it is accurately recorded on the roll paper that serves as a trail. There is no way to confirm that. In addition, there is a possibility that other electors may see the content of the vote printed on the roll paper, which is also a privacy problem.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing the operation of the electronic voting machine from the election of a visually impaired candidate selecting a candidate to the end of voting. In FIG. 12, the external selection device 100 is connected to the electronic voting machine 1 to perform a voting operation.

When the electronic voting machine 1 is ready to accept votes, a voting start waiting screen is displayed in step S1 and the voting card issued to the elector by the ticket issuing terminal device 32 is inserted into the voting card insertion unit 3. Urge you to do so. If it is confirmed in step S2 that the voting card is inserted, step S
At 3, the serial number is read from the voting card, and the read serial number is transmitted to the operation management terminal 31 to verify the serial number. When the serial number is valid, the electronic voting machine 1 that has transmitted the serial number is notified of voting permission. The electronic voting machine 1 receives the vote permission notification, and then performs step S
In step 4, the physical disability characteristic ID is read from the voting card, and the physical disability characteristic ID is the visual disability (the physical disability characteristic ID 02 in FIG. 3).
Equivalent)).

If the read disability characteristic ID is a visual disability (the disability characteristic ID of FIG. 3 is 02), step S
In step 5, the printer window cover 23 is moved to the lower portion of the printer window under the control of the CPU 14. By this operation, it is possible to prevent other voters from seeing the voting results printed on the roll paper.

In step S6, voting is started, and the election type for voting is output by voice. If there are multiple election types, the elections are executed in a predetermined order. Electors with visual impairment can listen to the voice to get the ID of the voting card.
You can know that the collation is completed and the voting is started. The same voice is output at regular intervals until confirmation is made. Further, the touch panel display 2 does not display the candidate list or the candidate selection information under the control of the CPU 14. However, in consideration of the case where there is an operation assistant (accompaniment person), a voting progress screen is displayed so that the progress of voting can be confirmed.

The elector confirms the election type, and the electronic voting machine 1
Accepts the confirmation key input in step S7. The confirmation is performed by pressing the correctness confirmation key 104.

The elector inputs the candidate number by pressing the numeric key 101, and the electronic voting machine 1 accepts the input of the numeric key in step S8. The elector confirms the entered candidate number and accepts the input of the correctness confirmation key in step S9. Here, if the elector confirms the election to vote again, or if the number displayed on the braille display 91 is different from the intended one, the correctness confirmation key 94 "x" is pressed to return to step S8, and again. Candidate number can be selected. When the confirmation "○" is pressed, it is determined whether or not there is a candidate whose number matches the candidate number input in step S10. If there is no matching candidate, the process returns to step S8, and if there is a matching candidate, the candidate name is voice output in step S11.

The elector hears and confirms the candidate name.
In step S12, the input of the correctness confirmation key is accepted. Here, make sure that the elector is the intended candidate,
When "○" is pressed, the voting result is RA in step S13.
It is held in M13.

In step S14, the voting result and the one-dimensional bar code corresponding to the voting result are printed on the roll paper 20F as shown in FIG. Although the one-dimensional bar code is printed on the periphery of the candidate name, the bar code itself may be printed at a position that cannot be seen visually. Bar code information corresponding to the candidate is stored in the ROM 16 in advance. The one-dimensional bar code printed in step S15 is read by the bar code reader 21. The data obtained by reading the one-dimensional barcode in step S16 and R in step S13
The data stored in the AM 13 is compared.

If the two data do not match, or if the data cannot be read by the bar code reader 21, it is determined that an error has occurred in the printer 20, and step S23 is performed.
Display the error with. The error display can be displayed on the touch panel display 2, turned on by a lamp, or can be output by one or more of display output means such as voice output. The elector, the operation assistant (accompaniment person),
And a display form that can be recognized by all voting witnesses.

If both data match, step S
At 17, the voting data stored in the RAM 13 is recorded in an electromagnetic recording medium, and the RAM 13 records the voting result of the election type. In step S18, the completion of acceptance of candidates for the election type is output by voice and displayed on the touch panel display 2 to update the voting progress screen.

In step S19, only the voting result held in the RAM 13 is deleted, and in step S20, the roll paper is sent for a predetermined distance. In step S21, it is determined whether there are any unvoted elections remaining, and if there are any unvoted elections, step S21.
Return to 6. If there is no unvoted election, the printer window cover 23 is moved to the initial position (lower part of the exterior portion 6A) in step S22, and the state where the voting result printed on the roll paper can be visually confirmed is returned. This completes the voting operation of one elector. Also, since the roll paper has already been sent for a predetermined distance in step S23, the voting results of the previous elector are invisible.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing the operation of the electronic voting machine after the elector with the audiovisual impairment selects a candidate and ends the voting. In FIG. 12, it is assumed that the external selection device 90 is connected to the electronic voting machine 1 to perform a voting operation.

When the electronic voting machine 1 is ready to accept votes, a voting start waiting screen is displayed in step S51, and the voting card issued by the ticket issuing terminal device 32 to the elector is inserted into the voting card insertion unit 3. Urge you to do so. Step S52
When it is confirmed that the voting card is inserted in step S53, the serial number is read from the voting card and the read serial number is transmitted to the operation management terminal 31 to verify the serial number. If the serial number is valid,
The electronic voting machine 1 that has transmitted the serial number is notified of voting permission. After receiving the voting permission notification, the electronic voting machine 1 reads the physical disability characteristic ID from the voting card in step S4, and whether the physical disability characteristic ID corresponds to the audiovisual disorder (FIG. 3).
Corresponding to the physical disability characteristic ID 03) of No.).

When the read physical disability characteristic ID corresponds to the audio-visual disability (the physical disability characteristic ID of 03 in FIG. 3), the printer window cover 23 is moved to the lower part of the printer window by the control of the CPU 14 in step S55. By this operation, it is possible to prevent other voters from seeing the voting results printed on the roll paper.

In step S56, the vibrator 97 of the external selection device 90 is made to "..." by repeating one short vibration.
And vibrate. The description “•” represents one short vibration. The same applies hereinafter. An elector with visual impairment can know that the ID verification of the voting card is completed and the voting is started by sensing the vibration through one of the upper or lower limbs placed on the vibrator 97. Further, the touch panel display 2 has a CPU 1
By the control of 4, the candidate list display and the candidate selection information are not displayed. However, in consideration of the case where there is an operation assistant (accompaniment person), a voting progress screen is displayed so that the progress of voting can be confirmed.

The election types recorded on the voting card are read, and if there are a plurality of election types, the elections are executed in a predetermined order. The election type is displayed on the Braille display 91 in step S57, the elector confirms the election type, and accepts the input of the confirmation key in step S58. The confirmation is performed by pressing the correctness confirmation key 94.

Upon receipt of the confirmation, the electronic voting machine 1 causes the vibrator 97 to vibrate in a short vibration of two times ".... The display on the braille display 91 is erased, and the voting progress screen is updated.

The elector inputs the candidate number by pressing the numeric key 96, and the electronic voting machine 1 accepts the input of the numeric key in step S60. In step S61, all the numbers input so far are displayed on the Braille display 91. By touching on the braille display, you can check the entered numbers. The candidate number is given to each candidate before the election starts,
The elector has confirmed the candidate number of the candidate who wants to vote in advance.

The elector confirms the entered candidate number,
In step S62, the input of the correctness confirmation key is accepted. Here, if the elector confirms the election to vote again, or if the number displayed on the braille display 91 is different from the intended one, the correctness confirmation key 94 "x" is pressed to return to step S59, and again. Candidate number can be selected. When the confirmation “◯” is pressed, it is determined whether or not there is a candidate whose number matches the candidate number input in step S63. If there is no matching candidate, the process returns to step S59, and if there is a matching candidate, in step S64 the vibrator is vibrated as “... In step S65, the braille display 91 displays "<
The candidate number and name are displayed in the format of "number><blank><name>". Also, the voting progress screen is updated.

The elector confirms the candidates displayed on the Braille display 91. In step S66, the input of the correctness confirmation key is accepted. Here, if it is confirmed that the elector is the intended candidate, and "O" is pressed, the voting result is held in the RAM 13 in step S67.

In step S68, the voting result and the one-dimensional bar code corresponding to the voting result are printed on the roll paper 20F as shown in FIG. Although the one-dimensional bar code is printed near the candidate name, the bar code itself may be printed at a position where it cannot be seen visually. Bar code information corresponding to the candidate is stored in the ROM 16 in advance. The barcode reader 21 reads the one-dimensional barcode printed in step S69. The data obtained by reading the one-dimensional bar code in step S70 and the RAM 1 in step S67
3 is compared with the data stored in 3.

If the two data do not match, or if the data cannot be read by the bar code reader 21, it is determined that an error has occurred in the printer 20, and step S78 is performed.
Display the error with. The error display is displayed on the touch panel display 2, turned on by a lamp, or displayed on the Braille display 91.
It can be displayed and output to one or more, and it takes a display form that can be recognized by all electors, operation assistants (attendants), and voting witnesses.

If both data match, step S
At 71, the voting result stored in the RAM 13 is recorded in an electromagnetic recording medium, and the RAM 13 records the voting result of the election type. In step S72, the completion of acceptance of candidates for the election type is displayed on the touch panel display 2, and the voting progress screen is updated. In step S73, the vibrator is repeated by repeating four short vibrations "...
"..." is vibrated.

In step S74, only the voting result held in the RAM 13 is deleted, and in step S75, the roll paper is sent for a predetermined distance. In step S76, it is determined whether there are any unvoted elections remaining, and if there are any unvoted elections, step S76.
Return to 56. If there is no unvoted election, the printer window cover 23 is set to the initial position (lower portion of the exterior portion 6A) in step S77.
Move to and return to a state where the voting results printed on the roll paper can be visually confirmed. This completes the voting operation of one elector. Also, since the roll paper has already been sent for a predetermined distance in step S75, the voting results of the previous elector are invisible.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, but can be carried out in various modified forms without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the predetermined recording code may be a two-dimensional dot code or G code (code represented by a numerical string) instead of the one-dimensional barcode.
Further, although the one-dimensional bar code is printed and read by the bar code reader, it is possible to change the mark to be printed on the roll paper and read by an optical reader (OMR).

[0075]

As described above, according to the present invention, the voting data is recorded on the electromagnetic recording medium which can be recorded electronically or magnetically, and further printed on the printing medium. When an inconvenient elector performs a voting operation, the print medium is controlled so that it cannot be visually recognized, and a predetermined recording code corresponding to the voting result is printed on the print medium.
After printing, each time the printed code is read by the specified recording code reading device, the operating state of the printer, which is in a state that cannot be visually recognized, is reliably monitored, and the voting result is recorded electronically or Since the information is recorded in an electromagnetic recording medium that can be magnetically recorded, it is possible to provide an electronic voting machine that guarantees the same privacy and fairness as a healthy person to an elector who is blind.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of an electronic voting machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a voting card in which the electronic voting machine of FIG. 1 is used.

3 is a diagram showing a relationship between an external selection device using the electronic voting machine of FIG. 1 and a disability characteristic.

FIG. 4 is a hardware configuration diagram of the electronic voting machine of FIG. 1.

5 is a configuration diagram of an electronic voting system in which the electronic voting machine of FIG. 1 is used.

6 is a diagram showing an example of recorded contents printed by the printer of the electronic voting machine of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a schematic top view of an external selection device, which is connected to the electronic voting machine of FIG. 1, and is mainly used by a visually impaired person.

8 is a cross-sectional view of a key included in the external selection device of FIG.

9 is a schematic top view of an external selection device connected to the electronic voting machine of FIG. 1, mainly for use by a visually impaired person.

FIG. 10 is a schematic top view of an external selection device connected to the electronic voting machine of FIG. 1, primarily for use by visually impaired persons.

11 is an internal configuration diagram of a printer of the electronic voting machine of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an operation when a voting operation is performed by connecting the external voting device of FIG. 10 to the electronic voting machine of FIG.

13 is a diagram showing an example of recorded contents printed by the printer of the electronic voting machine of FIG.

14 is a flowchart illustrating an operation when a voting operation is performed by connecting the electronic voting machine of FIG. 1 to the external selection device of FIG. 7.

15 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a tactile pin display that constitutes the external selection device of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 electronic voting machine 2 Touch panel LCD 3 voting card insertion section 4 speakers 5 printer window 6 Exterior 7 tablets

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Tadashi Aizawa             3-12 Moriya-cho, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa             Local Victor Company of Japan, Ltd. F-term (reference) 3E038 KA01                 5B072 BB00 CC21 CC24 DD02

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A vote receiving means for receiving a vote of an elector, a selecting means for selecting a voting mode according to the content of the obstacle of the elector accepted by the vote accepting means, and the elector visually. Display means for displaying the candidates and the candidate selection information via a display device that can be recognized, presentation means for presenting the candidates and the candidate selection information to the elector through a presentation device, and the elector A voting means for performing a voting operation, a recording means for recording a voting result voted by the voting means on an electromagnetic recording medium, a printing means for printing the voting result on a print medium, and a printing means printed on the print medium. The content printed on the print medium according to the content of the obstacle of the elector selected by the selecting means, and the visual means for displaying the content so that the elector can visually confirm the content. First concealment means for making it invisible to the naked eye, and second concealment for concealing the candidate selection information displayed on the display means according to the content of the electoral obstacle selected by the selection means. An electronic voting machine comprising: 2. The selecting means reads out information relating to the content of a failure of the elector, which is prerecorded in a predetermined recording medium issued to the elector, and the voting is performed according to the read information. The electronic voting machine according to claim 1, wherein the electronic voting machine is configured to select one of the above modes. 3. The candidate, the candidate selection information, and the voting result by projecting only a specific combination of pin members out of a plurality of pin members arranged in the same direction according to the selecting means. The presenting device further comprises a presenting unit that presents the candidate, the candidate selection information, and the code related to the voting result so that they can be recognized by touching them.
Electronic voting machine described. 4. A voice output means for outputting the candidate, the candidate selection information, and the voting result by voice so as to notify only an elector who performs a voting operation according to the selecting means. The electronic voting machine according to claim 1. 5. An internal memory for temporarily storing a voting result by an elector, a printing unit for printing a predetermined recording code corresponding to the voting result on a print medium, and a predetermined recording code printed by the printing unit. And a reading unit for reading the predetermined recording code by the reading unit,
When the predetermined recording code matches the voting result stored in the internal memory, the recording means for recording the voting result in the electromagnetic recording medium, and the voting result stored in the internal memory 2. The electronic voting machine according to claim 1, further comprising: an output unit that outputs an error of the printing unit when the predetermined recording codes do not match. 6. The candidate, the candidate selection information and the voting result, or the candidate, the candidate selection by projecting only a specific combination of pin members out of a plurality of pin members arranged in the same direction. An electronic voting machine having a presentation unit for presenting information and a code related to a voting result so that they can be touched and recognized, and an internal memory for temporarily storing a voting result by an elector, and a predetermined memory corresponding to the voting result. Printing means for printing the recording code of the recording code on a print medium, reading means for reading the predetermined recording code printed by the printing means, and reading the predetermined recording code by the reading means,
When the predetermined recording code matches the voting result stored in the internal memory, the recording unit records the voting result in the electromagnetic recording medium and presents the voting result to the presenting unit. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: means, and the output means for outputting an error of the printing means when the predetermined recording code is abnormal with respect to the voting result stored in the internal memory. Electronic voting machine. 7. An electronic voting machine comprising a voice output means for outputting the candidates, the candidate selection information and the voting results by voice, comprising an internal memory for temporarily storing voting results by electors. Printing means for printing a predetermined recording code corresponding to the voting result on a print medium, reading means for reading the predetermined recording code printed by the printing means, and reading the predetermined recording code by the reading means,
When the voting result stored in the internal memory matches the predetermined recording code, the recording unit records the voting result in the electromagnetic recording medium and outputs the voting result to the audio output unit. The control means and the output means for outputting an error of the printing means when the predetermined recording code is abnormal with respect to the voting result stored in the internal memory. Electronic voting machine.