Machine for Recording Votes.

Opunake Times, Volume IV, Issue 173, 28 February 1896, Page 3

Machine for Recording Votes.

An American has patented a machine for recording votes at elections by machinery. The voter passes into the polling chamber by a turstile, which locks itself after him, and is unlocked by his passage out through another turnstile. Inside, the voter sees the names of the candidates, printed up in a row before him, and differently colored for the sake of illiterate voters (a feature common to most of these balloting machines). Below the names i 3 a travelling pointer, which is moved along by turning a handle. All the voter has to do is to turn the handle until the pointer is opposite the right name or color, and then leaves the chamber by the second turnstile. His vote is recorded by a printing apparatus actuated by the turnstile. Thus each person who enters is absolutely precluded from voting more than once or otherwise tampering with the apparatus, because he can only vote at all by leaving it. This ingenious invention, indicated above in the barest outline, fulfills all and more than all, the provisions and intention of the Ballot Act. It secures absolute secrecy, give 3 effect to the voter's intentions without fail, provides for a scrutiny by which each vote can be traced in a moment, and amolished counting. The votes are printed in consecutive numbers, and therefore the last one recorded for each candidate gives the total of his poll. It is understood that the Government have ordered one of these machines, and intend to test it with a view to its general adoption at the next general election.