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(11) | EP 1 349 118 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Dynamic user interface for voting systems |
| (57) A user interface for voting systems based on a standard computer screen and a mixture
of direct and indirect voting. On the first screen, the voter can choose from a limited
number of candidates of a limited number of lists or one of the lists. Per voter,
depending on the constituency, a choice can be offered. All lists and a part of the
candidates are represented on the screen in the form of a string of buttons. When
selecting one of the lists, a second screen appears on which the list, selected on
the first screen, is depicted with a string of all candidates of this list. For the
partly-sighted, with a screen operating button, a switch to a larger size can be made
and, with different operating buttons, the represented candidate section can be shifted.
The selected candidate and matching list are highlighted and the personal particulars
of the respective candidate are represented on a part of the screen especially destined
therefor before the vote is confirmed with the voting button. |
[0001] The invention relates to a dynamic user interface for a voting system with which it is possible to elect representatives or candidates for, for example, the Lower House, the provincial states or the city council. In this context, dynamic is understood to mean that with the aid of this system, on one user interface, candidates from several constituencies can be elected with the composition of the list varying per constituency. For such a user interface, applicant has already filed and obtained Dutch patent number 1014538, but this application related to a so-called full-face voting system with which, in one go, the complete overview of all lists with all candidates per list was shown on a display,-so that the voter could directly vote for the desired candidate.
[0002] As, preferably, for voting systems, standard equipment in the form of a computer screen is used, also because remote voting such as, for instance, via internet comes into reach, it is of importance to provide a simple user interface for this equipment, which, preferably, is related as closely as possible to the known user interface of the current voting machines.
[0003] As a computer screen is too small to contain all information as it is printed on a standard voting sheet in a manner that it is sufficiently legible, for such systems, typically, an indirect method is used, wherein, on a first screen, the lists, that is, the parties, are shown from which the voter has to choose and then, on a second screen, all candidates of the selected list or party, from which, again, the voter has to choose, whereupon the whole has to be confirmed through a voting button.
[0004] This method is less neatly organized for the voter and, as appears from tests in practice, takes considerably more time so that, for this, several voting systems per polling station are required.
[0005] The invention contemplates providing a solution to these problems and will be described hereinafter with reference to six figures which, by way of an example, relate to the Lower House elections of May 3, 1994, at Maastricht.
Fig. 1 shows the first screen of the user interface according to the invention;
Fig. 2 shows the same screen after a candidate has been selected;
Fig. 3 shows the first screen in enlarged form for the partly-sighted;
Fig. 4 shows the enlarged screen after a candidate has been selected;
Fig. 5 shows the first screen in a shifted situation;
Fig. 6 shows the screen on which from one selected party, all candidates are shown.
[0006] To realize a rapid circulation at the polling stations, the starting point for the user interface according to the invention was a combination of direct and indirect voting. The screen consists of a so-called touch screen with which, by touch of a finger, with the aid of the buttons represented on the screen, directly a choice can be made. Naturally, operation can also take place with the aid of a normal computer screen and a computer mouse, but this is less suitable for use in a polling station because it requires more time. As indicated in Fig. 1, on the first screen, the ballot paper of the constituency relevant to the respective voter is indicated with the following group of buttons:
- on the top row, a button for a blank vote, an operating button for switching to a larger representation for partly-sighted, two arrow buttons for shifting the represented lists to the left or to the right and two arrow buttons for shifting the indicated candidates on the lists upwards or downwards;
- on the second row, a string of all lists, that is, political parties, which is continued on the right-hand side over the height of the rest of the screen and occupies as much vertical columns as necessary to represent all lists on this first screen;
- below the lists whose vertical columns are not occupied by further lists, a vertical string of the candidates for these respective lists is represented, starting with the highest-ranked candidate on the list and further, in so far as there is space and there are candidates present for the respective party.
[0007] From polling practice it appears that by far the largest group of voters vote for a candidate which is shown, in this manner, on the first screen, and for this group of voters it is sufficient, in the same manner as with a full-face machine, to point with a finger to the button of the respective candidate, whereupon the screen changes to the situation of Fig. 2, on which, by way of example, a vote for mrs. Jorritsma of the VVD party is indicated. Both the button with the text of the candidate and the button of the list of the party are highlighted and the text of the selected candidate is represented in the middle between the upper row of operating buttons.
[0008] From this situation, the vote can be energized by touching the "Vote" button, or via the button "Correct", one can return to the previous situation if an error has been made.
[0009] In clarification of the function of the different buttons or groups of buttons, different colors are used in the user interface according to the invention.
[0010] If the candidate for whom the voter wants to vote is not directly represented on the first screen, the voter can shift the string with lists or the string with candidates with the aid of the arrow buttons such that other lists and/or other candidates become visible.
[0011] If on the first screen the button "Large" is touched, this screen changes to the situation of Figure 3, wherein, according to the same structure, again all lists or parties are depicted in the form of a string and in the remaining columns a string of candidates of the respective lists in a size which is approximately 25% larger and hence better legible for partly-sighted voters. In this situation, Fig. 4 shows the enlarged situation of the exemplary choice of Fig. 2. Via the button "Small", one can return to the original scale of depiction.
[0012] When shifting the lists or parties to the left-hand side of the screen, as indicated in Fig. 5, the columns, starting from the left-hand side, are filled-in the same manner as on the first screen on the right-hand side, so that, at all times, all lists or parties are represented on the screen and form a string together.
[0013] If first a button of a list or party is operated, for instance a list whose candidates are not shown on the first screen, or a list only a part of whose candidates is shown, then the screen of Fig. 6 appears, by way of example the list of the VVD party. In this situation, also, in a continuous string, all candidates of the selected list or party are shown in so far as, to that end, space is available on the screen. With the scale of depiction "Small", all candidates can be shown, with the scale of depiction "Large", slightly more than half of the maximum number allowed. In this last situation, once more, an arrow button pointing downwards appears so that also the second part of the list can be seen and, conversely, an arrow button pointing upwards for returning to the first part of the respective list.
[0014] With the button "Lists", one can return to the first screen with the combination of lists or parties and candidates according to Fig. 1.
[0015] With the dynamic user interface according to the invention, in addition to the possibility of remote voting, where for different voters different ballot papers can apply, naturally, per voter, also different elections or referenda can be dealt with one after the other, so that no additional user interfaces are necessary for this.
1. A dynamic user interface for voting systems, characterized in that this user interface is based on a standard computer screen as well as, in case there
are more lists or parties and candidates than can be sufficiently legibly shown on
one screen, on a mixture of direct and indirect voting, wherein on the first screen
the voter is offered, apart from a blank vote and a number of screen operating functions,
a choice from a limited number of candidates of a limited number of lists together
with a choice from all further lists of which, on this first screen, no candidates
are shown.
2. A dynamic user interface for voting systems according to claim 1, characterized in that each voter, depending on the constituency of the respective voter, can be offered
a choice from different lists or parties with different candidates for these lists
or parties.
3. A dynamic user interface for voting systems according to one or both of the preceding
claim(s), characterized in that the screen consists of a so-called touch-screen with which the voter, by touching
one of the buttons represented on the screen, can make his choice known to the system.
4. A dynamic user interface for voting systems according to one or more of the preceding
claim(s), characterized in that the lists or parties are depicted on the screen together in the form or a string
of buttons which is always shown in its entirety.
5. A dynamic user interface for voting systems according to one or more of the preceding
claim(s), characterized in that the candidates are represented together per list or party in the form of a, for instance,
vertical, string of buttons also connected to the respective list or party.
6. A dynamic user interface for voting systems according to one or more of the preceding
claim(s), characterized in that, when selecting one of the lists or parties, candidates of which are or are not shown
on the first screen, a second screen appears on which the list or party selected on
the first screen is depicted together with a string of all candidates of this list
or party.
7. A dynamic user interface for voting systems according to one or more of the preceding
claim(s), characterized in that one of the screen operating buttons has the function that the respective screen,
for the benefit of the partly-sighted, is shown in an enlarged size and that the corresponding
screen operating button in the enlarged size has the function of returning to the
original format.
8. A dynamic user interface for voting systems according to one or more of the preceding
claim(s), characterized in that two of the screen operating buttons have the function that candidates placed higher
or lower on the visible lists or parties are depicted, and that two other operating
buttons have the function that candidates of higher or lower-numbered lists which
are not visible, are depicted.
9. A dynamic user interface for voting systems according to one or more of the preceding
claim(s), characterized in that, before a vote is confirmed with the aid of the operating button destined therefor,
the depicted button of a selected candidate, optionally together with the depicted
button of the list or party to which the respective candidate belongs, is depicted
in a highlighted manner relative to the other candidates and lists or parties.
10. A dynamic user interface for voting systems according to one or more of the preceding
claim(s), characterized in that, before the vote is confirmed with the operating button destined therefor, the personal
particulars of the elected candidate, optionally together with the name of the list
or party to which the respective candidate belongs, is represented in an enlarged
manner in a screen field destined therefor or next to the screen operating buttons.
11. A dynamic user interface for voting systems according to one or more of the preceding
claim(s), characterized in that on the first screen, only parties and no candidates are shown.
12. A computer system provided with a screen arranged as a voting system, the computer
system being provided with a dynamic user interface for depicting on the screen objects
to be selected such as lists, parties and candidates, the system being further provided
with selecting means such as a touch screen or a mouse for selecting a depicted object,
characterized in that the interface is arranged to depict, on at least a first screen, a first sub-set
of a total number of objects as well as at least one selection button, the interface
being further arranged to depict, on at least a second screen, at least a second sub-set
of the total number of objects when the selection button on the first screen is energized
by the selecting means.
13. A computer system according to claim 1, characterized in that on the first and/or second screen also a voting button (operating button) is depicted
for voting for a selected object.
14. A computer system according to claim 13, characterized in that the voting button can be energized with the selecting means for voting for the selected
object.
15. A computer system according to claim 12, 13 or 14, characterized in that, in use, the first screen shows all parties or lists by means of a string of buttons
while each party or list can be represented by a button.
16. A computer system according to claim 15, characterized in that the first screen shows at least a number of candidates of a first sub-set of the
total number of parties or lists, while each candidate is represented by means of
a button.
17. A computer system according to any one of the preceding claims 12 - 16, characterized in that, in use, the second screen shows all parties or lists by means of a string of buttons,
while each party or list can be represented by a button.
18. A computer system according to claim 17, characterized in that the second screen shows at least a number of candidates of a second sub-set of the
total number or parties or lists, while each candidate is represented by means of
a button.
19. A computer system according to any one of the preceding claims 12 - 18, characterized in that the interface is arranged for depicting an enlarged screen, wherein the enlarged
screen depicts a sub-set of the buttons of a different screen, while the depicted
buttons are larger than the buttons depicted on the other screen.
20. A computer system according to any one of the preceding claims 12 - 19, characterized in that, in use, when a party or list is selected with the selecting means through selection
of the respective button, this party is depicted by means of a button on a screen,
while, further, a number and preferably all candidates of the selected party each
are depicted by means of a button.
21. A computer system according to claim 20, characterized in that the depicted candidates are depicted in a string.
22. A computer system according to any one of claims 12 - 21, characterized in that the interface is arranged for hatching and/or highlighting a selected object on the
screen.
23. A computer system according to any one of claims 12 - 22, characterized in that the interface is arranged for depicting a name or symbol of a selected object on
a screen.
24. A computer system according to any one of claims 12 - 23, characterized in that the interface is arranged for depicting a button on a screen for selecting a different
screen to be depicted.
25. A computer system according to any one of claims 12 - 24, characterized in that the interface is arranged for depicting a button on the second screen for selecting
the first screen in order that the first screen is depicted.
26. A computer system according to claim 19, characterized in that the depicted enlarged buttons are depicted in a string.
27. A computer system according to any one of claims 12 - 26, characterized in that the interface is arranged for depicting on at least one of the screens a blank vote
button, a correct button for returning to a previous situation and/or arrow buttons.
28. A computer system according to any one of claims 12 - 27, characterized in that the first sub-set comprises all lists or parties and a first sub-set of the number
of candidates.
29. A computer system according to any one of claims 12 - 28, characterized in that the second sub-set comprises all lists or parties and a second sub-set of the number
of candidates.
30. A computer system according to any one of the preceding claims 21 - 29, characterized in that the first sub-set differs from the second sub-set.
31. A computer system according to any one of the preceding claims 12 - 30, characterized in that the interface concerns the interface of any one of claims 1 - 11.