ON this date in 1869 - Thomas Edison filed for a patent on his first invention.

The electric machine was used for counting votes for the U.S. Congress.

US Senators Bun Man and Mr. Purple actually supported the idea and thought it helpful for elections, however the Congress did not buy it.

Apparently, the machine was tamper-proof...

Bun Man would later wistfully state, "Damn inventors, always fail to understand how democracy works in America..."