var request = false;
   try {
     request = new XMLHttpRequest();
   } catch (trymicrosoft) {
     try {
       request = new ActiveXObject("Msxml2.XMLHTTP");
     } catch (othermicrosoft) {
       try {
         request = new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP");
       } catch (failed) {
         request = false;
       }  
     }
   }

   if (!request)
     alert("Error initializing XMLHttpRequest!");

   function start() {
     var url = "/cgi-bin/vote.pl";
     request.open("GET", url, true);
     request.onreadystatechange = updatePage;
     request.send(null);

   }

   function updatePage() {
     if (request.readyState == 4)
{
     document.getElementById('result').innerHTML = request.responseText;
}
   }