Internet Voting

What is Internet Voting?What is Internet Voting?

Internet voting isInternet voting is: an election process : an election process whereby people can cast their votes over whereby people can cast their votes over the Internet, most likely through a web the Internet, most likely through a web browser, from the comfort of their home, or browser, from the comfort of their home, or possibly any other location where they can possibly any other location where they can get Internet access get Internet access

The 2 types of internet voting:The 2 types of internet voting:

1. 1. internet voting at traditional polling sitesinternet voting at traditional polling sites– Computers that have sufficient security, are Computers that have sufficient security, are

then connected to the internetthen connected to the internet– This would speed the tabulation and reporting of This would speed the tabulation and reporting of

votesvotes– Election officials would remain at the voting Election officials would remain at the voting

sitessites Some supporters of internet voting say this type of Some supporters of internet voting say this type of

balloting undermines a main benefit of the internet balloting undermines a main benefit of the internet voting which is the ability to vote from anywhere.voting which is the ability to vote from anywhere.

2. 2. Internet voting from any location:Internet voting from any location:– Voters could cast ballots from anywhere, Voters could cast ballots from anywhere,

including their own homes.including their own homes.– Because no election officials would be present, Because no election officials would be present,

this type of voting would require a new way to this type of voting would require a new way to ensure each voters identityensure each voters identity This type of internet voting would probably be used in This type of internet voting would probably be used in

addition to voting at traditional polling sites as addition to voting at traditional polling sites as opposed to as a replacement.opposed to as a replacement.

Electronic votingElectronic voting

– This type of voting in no way uses the internet. This type of voting in no way uses the internet. – You simply replace voting machines and paper You simply replace voting machines and paper

ballots with computers.ballots with computers.– Election officials would still be present at voting sites Election officials would still be present at voting sites

to prevent voter fraud.to prevent voter fraud.– The key benefit of this type of voting would be an The key benefit of this type of voting would be an

end to the paper ballot problems.end to the paper ballot problems. For example, the kind that plagued Florida in the 2000 For example, the kind that plagued Florida in the 2000

electionselections

How does Internet Voting Actually How does Internet Voting Actually work?work?

The Positive Side of Internet The Positive Side of Internet votingvoting

How would internet voting help How would internet voting help people?people?

It has worked before…It has worked before…

France 2003France 2003– French citizens living in the United States used French citizens living in the United States used

internet voting to elect their representatives to internet voting to elect their representatives to the Assembly of French Citizens.the Assembly of French Citizens.

– Over 60% of voters chose to use internet voting Over 60% of voters chose to use internet voting over paper.over paper.

– The occurrence was deemed a success and The occurrence was deemed a success and recommended for future use.recommended for future use.

Other countries planning to take Other countries planning to take advantage of internet votingadvantage of internet voting

Netherlands: in the parliamentary elections Netherlands: in the parliamentary elections of 2007 people will be using the RIES of 2007 people will be using the RIES internet voting system in order to cast their internet voting system in order to cast their votes.votes.

Switzerland: several cantons have been Switzerland: several cantons have been developing and attempting to use internet developing and attempting to use internet voting systems.voting systems.

Progress…Progress…

EU Cyber-vote ProjectEU Cyber-vote Project– In 2000 the European Commission launched In 2000 the European Commission launched

the Cyber-Vote projectthe Cyber-Vote project– The aim of the project is to demonstrate “fully The aim of the project is to demonstrate “fully

verifiable online elections guaranteeing absolute verifiable online elections guaranteeing absolute privacy of the votes and using fixed mobile privacy of the votes and using fixed mobile internet terminals”internet terminals”

– Trials have been performed in Sweden, France, Trials have been performed in Sweden, France, and Germanyand Germany

Positives of Internet VotingPositives of Internet Voting

Attract a younger generation of votersAttract a younger generation of voters Make absentee ballots much easier to Make absentee ballots much easier to

submitsubmit Would save money in the long runWould save money in the long run Faster and more accurate counting of votesFaster and more accurate counting of votes Much more convenient for votersMuch more convenient for voters

– Will increase voter numbersWill increase voter numbers

More positives…More positives… Makes voting easier for those who do not speak Makes voting easier for those who do not speak

EnglishEnglish Will allow voters will disabilities to more easily cast Will allow voters will disabilities to more easily cast

their votestheir votes Would help make voting easier for the elderlyWould help make voting easier for the elderly It would be easier for those in remote locations to It would be easier for those in remote locations to

vote, for example places in Alaska or the vote, for example places in Alaska or the mountainsmountains

Members of the military or anyone overseas could Members of the military or anyone overseas could easily cast their voteseasily cast their votes

More positives…More positives…

Would allow those with unexpected Would allow those with unexpected circumstances to cast their votes, such as circumstances to cast their votes, such as sudden business trips, or lack of sudden business trips, or lack of transportation. transportation.

Here is a small sample of how Here is a small sample of how internet voting can go wrong…internet voting can go wrong…

internet voting clipinternet voting clip

Problems with Internet Voting

• DiscriminationDiscriminationMinorities and the elderlyMinorities and the elderly

• Security Security viruses, trojans, identity theft, hackersviruses, trojans, identity theft, hackers

Problems continued…Problems continued…

• System Administrator AttacksSystem Administrator Attacks

• CoercionCoercionvoting from home, or any other placevoting from home, or any other place

• PrivacyPrivacySolicitationSolicitationPaper Trail Paper Trail

Problems continued…Problems continued…

• Vote sellingVote selling

• Vote registrationVote registrationwho will pay?who will pay?

• TrustTrust

Most significant risk?Most significant risk?

Denial of ServiceDenial of Service

Examples of internet voting Examples of internet voting problemsproblems

• In 2000, Arizona became the first state to try online In 2000, Arizona became the first state to try online voting during primary elections. Several thousand voting during primary elections. Several thousand voters tried to participate, but a series of Y2K-voters tried to participate, but a series of Y2K-related glitches interfered on its first dayrelated glitches interfered on its first day

• Switzerland was another country that tried to Switzerland was another country that tried to implement internet voting. Officials there found that implement internet voting. Officials there found that the most popular method of voting was still postal the most popular method of voting was still postal ballots and more that 90 percent used that method ballots and more that 90 percent used that method over internet voting. over internet voting.

What now?What now?– For now, the long term implications of internet voting for For now, the long term implications of internet voting for

democracy is uncleardemocracy is unclear– Until security measures can be put in place to prevent Until security measures can be put in place to prevent

fraud, it is unlikely that internet voting will be widely fraud, it is unlikely that internet voting will be widely accepted.accepted.

– Experiments in internet voting will continue for the next Experiments in internet voting will continue for the next several years as officials at all levels of government several years as officials at all levels of government familiarize themselves with the important issues familiarize themselves with the important issues involved in internet voting.involved in internet voting.

– As experimentation continues, election officials may As experimentation continues, election officials may grow more confident in and more willing to adopt grow more confident in and more willing to adopt internet votinginternet voting

How does this apply to you?How does this apply to you? ““The future of our country, and the free world for The future of our country, and the free world for

that matter, rests on public confidence that the that matter, rests on public confidence that the people have the power to elect their own people have the power to elect their own government. Any process that has the potential to government. Any process that has the potential to threaten the integrity of the system, or even the threaten the integrity of the system, or even the perceived integrity of the system, should be perceived integrity of the system, should be treated with the utmost caution and suspicion” treated with the utmost caution and suspicion” (Rubin).(Rubin).

The Bottom-line: more advanced technology = more The Bottom-line: more advanced technology = more secure internet votingsecure internet voting