E-Voting Advantages and Disadvantages
Electronic voting, or e-voting, has been implemented in various forms worldwide to streamline the voting process and increase voter turnout. However, e-voting systems also have risks and vulnerabilities that must be mitigated.
Read on to learn What is e-voting, including its primary advantages, such as improved accessibility and faster results, as well as significant disadvantages, like security issues, transparency concerns, and implementation costs.
What is E-Voting?
E-voting refers to casting ballots and tabulating election results using computerised systems, interfaces and networks instead of paper ballots and manual counting. It encompasses various electronic ways for voters to express their choices. Specialised digital machines replace traditional paper materials and manual procedures at in-person voting centres. Voters enter their selections on touchscreens, keypads or other accessible devices.
Their choices are stored digitally, providing instant unofficial totals after polls close. Many systems also enable remote voting via internet portals, allowing deployed military, travellers, disabled voters and ex-pats to participate from any location with web access. Voters confirm their identity electronically and submit encrypted digital ballots through secured government websites or mobile apps.
Cryptography, blockchain encryption, and transmission security aim to ensure the integrity and secrecy of remote e-voting. However, cybersecurity experts caution that e-voting also introduces new threats. Technical vulnerabilities could enable unauthorised manipulation of outcomes if suitable safeguards surrounding identity, security, transparency, and auditing are not in place; ongoing innovation attempts to balance these risks with the significant conveniences and technology accessibility.
Advantages of E-Voting
E-voting provides several benefits through improved accessibility as the following:
1. Improved Accessibility and Convenience
E-voting systems are designed to make voting more accessible and convenient for voters. E-voting stations can be located in public spaces to increase accessibility for those without transportation.
Remote voting via telephone or the internet makes participating easier for deployed military and overseas voters. Voters with disabilities can cast their votes independently using adapted interfaces. Overall, e-voting provides an intuitive process without needing manuals or complicated instructions.
2. Increased Voter Turnout
E-voting encourages higher voter turnout by improving accessibility and removing barriers. Early studies of some e-voting systems have shown substantial increases in turnout compared to traditional methods; higher turnout results in better representation of the overall electorate.
E-voting is also likely to facilitate participation from young voters and historically disenfranchised groups. Ultimately, this increased convenience and accessibility may boost motivation among eligible citizens who have previously chosen not to vote.
3. Faster Reporting of Results
E-voting systems can produce unofficial results almost immediately after polls close. Optical scan systems quickly tally results once paper ballots are scanned. DRE voting machines immediately calculate totals from votes stored electronically.
By rapidly providing accurate initial totals, e-voting speeds up the certification of official winners and increases public confidence in the process.
4. Cost Efficiencies and Savings
Studies have found that transitioning to e-voting systems can save taxpayers long-term money in several areas. E-voting reduces the demand for printing and transporting traditional paper ballots.
Storage space and manual vote-counting labour costs are also significantly lowered. In addition, e-voting enables the consolidation of polling locations due to remote voting accessibility while increasing overall voter participation.
Disadvantages of E-Voting
While e-voting does provide significant benefits, some of the following disadvantages and challenges must be considered:
1. Security Vulnerabilities and Voter Fraud Risks
E-voting systems introduce potential security issues and vulnerabilities surrounding voter fraud. Hacking of systems could enable vote manipulation, entirely disabling election systems.
Software glitches or crashes also present risks, potentially leading to massive vote miscounts. Furthermore, the need for paper trails with some DRE systems eliminates the possibility of audits or recounts.
2. Technological Barriers for Some Voters
Reliance on modern technology in e-voting presents obstacles for certain groups of voters. Low-income citizens may need more computer literacy skills or home internet access to participate.
Connectivity issues or power outages on election day could temporarily make e-voting systems unavailable. Additionally, some older voters may need more support with unfamiliar technology or help with usability.
3. Transparency Issues
The proprietary source code and complexity of some e-voting platforms reduce the overall transparency of the voting process. Most systems make it impossible for the average voter to verify independently that their vote was recorded accurately.
This means the public must have near-complete trust in private technology contractors' and election officials' competence and ethics.
4. Substantial Implementation Costs
Transitioning to e-voting represents a sizeable upfront public investment for governments and taxpayers. Purchasing custom-programmed equipment and software systems requires significant capital costs.
After implementation, ongoing expenses for IT support, cybersecurity, system upgrades, and machine electricity usage accumulate accumulate. Integrating different e-voting systems from state to state also reduces cost efficiencies.
Future Prospects for E-Voting
While widespread implementation faces challenges, the targeted use of e-voting systems continues to expand across different countries. Ongoing improvements in security, transparency and accessibility will impact future directions of e-voting:
Future systems focus on better ways voters can verify that their choices were recorded correctly without compromising secrecy. Cryptographic voting protocols allow votes to be publicly verified on an electronic bulletin board. Emerging technologies incorporate receipts or unique voter codes to confirm choices online.
Some advocates propose open-source, publicly-owned e-voting systems to increase transparency and trust. The software code would be accessible for public inspection and auditing. Removing corporate interests could reduce security concerns over proprietary systems. However, open source does not guarantee reliability or make systems impervious to tampering.
Blockchain technology shows promise for securing online voting due to its decentralised nature and cryptographic protections. Transactions stored on distributed ledgers across multiple nodes would prevent centralised hacking or denial-of-service attacks. For example, Switzerland recently piloted a blockchain voting system. However, immature blockchain infrastructure, identity verification issues, and lack of accessibility remain obstacles.
Conclusion
E-voting facilitates accessibility and participation but also introduces complex technological challenges surrounding security and transparency. Refinements to existing tools and emerging innovations show promise for mitigating risks as e-voting evolves. No system is without flaws, but ongoing progress towards building robust models - supported by institutional oversight and voter education; can allow e-voting to strengthen democratic elections around the world responsibly.
FAQs
What is e-voting, and how does it differ from traditional voting?
E-voting utilises electronic systems and interfaces instead of paper ballots to cast and count votes. Voters can submit ballots remotely via the Internet or on-site with machines.
How does e-voting improve accessibility for voters?
E-voting provides more flexible options for those with disabilities and facilitates participation for overseas military voters through remote internet voting.
What security measures are in place to protect e-voting systems?
Security measures include encryption, blockchain technologies, machine learning anomaly detection, and risk-limiting audits, but vulnerabilities persist.
How can technical issues with e-voting be addressed?
Technical issues can be reduced through expanded use of paper audit trails, open source systems for transparency, advanced encryption methods, and uniform cybersecurity standards.
Have there been any successful case studies on e-voting?
Estonia's nationwide internet voting system has enabled over 30% of voters to participate online, and Switzerland has successfully piloted blockchain-based voting.
Can e-voting save costs in the long run?
While initial investments are high, long-term savings relate to reducing paper ballot printing, transportation costs, storage demands, and manual labour for counts.
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