Electronic VotingElectronic Voting

Centre for Computing and Social Responsibility

www.ccsr.cse.dmu.ac.uk

For more information about CCSR why not visit our website

Triumph of technology over common senseLocal press Stratford on Avon

Euro vote may mark end for polling boothsDaily Telegraph

No excitement in e-voteThe Times

Ministers shun fear over votes on the NetThe Times

A growing political agendaA growing political agenda

CCSR’s report CCSR’s report to to

GovernmentGovernment

Location Authenticate Interface Conduit Collecting/

Processing

Work CD Rom PC Internet Regional

Polling Station

Polling Official

Electronic Voting

Machine

Physical Transfer

Local

Home Biometrics WAP / 3G FCO Network National

Public Space Password / PIN

Voice Phone Telephone

Smartcard Lottery Ticket Lottery Network

Digital TV Cable

ATM ATM Network

136 Combinations136 Combinations3 Examples3 Examples

There are five elements to electronic voting

Scenario 1: Workplace, CD-Rom, personal computer

OK?

Work place computer

Put CD-Rom and floppy disk

in computer

Computer turns itself off and

back on

Written warningabout misuse

stopno yes

The voter is sent a CD-Rom and a floppy disk to their home. They put them in a computer at work to access the voting system. The computer turns itself off and back on, and instead of loading Windows, loads the voting program.

Electronic voting screen

When finished, computer turns itself off and back on again

When the voter has finished, the computer turns itself off and back on, and loads Windows, like at the start of the day.

Scenario 2: Home, smart card, digital television

OK?

Home

Switch ondigital television

InsertSMART card

Verbal warningabout misuse

stopno yes

The voter accesses the voting system via their digital television at home. After inserting a voting Smart Card, received through the post, a verbal warning is given concerning misuse of this card. The voter proceeds to the voting screen to cast a vote.

Electronic voting screen

Scenario 3: Public space, biometric, ATM

OK?

Public SpaceInsert voting card

then chooselanguage

stopno yes

The voter accesses the voting system via an ATM/cash machine. After inserting a widely available voting card, and choosing a language, the voter is identified using a retinal scan. The voter proceeds to the voting screen to cast a vote.

Retinal scan

Electronic voting screen

ATM

Who are the stakeholders of electronic voting?Who are the stakeholders of electronic voting?

Citizens as voters

Suppliers of technological elements

System developers

Those seeking election

Local Government

Central Government

Minority groups: overseas, political, disabilities, detainees, ethnicity, linguistic, socio-economic, rural

From one of these stakeholder perspectives can you think of any ethical concerns you have about

electronic voting?

Citizens as voters

Suppliers of technological elements

System developers

Those seeking election

Local Government

Central Government

Minority groups: overseas, political, disabilities, detainees, ethnicity, linguistic, socio-economic, rural

Concerns with electronic votingConcerns with electronic voting

Individual

System

Context

Outcome

Data

SafetySafetyPrivacyPrivacy

CostCostAnonymityAnonymity

PerformancePerformanceUsabilityUsabilityAccessAccess

EnvironmentEnvironmentAttitudeAttitude

IntegrityIntegritySecuritySecurity

MisuseMisuseAuditAudit

Overriding issueOverriding issue

Individual

System

Context

Outcome

Data

SafetyPrivacyPrivacy

CostAnonymity

PerformanceUsabilityAccess

EnvironmentAttitude

IntegritySecuritySecurity

MisuseAudit

CONFIDENCECONFIDENCE

Barriers to implementationBarriers to implementation

• Security of the system

• Technological access for all citizens

• Voter capacity to use system

• Secrecy when voting

www.ragged-edge-mag.com/1100/davevote.htm