ICT IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS:
LESSONS LEARNED
Susanne Caarls
International Electoral Affairs Symposium
30-31 May 2012
Content
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Registration process
Voting process
Counting process
Current discussions
Trends
Lessons learned
Registration process
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Periodic list
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Continuous list
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Civil Registry
Registration process
Latest developments
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Biometric features
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Online registration
E-voting process
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Direct Recording
Machines
E-voting process
Case study: Brazil
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voters – 130,604,430
85.47% turnout
DRE’s – 455,971,
managed by 13,000 IT
technicians
Electoral precincts –
3,105
polling stations –
400,588
workers at the polling
stations – 1,665,816
Case Study: Brazil
An electronic voting machine is made up of a micro
terminal and a voting terminal. In the micro
terminal, voters are identified through their voting
card numbers. Voters cast their ballots in the voting
terminal.
Case Study: Brazil
At 7:00 a.m. on
election day, work
begins with the
printing of a report
referred to as
“zerésima”.
Case Study: Brazil
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When voters input their
information, the machine
will display the offices for
which the election is being
held, prompting voters to
type the number of the
candidate of their choice
After the appropriate
number is typed, the
machine will display the
name, photograph and
party or coalition of the
candidate of choice
Then confirmation by
pushing the green button
Case Study: the
Netherlands
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The population register
is taken as the basis
for compiling the
polling lists.
Turnout in 2010
Parliament elections:
75,3% (2006 80,4)
(9,5 million voters)
Over 88% internet
users
Case study- The
Netherlands
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+97% of the
population
voted electronically
Also experiments
with internet voting
Case study: the
Netherlands
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Electronic voting is
black box voting
Voting machine
could be hacked in 1
minute
Lack in transparency
Secrecy of the vote
in jeopardy
Case Study: the
Netherlands
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Back to paper ballot
voting
Problems:
– Family voting
– Problems with
counting
– Re-counts
Case Study: Estonia
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Voters are registered in
the Estonian population
register and the
population register is
taken as the basis for
compiling the polling
lists.
Around 1 million
eligible voters
63% uses internet
86% declares income
tax through the
internet
Over 80% has an
electronic ID card
Case Study: Estonia
Electronic ID card is used to identify the voter
Case Study: Estonia
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Voters can vote multiple times
Voters can vote via the internet during
the advance voting period
A voter may change his/her electronic
vote
The vote which will be counted is the
last vote
Counting
Scanning of ballot papers
Discussions
Voter Verified Paper Audit
Trail
Discussions
End-to-end verification
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End-to end verification:
voters would after casting his/her vote,
receive a 12-digit number and use it after
the election, via a website, to check that the
vote has been counted.
Discussion: content of the vote.
Discussions
reversible vote
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Reversible vote:
– The voter may vote via the internet as
many times as he/she wishes
– As above, with the added possibility of
the voter going to a polling station (on
Election Day).
Trends
Registration process
1. Use of biometric features in emerging
democracies
 E-voting
2. Use of DRE’s is on the rise, except in
Europe
3. In Europe internet voting is on the
rise
Possible new trend: use of scanning
devices
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Lessons learned 1- trust
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Trust is needed
Explain reasons
Be transparent
Observers and
media need
access
Lessons learned 2- time
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Organise and plan well ahead
Sufficient time is needed for testing
and certification
Lessons learned 3procedural and legal
matters
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E-voting is not only about technology
Procedures and legislation need to be
in place.
Lessons learned 4- use
information out there
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From other countries
Council of Europe:
– Recommendation on legal, operational and
technical aspects of e-voting
– Guidelines on certification and transparency
– E-voting Handbook
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OSCE/ODIHR election assessment reports
IFES
Lessons Learned 5- Election
Commission needs to be in
the driving seat
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Members of Elections Commissions are
sometimes too dependent on others.
Conclusion
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Trust
Time
Procedural and legal matters
Use information out there
You need to be in the driving seat!