The Future of Digital Democracy

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The Future of Digital Democracy

• Adam Grostefon

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Center for Digital Democracy

• www.democraticmedia.org

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The Move to Digital Voting

• Are digital voting systems better?
• In 2000, experts believe cons outweigh pros
• expensive, no paper for revote, other flaws
• However, has the Internet helped spur interest?
• 20 in 2000 vs. 4 in 1996
• BUT, 54 was due to users exchanging jokes
• No established online voting system in the United
  Statesyet.
• Why?

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Why?

• Reasons
• Secure hacker-proof
• Accountable ballot-takers need to identify you
• Fail-Safe what if digital signature or PIN is
  lost?
• Available overcome the digital divide
• Legal each state must comply
• Print is the democratic medium. Maurice Line

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New steps

• BUT
• Accenture (world leading management consulting
  and technology services company) and election.com
  (global election software and service provider)
  are building efficient voter systems already
  established in Arkansas, Minnesota, and now
  Pennsylvania
• Using Election Systems Manager software
• Still not onlineyet.

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What if?

• How would it work?
• Image Source
• Votehere.net

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Old Method
Traditional Voting - Concept Diagram
Stage 1 Voting Preliminaries
Mail / In person Registration
Stage 2 Voting Process
Election System
Mail Confirmation
Flag voter
1. Visit polling station and confirm identity
Database
Voting station manned by election officials
2. Election official issues voting form
Stage 3 Post Voting
Counting stations
Tabulation and election analysis
3. Cast vote in booth
Ballot boxes
Archival system
Source An Overview of On-Line Voting Systems
and IssuesTurner et al., Stern School of
Business, New York University, Mar. 2001
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Online Method
Internet Voting - Concept Diagram
Stage 1 Voting Preliminaries
Registration
Stage 2 Voting Process
Election System
Confirmation and issue of PIN
Flag voter
1. Request ballot
Central database
2. Issue voting form
Stage 3 Post Voting
Vote Server and Validation System
3. Send vote (encrypted)
Canvas system
4. Confirmation
Tabulation and election analysis
Anonymous vote
County System
Archival system
Source An Overview of On-Line Voting Systems
and IssuesTurner et al., Stern School of
Business, New York University, Mar. 2001
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Wait a minute! Not yet?

• Arizona
• March primary 2000
• First legal binding election
• 14,000 Democrats voted in one day more than all
  of 1996 primary
• Y2K bugs
• Concerns for low-income neighborhoods and security

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First legally binding online electionDemocratic
Presidential Primary in Arizona (March 2000)
Final Tabulation Tally of electronic
manual votes to declare winner
PIN / Voter Certificate sent by mail
AT POLL SITE
Central Server ensures flagging of voters PIN
after any one method of voting
Registered Democrats
Option 1
Manual ballot
Onsite Registration and onsite i-voting
Option 2
Remote i-voting
Step 1 Enter PIN and two pieces of unique
identification Step 2 Authentication
and verification by central server Step 3
Casting of vote and confirmation
Option 3
Source An Overview of On-Line Voting Systems
and IssuesTurner et al., Stern School of
Business, New York University, Mar. 2001
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What has been learned

• Poll site internet voting has benefits
• Remote internet voting should not be used until
  issues have been addressed
• Online registration should not be achieved in the
  future

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What to expect

• Touch screen e-voting machines
• 2004 Election
• Security issues still a concern
• Minority gap a concern
• Privacy a concern (disconnecting voter identity
  from ballot)