Electronic Voting - 8 Arguments for Its Implementation

Electronic Voting - 8 Arguments for Its Implementation Is internet-based electronic voting a significant step forward or backward? Opinions on the use of electronic voting are divided. Today, most of us still cast our votes through ballot boxes. Wouldn't it be more convenient if we could do it with a click of a mouse?

Electronic Voting - 8 Arguments for Its Implementation Is internet-based electronic voting a significant step forward or backward? Opinions on the use of electronic voting are divided. Today, most of us still cast our votes through ballot boxes. Wouldn't it be more convenient if we could do it with a click of a mouse?

Here are 8 common arguments in favor of electronic voting:

1: Voting is Easier Electronic voting allows you to vote from the comfort of your own home, while on vacation, or even in the middle of the night. You no longer need to make the tedious journey to a polling station or mailbox to send your ballot.

2: Advantage for Overseas Voters Citizens living abroad often receive information about elections too late and can no longer vote. Electronic voting would provide a more reliable process.

3: Increased Voter Turnout When there are fewer barriers to voting, theoretically, more citizens exercise their right to vote. Young people, who traditionally vote less frequently, might be more interested in having their voices heard through electronic voting.

4: Fewer Invalid Votes Electronic voting eliminates invalid votes due to errors on paper ballots. Voters often make mistakes when filling out and mailing paper ballots. In the last presidential election, for example, 66,000 voters scribbled on their ballots, rendering them invalid. This number increased in the runoff.

5: No System Is 100% Secure Regarding security concerns related to electronic voting, proponents argue that no system is 100% secure. There have been past cases of election fraud, such as stealing envelopes containing mailed ballots and then voting with forged signatures on behalf of the victims.

Voters with Disabilities and Electronic Voting Machines Touchscreen interfaces are the only system that allows voters with disabilities to cast their votes secretly and independently. Audio ballots and adaptive aids enable all these citizens to vote secretly and independently. Tens of millions of Americans can vote secretly and independently only if they use a touchscreen voting machine.

Once Cast, a Ballot Can't Be Forwarded Each ballot is intended for a specific voter. Once a ballot is opened, it can't be opened again later. By forwarding your ballot, it becomes inactive.

Vulnerability to Fraud Every form of paper ballot ever devised can generally be tampered with quite easily. The reason is that people are familiar with paper and its characteristics, how to mark it to make it look genuine, and how to erase it. In contrast, even experts cannot easily alter the redundant encrypted computer records written once. Therefore, assuming the electronic voting records are initially correctly written, the possibility of later alteration is slim.

If you also want to introduce electronic voting today, look for more information about the FairVotes electronic voting system on the FairVotes website.