Why electoral data should be open - a reuser's perspective

Niels Erik Kaaber Rasmussen, OKFN-DKePSI Webinar on Open Electoral Data - 11th April 2014

Why open data?

Participation & engagement

Social & commercial value

Transparency

The single most important data set of a representative democracy is the election result

Open electoral data is essentialfor any (modern) democracy

• The electoral process lies at the very heart of representative democracy

• Elections shall be free, fair and transparent

• Open electoral data is a prerequisite to electoral transparency and thereby democratic integrity

Use of electoral data

Use of electoral data

• Media reporting• Poltical campaigns• Increasing voter turn out• Avoid corruption and fraud• Research• Democratic engagement

Infographics

Using electoral data to look for irregularities and possible fraud

Barriers

• Availability • Juridical• Economic• Technical• Timing