ICT IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS:ICT IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS:LESSONS LEARNEDLESSONS LEARNED

Susanne CaarlsSusanne CaarlsInternational Electoral Affairs International Electoral Affairs SymposiumSymposium30-31 May 201230-31 May 2012

ContentContent

Registration processRegistration process Voting processVoting process Counting processCounting process Current discussionsCurrent discussions TrendsTrends Lessons learnedLessons learned

Registration processRegistration process

Periodic listPeriodic list

Continuous listContinuous list

Civil RegistryCivil Registry

Registration processRegistration process

Latest Latest developmentsdevelopments

Biometric Biometric featuresfeatures

Online Online registration registration

E-voting processE-voting process

Direct Recording Direct Recording MachinesMachines

E-voting processE-voting process

Case study: BrazilCase study: Brazil

voters – 130,604,430 voters – 130,604,430 85.47% turnout85.47% turnout

DRE’s – 455,971, DRE’s – 455,971, managed by 13,000 managed by 13,000 IT techniciansIT technicians

Electoral precincts – Electoral precincts – 3,1053,105

polling stations – polling stations – 400,588400,588

workers at the workers at the polling stations – polling stations – 1,665,8161,665,816

Case Study: BrazilCase Study: Brazil

An electronic voting machine is made up of a An electronic voting machine is made up of a micro terminal and a voting terminal. In the micro terminal and a voting terminal. In the micro terminal, voters are identified through micro terminal, voters are identified through their voting card numbers. Voters cast their their voting card numbers. Voters cast their ballots in the voting terminal.ballots in the voting terminal.

Case Study: BrazilCase Study: Brazil

At 7:00 a.m. on At 7:00 a.m. on election day, election day, work begins with work begins with the printing of a the printing of a report referred to report referred to as “as “zerésimazerésima”. ”.

Case Study: BrazilCase Study: Brazil When voters input their When voters input their

information, the machine information, the machine will display the offices for will display the offices for which the election is being which the election is being held, prompting voters to held, prompting voters to type the number of the type the number of the candidate of their choicecandidate of their choice

After the appropriate After the appropriate number is typed, the number is typed, the machine will display the machine will display the name, photograph and party name, photograph and party or coalition of the candidate or coalition of the candidate of choiceof choice

Then confirmation by Then confirmation by pushing the green buttonpushing the green button

Case Study: the Case Study: the NetherlandsNetherlands The population The population

register is taken as register is taken as the basis for the basis for compiling the polling compiling the polling lists.lists.

Turnout in 2010 Turnout in 2010 Parliament elections: Parliament elections: 75,3% (2006 80,4)75,3% (2006 80,4)

(9,5 million voters)(9,5 million voters) Over 88% internet Over 88% internet

usersusers

Case study- The Case study- The NetherlandsNetherlands +97% of the +97% of the

populationpopulation

voted voted electronicallyelectronically

Also experiments Also experiments with internet with internet votingvoting

Case study: the Case study: the NetherlandsNetherlands Electronic voting Electronic voting

is black box is black box votingvoting

Voting machine Voting machine could be hacked could be hacked in 1 minutein 1 minute

Lack in Lack in transparencytransparency

Secrecy of the Secrecy of the vote in jeopardyvote in jeopardy

Case Study: the Case Study: the NetherlandsNetherlands

Back to paper Back to paper ballot votingballot voting

Problems: Problems: – Family votingFamily voting– Problems with Problems with

countingcounting– Re-countsRe-counts

Case Study: EstoniaCase Study: Estonia

Voters are registered in Voters are registered in the Estonian population the Estonian population register and the register and the population register is population register is taken as the basis for taken as the basis for compiling the polling compiling the polling lists.lists.

Around 1 million eligible Around 1 million eligible votersvoters

63% uses internet63% uses internet 86% declares income 86% declares income

tax through the internettax through the internet Over 80% has an Over 80% has an

electronic ID cardelectronic ID card

Case Study: EstoniaCase Study: Estonia

Electronic ID card is used to identify the Electronic ID card is used to identify the votervoter

Case Study: EstoniaCase Study: Estonia

Voters can vote multiple timesVoters can vote multiple times Voters can vote via the internet Voters can vote via the internet

during the advance voting periodduring the advance voting period A voter may change his/her A voter may change his/her

electronic vote electronic vote The vote which will be counted is The vote which will be counted is

the last vote the last vote

CountingCounting

Scanning of ballot papersScanning of ballot papers

DiscussionsDiscussionsVoter Verified Paper Voter Verified Paper Audit TrailAudit Trail

DiscussionsDiscussionsEnd-to-end verification End-to-end verification

End-to end verification: End-to end verification: voters would after casting his/her vote, voters would after casting his/her vote, receive a 12-digit number and use it receive a 12-digit number and use it after the election, via a website, to after the election, via a website, to check that the vote has been counted. check that the vote has been counted.

Discussion: content of the vote.Discussion: content of the vote.

DiscussionsDiscussionsreversible votereversible vote Reversible vote:Reversible vote:

– The voter may vote via the internet The voter may vote via the internet as many times as he/she wishesas many times as he/she wishes

– As above, with the added possibility As above, with the added possibility of the voter going to a polling of the voter going to a polling station (on Election Day). station (on Election Day).

TrendsTrends Registration processRegistration process1. Use of biometric features in emerging 1. Use of biometric features in emerging

democraciesdemocracies E-votingE-voting2. Use of DRE’s is on the rise, except in 2. Use of DRE’s is on the rise, except in

EuropeEurope3. In Europe internet voting is on the rise3. In Europe internet voting is on the risePossible new trend: use of scanning Possible new trend: use of scanning

devicesdevices

Lessons learned 1- trustLessons learned 1- trust

Trust is Trust is neededneeded

Explain Explain reasonsreasons

Be Be transparenttransparent

Observers Observers and media and media need accessneed access

Lessons learned 2- Lessons learned 2- timetime Organise and plan well aheadOrganise and plan well ahead Sufficient time is needed for Sufficient time is needed for

testing and certificationtesting and certification

Lessons learned 3- Lessons learned 3- procedural and legal procedural and legal mattersmatters E-voting is not only about E-voting is not only about

technologytechnology Procedures and legislation need Procedures and legislation need

to be in place.to be in place.

Lessons learned 4- use Lessons learned 4- use information out thereinformation out there From other countriesFrom other countries Council of Europe:Council of Europe:

– Recommendation on legal, operational and Recommendation on legal, operational and technical aspects of e-votingtechnical aspects of e-voting

– Guidelines on certification and transparencyGuidelines on certification and transparency– E-voting HandbookE-voting Handbook

OSCE/ODIHR election assessment reportsOSCE/ODIHR election assessment reports IFESIFES

Lessons Learned 5- Lessons Learned 5- Election Commission Election Commission needs to be in the needs to be in the driving seatdriving seat

Members of Elections Members of Elections Commissions are sometimes too Commissions are sometimes too dependent on others. dependent on others.

ConclusionConclusion

TrustTrust TimeTime Procedural and legal mattersProcedural and legal matters Use information out thereUse information out there You need to be in the driving seat!You need to be in the driving seat!