I was wondering (as I do 24/7) what tech innovations do you think could improve trust, in systems, like elections?
Bruce Schneier is very good on democracy and technology. His posts tagged “voting” are found here - here’s a recent relevant one:
I’m inclined to think that compulsory voting, such as Australia has, is a good idea: everyone will vote, so the numbers of people are predictable, and any attempt to stop people voting will be visible. Anyone who so chooses can spoil their paper, so it’s not as draconian as it might seem. Harassment and undue influence are presumably reduced, if the act of voting is private. One would want the usual sensible civil processes for collecting and counting votes, with independent and all-party observers.
In fact, I think there’s a trend in proposals to use less by way of technology and more by way of traditional systems. He has a single page article Voting Security and Technology and one of his blog posts is also a Guardian article:
Flame retardant ballot papers.
Also, instead of cable ties on ballot boxes, electronic number sequence generators, as used on backs of lorries. So you can immediately tell if the box has been opened between the polling station and the counting room.
A data logger with light sensor, and lid opening sensor, accelerometers etc to ensure the lid was not opened in transit.
In the packaging business, I gather there’s a distinction between tamper-evident and tamper-proof.
If we want everyone’s legitimate vote to be counted, we do need a certain level of civic peace and mutual understanding: if a mob can surround a polling station, that’s not good for voting.
As is often the case, then, there’s a technical problem, and a human problem too.
Thank you for your feedback. I was thinking more, military grade encryption, as I’m sure (judging from previous world wide elections) the boxes still won’t be 100% secure.
Thanks for feedback. In my humble opinion, some people are less concerned with fairness or transparency, and more focused on ‘winning’.
I like the Australian system, but will a certain party in America?