Election Technology
How technology is transforming elections, from biometric voter registration to real-time results transmission, and the risks involved.
Technology in the Electoral Cycle
Technology has transformed every stage of the electoral process. Biometric voter registration uses fingerprints or iris scans to create accurate voter rolls and prevent duplicate registration. Electronic poll books replace paper voter lists with tablets that can verify registration instantly. Results transmission systems allow real-time reporting from polling stations to central tabulation centers. Social media has become the primary arena for political campaigns.
Several countries lead in election technology adoption. Estonia's i-voting system, first used in a binding national election in 2005, allows citizens to vote online using their national ID card's digital signature. India's electronic voting machines (EVMs) are simple, self-contained devices that operate without network connections and have been used nationwide since the 2004 general election; since 2019 they are paired with a Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT). Kenya uses a biometric voter identification system and electronic results transmission.
