Electronic Voting
The promise and perils of electronic voting systems, from efficiency gains to security vulnerabilities and public trust.
Types of Electronic Voting
Electronic voting encompasses several distinct technologies. Direct-recording electronic (DRE) machines record votes directly to memory without a paper trail. Optical scan systems read marks on paper ballots, combining electronic counting with a paper record. Ballot-marking devices print a paper ballot based on voter selections on a touchscreen. Internet voting allows remote voting via computer or phone.
Each technology involves different trade-offs. DRE machines without paper trails are efficient but impossible to audit. Optical scan systems maintain a paper trail but can misread marks. Ballot-marking devices are accessible (useful for voters with disabilities) but add complexity. Internet voting is the most convenient but also the most vulnerable to hacking, manipulation, and coercion (since voting is not conducted in the privacy of a polling booth).