Estonians Vote in First Online Election
“Estonia Claims New E-voting First”
By: BBC News
March 1, 2007
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In a move that might show the future of elections, 30,000 Estonians recently voted online to decide parliamentary elections.  One in thirty Estonians voted in this manner, three days prior to the normal Election Day when a paper-ballot method was used at polling stations.  Several countries, including Estonia, have tried online voting in smaller areas and municipal elections but Estonia is the first country to hold a nation-wide parliamentary election in this manner. 

Typically, if a country wants to have an online vote “people use online machines in polling stations or register to get an e-vote password.”  However, E-voting machines often raise fears about the security and validity of the votes.  Estonian officials argue that their process is safer than E-voting machines because they use electronic identity cards that are issued to Estonians.  These electronic identity cards have microchips and PIN numbers to protect identity and maintain security.  Subsequently, the voting process was relatively easy and safe for Estonians: they used their electronic identity cards and an electronic card reader to log onto a personal computer and then voted. 

Thus far, there have been no charges of fraud or mismanagement leveled against the online voting system in Estonia nor have opposition groups contested the election results. This successful method may serve as a model for countries looking to digitalize the election process.

For more on the Estonian process and electronic voting,:
http://www.nature.com/news/2007/070305/full/070305-1.html
http://www.wired.com/news/politics/evote/0,72846-0.html?tw=wn_politics_1
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/02/22/business/evote.php

Questions:

CCD is interested in the opinion of our readers, especially on unfolding events in our field.  In the recent parliamentary elections in Estonia more than 30,000 people, about three percent of the population, successfully voted online.  Online voting and E-voting machines are already used in smaller elections in many countries but may be adopted more and more. What do you think?

1. Do you think Estonia’s successful experience with online voting will have an impact on other countries?
2. What additional safeguards, if any, do you think are needed before internet voting and E-voting machines can be used prevalently? Should these methods be used at all?
3. Are electronic identification cards, like the ones used in Estonia, the best way to prevent online and E-voting machine fraud?
4. Can internet voting only be used in modernized countries? Is there a way it can be extended to all countries which want to use it?