Internet Voting & Safety Precautions

eHow
June 1, 2011

The Internet has revolutionized the way we communicate, do business and even bank. The next frontier is Internet voting, an innovation that many political scientists and technology experts believe will increase voter participation. As with most new technology, however, there are security issues to be addressed. For an institution as paramount and integral to democracy as elections, safety precautions to guard against voter fraud and vote theft must be perfected before this system can successfully be rolled out.

Security
Hackers can implement spyware in nearly every Internet application, through which they can access personal information and damage software. In the case of online voting, the primary concern is vote theft -- hackers have the potential to alter votes en masse and influence the outcomes of elections. Arizona tested a system that allowed voters to submit their ballots in PDF form via a secure website. Despite these precautions, advanced automated Internet bots were found to be able to infect vulnerable PCs and alter the submitted ballots.

Identity Verification
Some expect Internet voting to exacerbate the problem of voter fraud. The perceived anonymity of the Internet may encourage people to commit voter fraud to a greater degree than they would at a physical polling station. Casting multiple ballots and assuming multiple identities are possible threats to online voting security. Multiple PINs and passwords can be used to stuff the virtual ballot box. These incidents would be difficult to detect and regulate because the voter's name and ballot are separated to maintain anonymity in the online voting process.

Anonymity
Although a nationwide online voting system could prove a convenience for many Americans, online voting tends to be of concern to servicemen and women and citizens overseas. Americans stationed or living abroad often do not have enough time to return absentee ballots. Although an Internet system would provide them the means to vote without the time constraints of mail, the security threats of online voting are especially hazardous to military personnel, where soldiers could be reprimanded or pressured by officers for their choice of candidate were it to become known.

Other Concerns
Security issues aside, the future of Internet voting concerns voting rights activists. Physical polling stations may eventually be replaced by an exclusively online system, disenfranchising the poor, elderly, uneducated and other groups. People without access to or knowledge of the Internet would be unable to cast their ballots without assistance, further compromising the Internet voting system.

References
Wired: Is Internet Voting Safe?; Kevin Poulsen; June 4, 2009
The Vancouver Sun: Online Voting: An Open Invitation to Voter Fraud; Christian Worthington; May 10, 2011
The New York Times: Internet Voting, Still in Beta; Editorial; January 28, 2010

Resources
USA Today: E-mail, Fax Voting Widely Available; Richard Wolf; October 26, 2010