How Technology Is Changing the Way We Vote
Voting is the cornerstone of democracy, enabling citizens to choose their leaders and shape policies. The voting procedures have developed over the years, and now technology contributes significantly to making elections much more accessible, secure, as well as efficient. Whether it architecture of secure EVMs, or online voter registration, or server-less architecture with blockchain-based voting — All these technologies are changing the way of how voters vote.
But while these innovations are associated with benefits — like faster vote tabulation, greater voter turnout and increased election security — concerns over cybersecurity, the digital divide and election integrity abound as well.
This article will examine how technology is transforming voting, the benefits and challenges associated with it, and what the future of voting may look like in the digital age.
How Voting Technology Has Evolved
a. Voting by Paper Ballot
Voters have marked choices on paper ballots for centuries. This method allows votes to have a physical record, but it has disadvantages:
✔ Long vote counting times.
✔ Risk of ballot tampering and fraud.
✔ Long lines and slow voting process.
b. Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs)
Electronic voting machines (EVMs) were then adopted in place of paper ballots to streamline voting. (The number of these machines has only increased as voters select candidates with the push of a button, making elections:
✔ Faster and more efficient.
✔ Less likely to count errors.
✔ Less challenging to run in high-turnout elections.
🔍 “For example, for national elections, systems like EVM are already in use in many countries, including India, the U.S., and Brazil.
c. Online voter registration and digital poll books
As internet becomes part and parcel of everyday life, many governments have facilitated online voter registration, thereby easing access for citizens to:
✔ You can register to vote wherever you are.
✔ Fast updating of their details.
✔ Eliminate papers and reduce administrative errors.
Digital poll books — a technology that replaces paper-based, hard-copy voter lists — have also made it easier for election officials to verify a voter’s identity.
How Technology is Changing Elections
a. Internet voting and mobile voting
Others have piloted internet-based voting, or i-Voting, through secure online platforms that allow citizens to participate from anywhere.
✔ Makes it easier for overseas citizens and those with disabilities to vote.
✔ Cuts polling station costs
✔ Allows for real-time vote verification and tracking.
💡 Example: Since 2005, Estonia has successfully implemented online voting so that citizens can vote via a government-issued digital ID.
b. Blockchain-Based Voting
Using blockchain technology as a way to secure the vote.
✔ Offers a decentralized, tamper-proof record of votes.
✔ Deters voter fraud and hacking attempts.
✔ Boosts public confidence in election outcomes.
💡 Example: The state of West Virginia experimented with blockchain voting in 2018 for military personnel stationed abroad.
c. Biometric Authentication in Voting
A lot of countries are also adopting biometric technology (fingerprint scanning, facial recognition, and iris scanning) that helps to detect voter fraud and enhances authentication.
✔ It won’t let anybody who registered later vote.
✔ Helps avoid duplicate voting and identity fraud.
✔ Accelerates voter verification at polling centres.
💡 Example: In Ghana, India, and Kenya, biometric voter verification is used to increase election security.
d. Election Management on a bed of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
AI is assisting governments in an efficient way—to determine elections by:
✔ Identifying misleading news and disinformation ahead of elections.
✔ Voter turnout trends prediction.
✔ Helping with counting ballots and detecting fraud.
Advantages of Technology in Elections
✔ Optimized Results: Digital vote counting minimizes human errors and accelerates the proclamation of results.
✔ Improving voter accessibility: Through online and mobile voting, people who don't have easy access to a polling place, like voters in remote areas or those with disabilities but without the ability to vote by mail, participate in the voting process.
✔ Decreased Expense of Elections: Digital processes minimize the requirement for paper ballots, printing, and physical polling stations.
✔ Improved Security: The use of biometric authentication and blockchain technology reduces or completely eliminates election fraud and tampering.
😃 Increased Voter Participation: Online registration and digital voting make it easier to vote, resulting in higher voter turnout.
Challenges and concerns of technology in voting
a. Cybersecurity Threats
✔ Hackers could try to change votes or affect election outcomes.
— Strong cybersecurity for voting systems.
✔ For instance, the 2016 U.S. presidential election raised issues of foreign interference in digital election infrastructure.
b. Wide Data and Connectivity Problems
✔ Some people do not have access to the Internet or electronic devices, it is create inequality.
✔ Applications of digital voting systems may be challenging for those in rural areas or elderly populations.
✔ For example: The use of paper ballots in some U.S. states guarantees the participation of all citizens.
c. Issues of Trust and Transparency
✔ Because of fear of manipulation many voters mistrust electronic and online voting systems.
✔ In some systems, the absence of a physical paper trail has raised concerns about vote verification.
✖ Example: As a backup, some countries still use paper ballots in tandem with EVMs, for verification purposes.
d. The ethics of AI in elections
✔ Biased AI algorithms can influence election results.
✔ AI-powered tools can also be used by political parties to spread misinformation and manipulate voters unfairly.
The Future of Digital Voting
As technology advances over the next several years, the future of voting will be increasingly secure, efficient, and accessible. Here’s what we can expect:
a. Broader use of Internet and mobile voting
You only had to place your X beside a party.
✔ Voting will be done via smartphones and computers.
b. The 2024 Expansion of Blockchain-Based Voting
✔ Blockchain will emerge as a standard to secure digital voting.
✔ Countries will create open-source blockchain systems for election transparency
c. Election Monitoring Using AI
✔ AI will be employed to identify fraud, misinformation, and election manipulation.
✔ No more unresponsive capricious digital assistants. AI-driven chatbots will enable voters to be assisted in real-time.
The following initiatives are an example of:
Governments will enact tougher laws targeting election hacking and cyber threats.
✔ Greater international cooperation will be required to combat foreign interference.
Do We Trust Technology Enough to Use It for Voting?
Although technology has streamlined voting, making it faster, more accessible, and efficient, it presents security and trust issues. The optimal approach is a hybrid system, leveraging:
✔ A paper ballot so we can verify.
✔ E-voting for expediency.
✔ Security and transparency with blockchain.
✔ Cyber security measures to prevent the system being hacked.
It allows the electoral process to be neutral, consistent, and reliable, benefitting from advancements in technology.
Conclusion
The rise of technology has changed the landscape of voting, allowing for more secure and accessible elections to be put in place. These innovations, from EVMs and online registration to AI-powered election management and blockchain-based voting, are shaping the future of democracy.
But in order to ensure that it remains secure and can be considered reliable, it needs to overcome cybersecurity, digital divide, and public trust issues. Therefore, a well thought out solution should be undertaken — mixing technology with other traditional voting methods will surely open the path for a transparent and inclusive electoral process.
Key Takeaways:
✔ Technology is speeding up vote counting, and helping people vote.
✔ Voting conducted on online, mobile and blockchain platforms are the way forward.
✔ Cybersecurity threats and digital inequality have to be addressed.
✔ Governments should ensure transparency and trust in digital elections.
✔ A hybrid voting system balances technology with election security.