Enhancing democracy through e-elections

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UK NORDIC BALTIC SUMMIT: 19-20 JANUARY 2011 ESTONIA

DENMARK

ICELAND

FINLAND

LATVIA

UNITED KINGDOM

NORWAY

LITHUANIA

SWEDEN


Enhancing democracy and participation in society through e-elections Hannes Astok, Member of the Estonian Parliament, Estonian E-Governance Academy hannes@astok.ee +372 5091366


Acceptance, awareness and skills among citizens • In 2005 in Estonia the situation was mature to introduce internet voting (e-elections) • The task was to make elections more inclusive, mainly for – Those who working/travelling abroad – Young generation Also to make vote counting and election process more effective

• In Estonia traditional postal voting is not widely used • Computer literacy and access level in 2005 ca 60%.


E-elections Estonia 18 14,7

16

15,8

14 12 10 8 6 4

5,5

Joondiagramm 1 % of e-votes

2,2

2 0 9317 2005 Loc

30860 58 669 104 313 2007 Parl 2009 EP 2009 Loc

Number of e- votes Elections


Supportive legislation and political will • Estonian Parliament approved new voting legislation in 2002 (votes for 90/ against 1/ neutral 2 from 101 MPs) • President rejected the law, but constitutional court approved it – the law was enforced 2002 • Political parties agreed “Voluntary code of conduct of iVoting” 2005 • The first internet voting with binding results worldwide: 2005 Estonian local elections


Mature technical infrastructure Every Estonian have electronic ID-card, the first compulsory document for all residents To vote via Internet voter needs: • an Estonian ID card with valid certificates and PIN codes Computer used for voting must have: • a smart card reader (6 EUR) • a driver for ID card (free to download) System software was developed by private companies under supervision of the government


e-voting principles • e-voting is open during pre-voting period: six to four days prior to election day • If system crashes, all e-voters can attend in the elections on election day manually • e-votes “box” is opened after election stations are closed on election day Secrecy • Anonymity - inner and outer envelope system • Privacy – unrestricted number of e-votings or possibility vote in polling station during preelection – last vote or paper vote counts


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