Protection of election
integrity has been keeping poll authorities around the world busy lately, especially
after important elections of 2016 (e.g. US Presidential and Brexit) have
revealed how vulnerable this democratic exercise is to the remote manipulation
of external powers employing newfangled technologies.
The menu options for
those wishing to disrupt a democratic election have grown in recent times
thanks to rapid technological advancements. From misinformation campaigns using
platforms like Facebook and Twitter, to “real” hacking of email servers to compromise
political parties.
The perception that
voting machines can be hacked from afar have also made election commissioners
and voters alike jittery. A recent poll conducted by the
University of Chicago revealed that 8 out of 10 respondents were
concerned with the possibility of hackers breaking into electronic voting machines
and tampering with votes.
For the last year or
so, large
technology companies such as Facebook and Twitter have been taking
actions to tackle the fake news problem. In the Philippines, for example, Facebook
has started to crack
down on pages and accounts peddling fake news.
Election experts, on
the other hand, recommend two key actions to strengthen security of voting
machines:
- Implementing voting machines that print a VVPAT: The use of paper
vouchers allow voters to verify their votes and give auditors an easy way to compare
electronic results vis a vis a printed copy.
- Allow audits after the close of voting: auditors should be able to
randomly select voting machines, paper vouchers and other elements involved in
the election to confirm that the votes agree with the printed minutes.
The Government of the
United States is already taking actions to modernize its electoral system.
Congress has recently awarded 380 million dollars to states for this
purpose.
This is a big step in
the right direction. Yet the task of protecting the vote must include everyone
– electoral authorizes, technology
companies, civil society, and the general public.
Only in this way can a
secure, transparent, and credible electoral system can every be truly realized.
