Elections are on everyone’s lips these days, and I was asked whether I would go to the polling station to vote or whether I would prefer the digital option. And it suddenly got me thinking about how I would prefer to vote. The process of digitisation of society was rapidly gaining momentum and in 2005 Estonia was the first to introduce internet voting in national elections. This greatly simplified the process and increased voter turnout.
We are used to the internet being everywhere and doing everything, and it was not long ago that it became possible to vote online.
On the one hand, there are undoubtedly advantages to voting online. For example, it allows people to vote wherever they have access to the Internet. There is no need to go to the polling station, queue, worry about breaking the form and waste a lot of time. This method is suitable for people with limited mobility, who live in remote areas or are abroad. Voting can take place at any time during the electoral period that suits you. This certainly reduces stress, as there is no need to worry about being late.
The simplicity of this method is appealing. It can encourage participation by people who have not voted before because of difficulties in getting to the polling station or time constraints. The issue of time is also linked to the rapid counting of votes and results. This reduces the time spent waiting for election results and also eliminates the possibility of human error.
The costs of printing ballot papers, renting polling stations and paying polling station staff are reduced. Electronic voting reduces the need for paper ballot papers and other materials, which in some ways helps to save natural resources. It can also be more convenient for young people, who use the internet more than adults. However, there are likely to be some who prefer to vote at a polling station.
There is also the option of voting on the spot, by going to a polling station on a particular day. This method also has a number of advantages. For example, it is not dependent on the internet, it is not subject to cyber-attacks and it is resistant to technical failures.
Observers can monitor the voting and counting process, which increases transparency and confidence in the elections. Paper forms are easy to use for all voters, regardless of their age and level of technological skills. Their availability allows for easy auditing and verification, which is essential to confirm the legitimacy of the results. This voting process is simple and intuitive for most people, including those who are not familiar with modern technology. Many voters have confidence in a time-tested method, which increases overall trust in the electoral process.
These advantages make paper ballots a fairly credible method of voting, especially where the technological infrastructure is limited or where trust in electronic systems is low.
In general, both voting systems have their advantages, and of course everyone chooses the method they trust and find most convenient. I still have time to think about this.
Ingrid Raudsepp, Narva Supervisor of Elections
PHOTO BY SVEN ARBET