E-voting

Dear Editor, I am writing to you to express some of my views and concerns regarding the issues surrounding e-voting. The current Government is keen to introduce e-voting upon the unsuspecting Irish populous in the not too distant future and I think that people should be made aware of some of the broad complexities that will come into place with this introduction. The Government wants this system of voting in place for the forthcoming local and European June elections, but Labour has recognised some flaws with regards voter identity while using the new electronic system. In my opinion there are a number of issues that will deter people from using e-voting and the Government may end up shooting themselves in the foot. Some of the older generation in Ireland, many of whom consider voting a privilege and a right, may feel a little bit apprehensive to use the new system due to either fear of messing up the vote and looking silly, or indeed from an innate fear of the technology itself. Not a fear like that which you would associate with heights or fear of spiders. Many older people in rural and urban areas in Ireland, although it should be said, not all, are very traditional, and change no matter how small it may seem can cause a reflex action of the negative kind. Not turning up to vote may just be the outcome of the e-voting introduction and that outcome may show record lows throughout the country in turnout of the voting population. It's not only the older population who may be taken aback by this new voting system. Many people from all walks of life and indeed in all age brackets are technology aware in this day and age in Ireland. People in this group are only too aware of how technology can let people down at the best of times. Systems crash and invaluable data can be lost in mere seconds, people hit the wrong key or on-screen button (even when asked if they are sure they wish to continue by on-screen prompts). People make errors and software; especially new software, can have a lot of bugs that need "ironing out" over time. Two other major issues that should worry people are the accuracy and secrecy of such a new system. The questions have to be asked and addressed, "Could the vote count be manipulated?" If so, "Would someone or some party manipulate them?" We live in a sometimes-corrupt society and unfortunately, corruption and crime does not exist on the streets alone, but also in the halls of power at the highest level of Government. The Commission on Electronic Voting has been set up to ensure that accurate reports on the viability of e-voting are brought before the Ceann Comhairle (the Chairman of Dáil Éireann). The Commission, although an independent body that can call for outside consultants, seems to be too narrow in its approach to researching the e-voting matter. After all, no one will really know if the system will be successful unless it is used in a "real world" situation, i.e., the forthcoming June elections. Will the public be ready just because an independent body says e-voting is okay? Yet another nagging question in the growing list from the discerning public, me included. Regards, Name Withheld by the Editor.