Online Voting

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aschteev

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#240930 3-Oct-2018 10:22

I saw a Stuff "article" the other day about online voting and how insecure it is, according to NZ tech experts.

What is everyone's opinion on this? I am of the opinion that it should be ok, but I don't know enough about all the in's and out's of proving how secure a system is, and if it is vulnerable to hacking. I am of the belief though, that if automation and computers are being used in other industries, e.g. banking, finance, aviation etc., then what is different about local body elections?

I find this comic quite amusing. What are other people's thoughts?

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#2100545 3-Oct-2018 10:26

Dumbest idea ever... And that's before we even look at the security aspect (which I don't think it an issue).

Why do we need it? it goes against many of the principles of a voting system.

aschteev

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#2100549 3-Oct-2018 10:36

sbiddle:

Dumbest idea ever... And that's before we even look at the security aspect (which I don't think it an issue).

Are you able to elaborate a bit more on your answer? Why is the dumbest idea ever?

sbiddle:

Why do we need it? it goes against many of the principles of a voting system.

What are those principles?

I'm not saying that you are wrong, just looking to understand more what peoples opinions are, and those that are more in the know than I am.

Handsomedan

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#2100577 3-Oct-2018 11:05

I think a lack of online voting is a key contributor to low voter turnout in local body elections.

Postal votes belong in a bygone era and a lack of voting booths leaves people with chronic voter apathy.

If you could log in and click for your preferred candidates, I believe we'd have a far better turnout and more activity from the voting public in what is a very important process.

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sbiddle

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#2100582 3-Oct-2018 11:11

Why is it the dumbest idea ever? Because it's not actually achieving anything.

With online voting there is no audit trail, no recounts, and no way of confirming a vote. You can also argue it significantly reduces privacy and anonymity.

I quite frankly don't see a single reason in the world why anybody (except those trying to sell hardware or solutions) would think there is a need to reinvent the wheel.

sbiddle

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#2100584 3-Oct-2018 11:13

Handsomedan:

I think a lack of online voting is a key contributor to low voter turnout in local body elections.

Postal votes belong in a bygone era and a lack of voting booths leaves people with chronic voter apathy.

If you could log in and click for your preferred candidates, I believe we'd have a far better turnout and more activity from the voting public in what is a very important process.

People don't vote because they're a) too lazy or b) don't care about democracy.

Online voting can't solve either of those issues.

itxtme

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#2100591 3-Oct-2018 11:24

Not to mention opening yourself up to online manipulation with a real lack of control. For example a 3rd party "international" website starts pushing facebook ads with fake or misrepresented information on vote day

"Its as easy as clicking here and voting against this."

This is illegal, but when the evotes are cast, its too late!

Can this happen with physical voting, sure - but not to the same effect when its so damn easy to click and vote. I am firmly against online voting.

frankv

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#2100675 3-Oct-2018 12:08

sbiddle:

Dumbest idea ever... And that's before we even look at the security aspect (which I don't think it an issue).

Why do we need it? it goes against many of the principles of a voting system.

I absolutely disagree. It's the greatest idea ever, assuming that security & integrity can be assured.

Online voting gets us away from the whole anti-democratic system where you vote for someone who "represents" you. It opens the door to direct democracy, where every person's vote is equal.

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Behodar

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#2100729 3-Oct-2018 12:37

frankv: It's the greatest idea ever, assuming that security & integrity can be assured.

if (false) { idea = greatest; }

frankv: Online voting gets us away from the whole anti-democratic system where you vote for someone who "represents" you. It opens the door to direct democracy, where every person's vote is equal.

You're going to have to explain this to me a bit better. Why would the method of voting change the available options?

alasta

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#2100733 3-Oct-2018 12:39

One of the common arguments against online voting is that while an individual is voting they may have other members of their household standing over them and pressuring them to vote a certain way.

DarkShadow

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#2100742 3-Oct-2018 12:44

alasta:

One of the common arguments against online voting is that while an individual is voting they may have other members of their household standing over them and pressuring them to vote a certain way.

How is this different to postal voting?

sbiddle

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#2100760 3-Oct-2018 13:08

frankv:

Online voting gets us away from the whole anti-democratic system where you vote for someone who "represents" you. It opens the door to direct democracy, where every person's vote is equal.

You've totally lost me there.

Every person's vote is equal regardless of how you vote.

reven

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#2100779 3-Oct-2018 13:51

I fully support this, voting can be a hassle for a lot, it takes time to count, there are human errors in counting, blah blah blah.

if banks can be secure, ird, etc, im sure voting can be secure enough.

yes it does open things up like being able to see who voted for who, but im sure that can be addressed. Personally i dont really see this as an issue, but im sure there are some reason it is...

Bring it on I say.

reven

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#2100780 3-Oct-2018 13:52

sbiddle:

frankv:

Online voting gets us away from the whole anti-democratic system where you vote for someone who "represents" you. It opens the door to direct democracy, where every person's vote is equal.

You've totally lost me there.

Every person's vote is equal regardless of how you vote.

in NZ sure, but in USA etc, thats not the case at all.

wsnz

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#2100781 3-Oct-2018 13:53

frankv:

I absolutely disagree. It's the greatest idea ever, assuming that security & integrity can be assured.

Online voting gets us away from the whole anti-democratic system where you vote for someone who "represents" you. It opens the door to direct democracy, where every person's vote is equal.

A representative democracy is still a form of a democratic system; I personally would not class it as anti-democratic. On an individual basis we may not share 100% of the positions & beliefs held by an elected representative, but given they represent the disparate interests of the community I would not expect to always agree.

What outcome do you want to achieve by implementing a system of direct democracy? Is it to re-engage the disenfranchised voters? To negate the decisions representative’s make on our behalf that are seemingly at odds with our own beliefs?

wsnz

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#2100783 3-Oct-2018 13:55

reven:

in NZ sure, but in USA etc, thats not the case at all.

NZ only relatively recently moved away from a system that mirrored many aspects of the USA's current electoral college system. Placed in a historic context, these systems made sense. Not so much any more.

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