We can deposit checks, shop, and fill out the census online, so why can’t we vote using our smartphones and computers?
Caltech professor of political and computational social science Michael Alvarez explains in this video:
Ensuring election security requires a paper trail.
A successful internet voting solution could improve accessibility because it could be used in remote areas, programmed in multiple languages, and optimized for people with certain disabilities. However, voter-verified paper trails, such as a mail-in ballot or a printed record of in-person voting, are important security tools, enabling officials to conduct audits to ensure election integrity. Current online voting technology does not produce an adequate paper trail.
Online voting cannot match security and secrecy of in-person and mail-in voting.
In addition, studies of two web-based voting platforms currently in use or under consideration by some states found significant security concerns. Even using blockchain, the technology that secures cryptocurrency, existing systems were deemed vulnerable to vote manipulation and privacy breaches.
Such studies have led many researchers to conclude there is currently no online voting technology that can match the security and secrecy of in-person and mail-in voting.
Read More Learn about other threats to election security and how they can be addressed on the Caltech Science Exchange.
