Mental models of verifiability in voting

Abstract

In order for voters to verify their votes, they have to carry out additional steps besides selecting a candidate and submitting their vote. In previous work, voters have been found to be confused about the concept of and motivation for verifiability in electronic voting when confronted with it. In order to better communicate verifiability to voters, we identify mental models of verifiability in voting using a questionnaire distributed online in Germany. The identified mental models are, Trusting, No Knowledge, Observer, Personal Involvement and Matching models. Within the same survey, we identify terms that can be used in place of 'verify' as well as security-relevant metaphors known to the voters that can be used to communicate verifiability. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.