Bits or paper: Which should get to carry your vote?

Abstract

This paper reviews several aspects where electronic/Internet and paper voting can be compared (vote secrecy, verifiability, ballot box integrity, transparency and trust base). We conclude that for many vulnerabilities of Internet voting systems, there exist related weakness in paper systems as well. The main reason why paper-based elections are perceived as more secure is historical experience. We argue that recent criticism about Internet voting has unfairly concentrated on the associated risks and neglected the benefits. Remote electronic voting lowers the cost of election participation and provides the most secure means for absentee voting. The latter is something that is more and more needed in the contemporary, increasingly mobile world. Hence, we need to give Internet voting a chance, even if it means risking with unknown threats.