William H. Bowers – Ethics for the Information Age Chapter 6.5 – Online Voting

William H. Bowers – Topics Motivation Motivation Motivation Proposals Proposals Proposals Benefits Benefits Benefits Risks Risks Risks Conclusions Conclusions Conclusions

William H. Bowers – Motivation 2000 Presidential election 2000 Presidential election Florida was pivotal in deciding outcome Florida was pivotal in deciding outcome Manual voting irregularities Manual voting irregularities –Butterfly ballot –Punch ballot Facilitate counting / recounting Facilitate counting / recounting

William H. Bowers – Proposals Voting via the Internet Voting via the Internet Already in use for Alaska primaries Already in use for Alaska primaries UK local elections UK local elections May be most useful for absentee voting May be most useful for absentee voting

William H. Bowers – Ethical Evaluation We will assume voting using the Internet and a web browser We will assume voting using the Internet and a web browser Benefits Benefits –Makes voting easier for those without transportation to polls –Eliminates ambiguities of manual voting –Less expensive –Minimizes ballot box tampering

William H. Bowers – Ethical Evaluation Benefits Benefits –Prevents over voting –Flags under voting Risks Risks –Gives unfair advantage to more affluent –Voter privacy easier to compromise –Does not guarantee secrecy

William H. Bowers – Ethical Evaluation Risks Risks –Server availability –Depends on individual PC security –Vote could be intercepted and changed –Difficulty in verifying individual identity –Prevention of multiple voting

William H. Bowers – Ethical Evaluation Conclusions Conclusions –We have currently identified more risks than benefits –Lack of audit trail makes verification impossible –Should voting require some personal effort?

William H. Bowers – Questions & Discussion