Such as technical interruptions, inexplicable anomalies, and a conflict with the current constitution.
Electronic voting in Estonia started in 2005. With its pilot project for municipal elections, Estonia became the first country to hold legally binding general elections using the Internet. Estonian election officials declared the electronic voting system a success and found it passed the pudding test. However, the reality is different.
Electronic voting has been plagued by constant problems, including technical glitches, unexplained anomalies, and conflicts with the current constitution.
The Internet voting system is based on the Estonian identity card, which is not a smart card. The main problem with this solution is that verifying the voter’s identity is impossible. Anyone with access to the card and its PIN can vote, and detecting this kind of violation is impossible. In a general election, a security breach like this could result in a significant bias in the vote outcome.
Software development could be safer since all functions are in the hands of a small group of interconnected actors. However, the dubious Venezuelan company Smartmatic, suspected of election fraud in several countries, plays a secret role in this story.
In 2014, with the help of international e-voting experts, Professor Halderman of the University of Michigan conducted a security analysis of the Estonia internet voting system. Several deficiencies in operational security and procedures were discovered, including a dangerously low level of professionalism in security administration. This makes the entire system open to attack and manipulation.
Experts debated the use of electronic voting. Although it was recommended to be withdrawn due to potential problems, it is still used today.
The situation is aggravated by the fact that the organizers of electronic elections did not allow independent experts to check the system. Although local checks have been carried out, more is needed to ensure that voting results are realistic and accurate. There were times when the number of electronic votes cast for a candidate did not match the number of paper votes or the candidate’s popularity in public opinion polls. Unfortunately, the bodies conducting the elections ignored these concerns and did not explain the said discrepancies.
Mike Calamus, board member of the Estonian Konservatiivne Eesti (Conservative Estonia).
https://civilek.info/en/2024/03/23/serious-concerns-about-the-age-of-electronic-voting-in-estonia/
