94% voter turnout

[redbhoy]

http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=LcJgJiH5Kq0

Could this be a way to combat low voter turnout in areas in Ireland?
You can vote in any voter station but we'd need electronic voting.

 

[RainyDay]

You wouldn't need electronic voting. You would need electronic voter registration/validation systems, which is a completely different animal. These would replace the old-fashioned 'draw-a-line-through-the-register' system currently in place, and would need to prevent simultaneous voting by the same person at two different stations. I wonder if your electoral register is accurate enough to support this kind of usage.

You'd also need a good network connection at each voting station. You'd also need a private network (as I'm sure you wouldn't want to leave the integrity of an election dependant on the availability of a public network such as the internet. Do we have such connections?

I wonder if this facility would really increase turnout? Given that everyone on the register gets their voting card telling them where to go to vote, there really is little excuse for not knowing. I guess it would help those people who are living/working away from home, but perhaps those living away from home should simply reregister at their current location.

I hope we've learnt the lessons of having technology-led solutions in this arena. The previous €55m mess arose largely because there was no clear business case for the project. It was being done for its own sake. Let's not make that mistake again.

 

[Fintan]

Would it would probably be easier to have voting day on the weekend and extend opening hours?

If that doesnt work make voting mandatory like what they do in Australia.

 

[boaber]

If that doesnt work make voting mandatory like what they do in Australia.

This could only probably be done by amending the Constitution via referendum, which would mean people would have to vote on it..............

 

[room305]

You'd also need a good network connection at each voting station. You'd also need a private network (as I'm sure you wouldn't want to leave the integrity of an election dependant on the availability of a public network such as the internet. Do we have such connections?

In essence the Internet is a collection of interconnected private networks. It is entirely possible to rent private lines to connect two networks without being connected to the Internet (often called "leased lines"). However, they are quite expensive - working from memory I think it was about €1.5k on each end and about the same for each kilometre but that was an annual fee. Not sure any company would want the work for just one day!

A better option might be to use a secure Virtual Private Network (VPN) which means the data would be sent over the public Internet but in a secure manner.

When it comes to electronic voting I think people should continue to use the pen and the ballot but record their vote using an optical scanner. This allows for electronic tabulation of results with an automatic paper verification if required.

 

[RainyDay]

A better option might be to use a secure Virtual Private Network (VPN) which means the data would be sent over the public Internet but in a secure manner.

Even if the data was secure over a VPN, how do you guarantee the availability of the network on the day in question. One major virus outbreak or large scale denial-of-service attack, and voting stops.

When it comes to electronic voting I think people should continue to use the pen and the ballot but record their vote using an optical scanner. This allows for electronic tabulation of results with an automatic paper verification if required.

I'd go back to my original point about technology-led solutions. What would be the business case for allowing electronic tabulation of results?

 

[room305]

Even if the data was secure over a VPN, how do you guarantee the availability of the network on the day in question. One major virus outbreak or large scale denial-of-service attack, and voting stops.

Good point. Thinking about it actually a basic rate ISDN line would probably make the most sense. Reliable and private even if the bandwidth is quite low. Banks often use them for remote access for this very reason. Also their would be more widespread availability than say ADSL.

I'd go back to my original point about technology-led solutions. What would be the business case for allowing electronic tabulation of results?

It would be more accurate than the current system for one and would eliminate the need for manual counting.

 

[RainyDay]

It would be more accurate than the current system for one and would eliminate the need for manual counting.

I'm not being smart, but;

- how much more accurate?
- what problems does this solve?
- what benefits arise from eliminating manual counting?

 

[Purple]

"The only trouble with capitalism is capitalists - they are too damn greedy", US President Hoover

"Socialism is the same as Communism, only better English."
George Bernard Shaw

 

[room305]

I'm not being smart, but;

- how much more accurate?

I would imagine it would be 100% accurate. Essentially the voter marks a paper ballot and this is scanned by a machine. As long as the voter marks the ballot correctly, the ballot will be counted correctly.

- what problems does this solve?

Those arising from human error (did I just count ten or nine? is that a mark or was it rubbed out? etc.)

- what benefits arise from eliminating manual counting?

Elimination of human error and scrapping of the ridiculous "tallyman".

 

[RainyDay]

I would imagine it would be 100% accurate. Essentially the voter marks a paper ballot and this is scanned by a machine. As long as the voter marks the ballot correctly, the ballot will be counted correctly.

You didn't answer my question. I didn't ask how accurate. I asked 'how much more accurate'.

Those arising from human error (did I just count ten or nine? is that a mark or was it rubbed out? etc.)

Elimination of human error and scrapping of the ridiculous "tallyman".

Show me the data. We would need solid data on the types of problems that do occur and how many of these would be resolved by the new system and how many new problems the new system would introduce before considering any move forward.

And why do you want to scrap the tallyman?

 

[almo]

Certain parts of Russia had near 10% voter turnout this month, quite hilariously when questioned election officials complained that some people still "managed" to stay away. I witnessed in the flesh ballots that were already marked (tick) in the number 10 box, the United Russia one. The explanation of it was that it didn't matter.

The exact same and worse went on in Croatia, where high turnouts of voters occurred in some places, where the voters were actually dead! Of course the folks controlling the voting station were wearing political badges for the ruling party.

Makes you realise our own system isn't so bad.

 

[Henny Penny]

Are we missing the point? Voter apathy has IMHO little to do with the obstacles in casting a vote and more to do with the electorate being disengaged in the democratic process.

I would liken it to going to mass on a Sunday - if you want to be there, you will be there. You will make it your business to find out the times, the location etc. ... would a church do more "business" if they were in more locations, and with more mass times? I doubt it ...