Technology can enhance election integrity

Embracing electronic voting and other technology has the potential to strengthen democracy and improve election integrity, according to a new report compiled by electronic voting company Smartmatic’s International Elections Advisory Council (IEAC).

The report comprises a series of essays from people with experience running complex elections around the world.

It details the way digital voting and registration tools have revolutionised the electoral process in countries including the Philippines, India, Nigeria and South Africa.

In countries without compulsory voting, a properly funded voting technology implementation could help improve dismal turnout among under-represented demographics.

With the right oversight, technology can also enhance election integrity and security by eliminating human errors involved in counting votes by hand, and help prevent fraud and corruption by ensuring that every vote is counted. This would also reduce delays determining the winner of an election.

“Free and fair elections are the backbone of a democracy,” Smartmatic Chairman Lord Mark Malloch-Brown commented.

“This collection of essays comes from some of the world’s most prominent elections experts. They offer a unique perspective on what it takes to run an effective election, sharing thoughts on the global electoral landscape, how to enfranchise more people and which countries are pioneering digital democracy solutions.”

Image courtesy of Joe Hall under CC