Estonia becomes first country for implementing e-Voting

For the first time in a parliamentary election anywhere in the world, most people have been able to vote online. Some 30,000 out of 940,000 eligible voters chose this option, though e-ballots had to be cast at least three days ahead of the election day of March 4. Take-up for the electronic vote option was higher than expected, "definitely a good result," Epp Maaten of the national election commission said.

Nearly all-Estonian citizens have been issued an electronic ID card by the government. The card needs to be swiped via an electronic reader, which is available for $9. The card readers were also available in public libraries and Internet access points. Voters need type in a code to confirm their identity, along with a digital signature required to confirm the e-Ballot choice.

But those who have already cast an e-ballot can still turn up to cast a paper one if they have changed their mind in the interim, or are worried about the security of the online vote - and their paper ballot will invalidate the computer one. "This is meant to soothe fears that someone may feel pressured by colleagues or family to vote against their free will in online voting" Epp Maaten said.

In local elections held in 2005, when online voting was first used, just under 10.000 people voted via the Internet and 30 people overrode their electronic vote with the paper ballot.

The Director of the e-governance Academy in Tallinn, Ivar Tallo, asserted he sees little reason why Estonians should distrust online voting. Citing the example of nearly 82 percent Estonians who file their tax returns online, Tallo argued if Estonians can trust their financial transactions to the Internet, they can also trust their vote to the Internet.

Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has monitored the election.

http://www.worldegovforum.com/article.php3?id_article=1371