Voting Machines

Content

What are voting machines?

Voting machines are electronic devices used to capture, count, and transmit votes during elections. Unlike traditional paper ballots, they are intended to speed up the voting process and minimize human errors in counting. Voting machines are mainly set up in polling stations and require the physical presence of voters.

These systems range from simple electronic counting devices to complex touchscreen terminals that digitalize the entire voting process. Despite their widespread use in some countries, voting machines are increasingly criticized for issues regarding security, transparency, and costs.

Types of voting machines

Direct Recording Electronic (DRE) Systems

DRE voting machines capture votes directly electronically via touchscreens or keyboards. Votes are stored digitally without creating a physical ballot. This makes independent recounting virtually impossible and presents significant transparency issues.

Optical Scan Systems

These devices electronically scan and count completed paper ballots. While they maintain a physical record for recounts, they are susceptible to technical errors during the scanning process and still require the production and management of paper ballots.

Hybrid Systems

Combine electronic voting with paper records (Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail - VVPAT). These systems attempt to unite the advantages of both worlds but significantly increase complexity and costs.

Challenges and Disadvantages

Security vulnerabilities and manipulation risks

Voting machines are susceptible to hacking, malware, and technical manipulation. They often use outdated software and rarely receive updates, posing a significant security risk. International studies have repeatedly uncovered vulnerabilities in various voting machine systems that could enable manipulation of election results. Unlike modern online voting systems like NemoVote, which are continuously updated and developed according to the latest security standards, voting machines often remain unchanged for years.

Source: Chaos Computer Club - Analysis of Voting Computers Source: DEF CON Voting Village Reports

Lack of Transparency

The proprietary software of many voting machines is not publicly accessible, preventing independent verification. This breaches fundamental principles of electoral transparency and complicates election observation.

High costs and maintenance

The acquisition, maintenance, and secure storage of voting machines entail significant costs for the public sector. Personnel must be trained, devices must be transported, and regularly maintained. Online voting solutions like NemoVote offer a cost-effective alternative without physical infrastructure.

Limited accessibility

Voting machines require physical presence at the polling station, which poses a significant barrier for persons with mobility impairments, overseas voters, or people in remote areas. This contradicts the principle of accessible elections.

Voting machines in Germany and Europe

Legal situation in Germany

In Germany, voting machines for political elections are effectively prohibited. The Federal Constitutional Court ruled in 2009 that the use of voting computers without a paper record is unconstitutional as it violates the principle of the public nature of elections. Citizens must be able to understand the essential steps of the voting process and result determination without special technical knowledge. This decision makes Germany a pioneer in protecting democratic electoral principles.

Source: BVerfG, Judgment of March 3, 2009 - 2 BvC 3/07, 2 BvC 4/07

European Perspective

In most other European countries, voting machines are also viewed skeptically. Countries like the Netherlands and Ireland have abandoned voting computers after initial trials. The Netherlands banned all voting computers in 2007 due to security concerns, while Ireland scrapped unused voting machines worth 54 million euros in 2012. Switzerland, on the other hand, increasingly relies on secure online voting systems with cryptographic verification. This development indicates that Europe prefers the direct shift from paper elections to modern, transparent online voting systems rather than taking the detour through problematic voting machines.

Source: Council of Europe - Recommendation on e-voting

Voting machines vs. online voting

Modern online voting systems like NemoVote overcome the structural disadvantages of voting machines:

Continuous security updates: While voting machines are often operated for years without updates, cloud-based systems ensure permanent security updates and adaptations to new threats.

Complete transparency: Cryptographic procedures and traceable audit trails allow online elections to be conducted transparently and simultaneously secretly. End-to-end verifiability enables voters to verify their votes.

Universal accessibility: Online voting allows participation from anywhere, at any time, and with any internet-enabled device. This significantly increases voter turnout and strengthens democratic legitimacy.

Cost efficiency: Without physical hardware, transport, and storage, voting costs are significantly reduced. The scalability of digital systems makes them particularly attractive for regular elections.

Opt for future-proof online elections with NemoVote instead of outdated voting machines. Benefit from the highest security, complete transparency, and universal accessibility - at significantly lower costs.

Conclusion

Voting machines may once have been considered a modernization of the voting process, but their inherent weaknesses - from security vulnerabilities to lack of transparency to high costs - make them a suboptimal solution for modern democracies. Online voting systems like NemoVote offer a superior alternative that meets international voting standards while maximizing security, transparency, and accessibility.