Technology is developing every day, and it was just a matter of time before we would finally be able to vote online. Although online voting seems a bit suspicious to some people, this electronic system is more reliable than using ballot boxes for elections including a presidential election.
A modern man should keep an open mind about the groundbreaking technology and possibilities that online voting can bring to millions of people across the US. Even though online voting has been available to us for a few years, and it can change the electoral process in the future. But the issue of whether we should use it or not is still in debate.
Modern technologies always bring new challenges, fears, and doubts that we could easily overcome if we just decide to try it.
Are you wondering if digital democracy is possible? Read on to familiarize yourself with the possibilities of online voting and its benefits and drawbacks. We hope this article we'll give you enough insight to finally find out whether electronic voting could forward us into a new age.
Advantages of Online Voting
Did you know that reality shows get more votes than certain political elections? The reason behind this is that political elections in the US require voters to travel to the polls and vote in person. TV reality shows allow online voting either through the internet or electronic voting machines, making it easier for people to vote from the comfort of their homes.
So, we can conclude that the biggest advantage of online voting is convenience and flexible voting time for electors. For every person who has access to common connectable household devices including a smart phone or computer, voting only requires a few clicks.
In the US, almost every person has one or more computers (and smartphones) as well as access to the Internet, making electronic online voting possible. This method of voting is also very convenient because it eliminates the need for transportation and postage on paper ballots.
A quality electronic voting system would allow people to forego the usual hurdles for casting a vote and increases election participation. Moreover, unlike traditional voting, telephone and internet voting allows more secrecy for electors with disabilities including those with hearing and visual impairments.
In addition to this, the extension of internet voting can help appeal to younger voters and encourage some non-voters to participate in the elections.
For the US government or different institutions, different types of internet voting might be less expensive to run and execute compared to traditional methods that need staffing and setting up. The quality of votes potentially improves with reduced ballot errors and the speed of counting of ballots improves.
Cons: Question: Is Election Tampering Possible?
Answer:
Concerned citizens are wary of online voting because of election tampering which violates ballot integrity. The fact is, where there is internet access, there is the additional opportunity for fraud through viruses and malware.
The internet is a very vast network that requires a lot of expertise, time, and money to successfully monitor and disable all possible security threats. Political voting would be very tricky because even the smallest security flaw could be exploited, causing severe damage and consequences. Hackers could tamper with election results. Online voting makes it very hard to ensure 100% safety.
Also, in the case where electronic voting machines are used, the lack of a paper trail for recounts and auditing during a power outage can be disrupting.
However, many people aren't familiar with technology that could eliminate the drawbacks we have mentioned above. Thanks to IT professionals and the development of block-chain technology, we can solve issues like election tampering, decreased voting accuracy, and disenfranchisement.
Question: How does blockchain prevent voter fraud?
Answer:
Blockchain is simply a digital ledger. The technology operates on a peer-to-peer network to verify, process, and record transactions on the system. Data on the ledger aren’t stored but instead exist on the chain supported by millions of nodes at the same time.
Since blockchain networks are decentralized and encrypted, the transaction information cannot be corrupted, and it’s easy to verify every record. No one can take down or influence the network since it doesn’t exist in a single place.
Many people think blockchain technology only works with financial transactions. However, blockchain can support any data transmission and is especially useful in the online voting process. Instead of submitting a paper ballot, online voting using blockchain technology is impressive.
The beauty of blockchain-based voting systems is that hacking one node doesn’t affect other terminals. An attempt to hack multiple nodes in the network is time consuming and requires a lot of computational power. A voter can enter their electronic vote without revealing their political preferences or identity. Also, one vote can be attributed to a unique and legal Identification card.
Organize an Online Election Today
It is a fact that even though we have groundbreaking technology and improved reliability every day, we still can't rely on electronic voting technology for public elections. However, that doesn't mean we can't make our lives easier and organize online elections for trade associations and professional organizations, country clubs, fraternities and sororities, schools, churches, charities, service organizations, corporations, and the like.
We are aware that managing and taking care of an organization requires much time and hard work. So, you should at least make your elections easy. Online voting providers like ezVote can give American citizens what they need to conduct quality research and elect their leaders safely, accurately and with confidence.
ezVote is a family business that was established when the owners were looking for a better way to choose the annual slate of officers for their golf and country club. With the help of IT professionals, they have developed a reliable online voting system that is easy to use, practical and secure.
ezVote Online has helped hundreds of communities and trade associations across the US to hold reliable, faster, more economical and safe elections. Every day, they work to address and solve the challenges that come with online voting platforms and always keep their system up to date.
There is no need to fear fraudulent paper ballots because this system uses the most trusted and accurate way to elect leaders. Ballots are linked to credentials provided by your members, and we make sure that there is only one ballot per voter.
The election dashboard gives the administrator access to real-time metrics and makes sure the integrity of your election is not jeopardized. To vote, you just need an internet connection. You can vote using your phone or computer quickly and with ease.
Besides conducting online voting, the ezVote system can be used for polls, surveys and conducting marketing research, making your organization stronger. Reach out to your members and give them a better option for voting – use ezVote!
