Friday, October 21, 2011

What guarantees should a next-generation automated voting system provide?

For all democratic societies, voting is the perfect vehicle for the expression of individual will and respect for freedom. From raising a hand showing approval or rejection, to writing on a piece of paper or marking preferences on a touch screen, the goal is always the same: to give human beings the opportunity to choose with free will.

It is of utmost importance to encourage massive participation in electoral processes for modern and pluralistic societies to evolve. One way to achieve participation is through the improvement and automation of electoral systems. Systems that provide guarantees to the civil society as well as security and reliability and at the same time represent a sign of positive development and investment for the states and their authorities.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

The History of E-Voting in Brazil

Picture: alexdecarvalho
Some people have said that Brazil is ahead of its time when it comes to the country's electoral process. Indeed, the South American nation is widely regarded as a leader when it comes to electronic voting, but it's not like Brazil suddenly fell into this role overnight. The evolution of e-voting in Brazil has taken place over the last couple of decades with each progressive step moving into greater levels of both security and automation.