Innovations in Internet Voting Systems
Election technology is democracy’s critical infrastructure and must withstand manipulation from inside and outside forces. But in recent years, contested recounts have raised procedural questions. Reports issued on Russia’s attempts to influence the 2016 presidential election reveal other system vulnerabilities.1 Security experts and the House of Representatives have called for a return to paper ballots.2 But some states are exploring how Internet voting and advances in blockchain technology, facial recognition software, and cryptography could improve the election process.
This explainer (1) describes Internet voting and its inherent challenges, (2) analyzes the United States’ traditional Internet voting system, and (3) examines the benefits and risks of novel systems being implemented in the United States and around the world.
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Michelle Mount
Georgetown University Law Center, J.D. Candidate 2020; Boston University, B.S. Business and Finance.