02-07-2012, 12:04 PM
Online Voting Project – New Developments in the Voting System and Consequently Implemented Improvement in the Representation of Legal Principles
[attachment=26412]
Abstract:
For several years, T-Systems Enterprise Services GmbH has been
researching the creation of a highly secure voting system that meets the latest
cryptological standards. With exclusive responsibility for the W.I.E.N (Wählen in
elektronischen Netzwerken, Voting in electronic networks) research project
supported by the government since 2005, T-Systems are studying the
implementation of online voting in non-parliamentary elections. The voting system
previously designed in this project was subjected to a thorough review by a
renowned cryptologist from a German university in the summer of 2005. Some
encryption processes were then modified, resulting in a highly secure voting
protocol with the provisional working title of t-voting, which is simpler and
quicker to implement. By adding important new steps within the core architecture,
the strenuously disputed claims to the publicness of voting and its transparency are
demonstrated.
Introduction
Since 2001, T-Systems has been researching the creation of a highly secure voting
system that is virtually fraud- and interference-proof from cryptological perspectives
with the assistance of the PTB (Physikalisch Technische Bundesanstalt - national
metrology institute providing scientific and technical services) and other prominent
institutes. T-Systems has been exclusively responsible for the W.I.E.N (Wählen in
elektronischen Netzwerken, Voting in electronic networks) research project supported by
the Federal Ministry of Economics and Labour since the start of 2005. This project
involved the implementation of online voting at networked polling stations in nonparliamentary
elections and its examination from a legal, technical and organizational
viewpoint.
The new voting system and voting legislation principles
Public monitoring of digital voting both in person and remotely is problematic. From
constitutional perspectives, the replacement of visual and comprehension monitoring by
electoral boards and other members of the public (as witnesses etc.) is not possible.3
The voting system developed previously in the W.I.E.N. research project conformed to
the principles of the Federal Electoral Law, which was implemented through the
information-based division of powers and the use of reliable voter identification via a
qualified digital signature.4 By adding the bulletin board in the modified voting protocol,
the strenuously disputed claims to publicness of election and its transparency can now be
demonstrated. A public notice displayed using the bulletin board gives voters an
overview of votes cast and can track voting live on the Internet if the electoral organizer
wishes. Considering that online voting is seen as an alternative to postal voting, this
actually increases the element of publicness. The principle of universality is increased in
online voting as the access options are simplified, which means that more voters,
including e.g. those impeded due to professional or health reasons, can participate in the
election.
Conclusions
Through changes to the voting system developed previously in the Online Voting
Project, most legal reservations against electronic voting were rebutted. The voting
protocol became simpler and faster to implement, but most significantly now offers
better integration of the general public through the use of a bulletin board. Previously
existing technical security flaws were also eliminated. This brings us one step closer to
our objective of making electronic voting feasible at networked polling stations in the
short term and using any terminals without any technical, legal or organization problems
in the medium to long term. We are assuming that online elections in non-parliamentary
elections in Germany are now within the realms of possibility.
[attachment=26412]
Abstract:
For several years, T-Systems Enterprise Services GmbH has been
researching the creation of a highly secure voting system that meets the latest
cryptological standards. With exclusive responsibility for the W.I.E.N (Wählen in
elektronischen Netzwerken, Voting in electronic networks) research project
supported by the government since 2005, T-Systems are studying the
implementation of online voting in non-parliamentary elections. The voting system
previously designed in this project was subjected to a thorough review by a
renowned cryptologist from a German university in the summer of 2005. Some
encryption processes were then modified, resulting in a highly secure voting
protocol with the provisional working title of t-voting, which is simpler and
quicker to implement. By adding important new steps within the core architecture,
the strenuously disputed claims to the publicness of voting and its transparency are
demonstrated.
Introduction
Since 2001, T-Systems has been researching the creation of a highly secure voting
system that is virtually fraud- and interference-proof from cryptological perspectives
with the assistance of the PTB (Physikalisch Technische Bundesanstalt - national
metrology institute providing scientific and technical services) and other prominent
institutes. T-Systems has been exclusively responsible for the W.I.E.N (Wählen in
elektronischen Netzwerken, Voting in electronic networks) research project supported by
the Federal Ministry of Economics and Labour since the start of 2005. This project
involved the implementation of online voting at networked polling stations in nonparliamentary
elections and its examination from a legal, technical and organizational
viewpoint.
The new voting system and voting legislation principles
Public monitoring of digital voting both in person and remotely is problematic. From
constitutional perspectives, the replacement of visual and comprehension monitoring by
electoral boards and other members of the public (as witnesses etc.) is not possible.3
The voting system developed previously in the W.I.E.N. research project conformed to
the principles of the Federal Electoral Law, which was implemented through the
information-based division of powers and the use of reliable voter identification via a
qualified digital signature.4 By adding the bulletin board in the modified voting protocol,
the strenuously disputed claims to publicness of election and its transparency can now be
demonstrated. A public notice displayed using the bulletin board gives voters an
overview of votes cast and can track voting live on the Internet if the electoral organizer
wishes. Considering that online voting is seen as an alternative to postal voting, this
actually increases the element of publicness. The principle of universality is increased in
online voting as the access options are simplified, which means that more voters,
including e.g. those impeded due to professional or health reasons, can participate in the
election.
Conclusions
Through changes to the voting system developed previously in the Online Voting
Project, most legal reservations against electronic voting were rebutted. The voting
protocol became simpler and faster to implement, but most significantly now offers
better integration of the general public through the use of a bulletin board. Previously
existing technical security flaws were also eliminated. This brings us one step closer to
our objective of making electronic voting feasible at networked polling stations in the
short term and using any terminals without any technical, legal or organization problems
in the medium to long term. We are assuming that online elections in non-parliamentary
elections in Germany are now within the realms of possibility.