internet voting trial in Cheshire
R M Crorie | 28.04.2002 11:07
More Web voting - UK local elections May 2002
I obtained some information about another Web voting trial, this time in the
UK, in Crewe & Nantwich Borough (Cheshire). This has been the subject of
fairly low-key advertising, perhaps because it is limited to two wards
(local electoral districts), Wybunbury and Maw Green.
However, it has been publicised as "e-mail voting", when in fact it is "Web
voting". Details are sketchy (local council officials are somewhat hesitant
about providing too much detail), but the company behind the trial is the
Oracle Corporation, in the form of Oracle (UK) Ltd.
Basically, the Council has posted a letter (actual snail mail) to every
eligible voter in these two wards with a "secret code". Over the next few
days, a second such letter, with another "secret code", will be sent,
together with a URL within the Council's Web domain
(www.crewe-nantwich.gov.uk), which will allow the voter to select their
candidate and vote by entering the two previously-supplied codes.
The risks are pretty much as previously discussed in this forum for such
schemes, with the added irritation that only certain browsers are supported
- yes, it's IE and Netscape, but only the Windows versions, so tough cookie
to all you Linux-user voters out there - you have to turn up in person. It
looks like browser independence didn't feature highly in the design of the
trial, with only a vague reference to "security accreditation" being offered
as to why Linux browsers aren't acceptable.
That looks like a re-run of the UK Government Gateway browser-specificity
debacle - or the Microsoft Government Gateway, as we should call it now that
we have learned the Government has handed over the IPR for the whole thing
(£35m worth) to Microsoft completely free, on the basis of potential future
licence royalties... but that's another whole shed-load of risks...!
R M Crorie
I obtained some information about another Web voting trial, this time in the
UK, in Crewe & Nantwich Borough (Cheshire). This has been the subject of
fairly low-key advertising, perhaps because it is limited to two wards
(local electoral districts), Wybunbury and Maw Green.
However, it has been publicised as "e-mail voting", when in fact it is "Web
voting". Details are sketchy (local council officials are somewhat hesitant
about providing too much detail), but the company behind the trial is the
Oracle Corporation, in the form of Oracle (UK) Ltd.
Basically, the Council has posted a letter (actual snail mail) to every
eligible voter in these two wards with a "secret code". Over the next few
days, a second such letter, with another "secret code", will be sent,
together with a URL within the Council's Web domain
(www.crewe-nantwich.gov.uk), which will allow the voter to select their
candidate and vote by entering the two previously-supplied codes.
The risks are pretty much as previously discussed in this forum for such
schemes, with the added irritation that only certain browsers are supported
- yes, it's IE and Netscape, but only the Windows versions, so tough cookie
to all you Linux-user voters out there - you have to turn up in person. It
looks like browser independence didn't feature highly in the design of the
trial, with only a vague reference to "security accreditation" being offered
as to why Linux browsers aren't acceptable.
That looks like a re-run of the UK Government Gateway browser-specificity
debacle - or the Microsoft Government Gateway, as we should call it now that
we have learned the Government has handed over the IPR for the whole thing
(£35m worth) to Microsoft completely free, on the basis of potential future
licence royalties... but that's another whole shed-load of risks...!
R M Crorie
R M Crorie
Comments
Hide the following 2 comments
ethics anyone?
28.04.2002 12:36
when politicians complain about the low turn out what they really mean is the low turn out of desirables. this is billed as a measure by new labour which will increase voting numbers and therefore will mean a parliament which is more representive of the countries wishes. in fact the opposit is true, the internet has peaked or at the least is slowing down. THERE WON'T BE A INTERNET READY COMPUTER IN EVERY HOME IN 10 YEARS LIKE THE GOVERNMENT WOULD HAVE US BELIEVE!
in conclusion, internet voting means that in true blairite 'democratic' fashion, every one will have a voice, except the more affluent will be easier to hear! whats next, how about saying if you want to vote you have to turn up to the polling station in a jag? maybe you still won't have to pay to vote but government could introduce a scheme where your vote can count more if you post it in an envolope full of cash?
euan
See Saturdays Financial Times
28.04.2002 16:31
Bill Bore