Trusting e-voting amidst experiences of electoral malpractice: The case of Indian elections

This paper constructs explanatory theory on trust in e-voting, a term that refers to the use of stand-alone IT artefacts in voting stations. We study e-voting as a techno-organisational arrangement embedded in the process of elections and the broader socio-economic context of a country. Following a critical realist approach, we apply retroduction and retrodiction principles to build theory by complementing existing studies of e-voting with insights from an in-depth case study of elections in India. First, we seek evidence of trust in e-voting in the responses of the public to the announcement of election results. Then we derive the following four mechanisms of trust creation or loss: the association of e-voting with the production of positive democratic effects; the making of e-voting part of the mission and identity of electoral authorities; the cultivation of a positive public attitude to IT with policies for IT-driven socio-economic development; and, in countries with turbulent political cultures, a clear distinction between the experience of voting as orderly and experiences of malpractice in other election tasks. We suggest that these mechanisms explain the different experience with e-voting of different countries. Attention to them helps in assessing the potential of electoral technologies in countries that are currently adopting them, especially fragile democracies embarking upon e-voting

Security Enhancement of E-Voting System

The term E-Voting1C1; is used in variety of different ways and it encompasses all voting techniques involving electronic voting equipments, voting over the internet, using electronic booths in polling stations and sometimes even counting of paper ballots. A voting system that can be proven correct has many concerns. The basic reasons for a government to use electronic systems are to increase election activities and to reduce the election expenses. Still there is some scope of work in electronic voting system in terms of checking the authenticity of voters and securing electronic voting machine from miscreants. Biometrics is automated tool for verifying the identity of a person based on a physiological or behavioral characteristic. It has the capability to reliably distinguish between an authorized person and an imposter. Since biometric characteristics are distinctive, can not be forgotten or lost and the person to be authenticated needs to be physically present at the point of identification, biometrics is inherently more reliable and more capable than traditional knowledgebased and token-based techniques. In this paper, we have proposed a model to enhance the security of electronic voting system by incorporating fast and accurate biometric technique to prevent an unauthorized person to vote

Otomatisasi Proses Verifikasi, Pemungutan Dan Perhitungan Suara Pada Tempat Pemungutan Suara (Tps) Berbasis Arduino

Near Field Communication (NFC) technology can be used as a verification media if e-KTP that has a Unique Identification Number (UID) is used as an identity card. In the election booth, the ballot may be replaced by a keypad. Any voting will be saved in a microcontroller and will be displayed on a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) in counting stage. It is important to know about the speed and the accuracy of verification process, voting and counting because they improve services, time efficiency and reduce the voting budget significantly. e-KTP can be scanned by NFC Shield directly. UID becomes an accurate data for each voter because it reduces the cheating of voting, such as enlarging result, error on voter list, and reduces the election costs. Teknologi Near Field Communication (NFC) dapat digunakan sebagai media untuk proses verifikasi jika e-KTP yang memiliki Unique Identification Number (UID) digunakan sebagai kartu identitas. Dalam tahap pemilihan di bilik suara, kertas suara dapat digantikan dengan keypad. Setiap hasil pemilihan akan disimpan dalam mikrokontroler dan akan ditampilkan saat proses penghitungan suara dengan menggunakan Liquid Crystal Display (LCD). Perlunya mengetahui kecepatan dan keakuratan proses verifikasi, pemungutan dan perhitungan suara karena dapat meningkatkan pelayanan dan efisiensi waktu serta penghematan biaya yang signifikan pada pemilihan umum. NFC Shield dapat memindai e-KTP secara langsung. Data UID dapat menjadi data yang akurat bagi masing-masing pemilih sehingga dapat mengurangi kecurangan, seperti penggelembungan suara, kesalahan daftar pemilih, dan mengurangi biaya pemungutan suara

A survey on group signature schemes

Group Signature, extension of digital signature, allows members of a group to sign messages on behalf of the group, such that the resulting signature does not reveal the identity of the signer. Any client can verify the authenticity of the document by using the public key parameters of the group. In case of dispute, only a designated group manager, because of his special property, is able to open signatures, and thus reveal the signer’s identity. Its applications are widespread, especially in e-commerce such as e-cash, e-voting and e-auction. This thesis incorporates the detailed study of various group signature schemes, their cryptographic concepts and the main contributions in this field. We implemented a popular group signature scheme based upon elliptic curve cryptosystems. Moreover, the group signature is dynamic i.e. remains valid, if some members leave the group or some new members join the group. Full traceability feature is also included in the implemented scheme. For enhanced security the the scheme implements distributed roles of the group manager. We also analysed various security features, formal models, challenges and cryptanalysis of some significant contributions in this area

Racial Identity and Voting: Conceptualizing White Identity in Spatial Terms

Recent political events have prompted an examination of the analytical tools and conceptual frameworks used in political science to understand voting and candidate choice. Scholars in the behavioral tradition have highlighted the empirical relationship between racial resentment and anti-black affect among white voters during and after President Obama’s successful run for re-election. The theoretical role of white identity within the context of the privileged status of this racial group has seen much less scholarly attention by political scientists, particularly with respect to racial group identification and its implications. To address this lacuna, we argue that racial identification among white voters can be conceived of as a utility-based trait relevant to candidate choice, combining a social-psychological approach of group membership together with a rational choice perspective. This conceptualization of the political utility of white racial identity provides wider conceptual latitude for empirical tests and explanations of voting in U.S. elections

Election Law and White Identity Politics

The role of race in American politics looms large in several election law doctrines. Regrettably, though, these doctrines’ analyses of race, racial identity, and the relationships between race and politics often lack sophistication, historical context, or foresight. The political status quo is treated as race-neutral, when in fact it is anything but. Specifically, the doctrines rely upon sanguine theories of democracy uncorrupted by white identity–based political calculations, while in fact such calculations, made on the part of both voters and political parties, are pervasive. In this Article, I appraise the doctrine pertaining to majority-minority voting districts, racial gerrymandering doctrine, the doctrine governing ballot access disputes, and campaign finance doctrine through the lens of white identity politics. Drawing from research in political science, sociology, and history, I argue that these doctrines are blighted by what I identify as “racial blind spots” that are inconsonant with political reality. Given the role that courts play in enunciating these doctrines, their failure to meaningfully engage with the significance of white identity politics renders their governing frameworks and remedial prescriptions inapt. The Article concludes by offering a number of suggestions, both doctrinal and legislative, for how to mitigate white identity politics