Fostering Friendships - Enhancing Social Bonds in the Classroom
Siobhan - Electronic Vote Counting & Transparency
1. Electronic Vote Counting & Transparency Transparency: Voter/Observer Electronic Vote Counting Enhanced Count Information Adjudication -ballot images Certification Progress Information Standard Scanners Enhanced Audit Capability
Editor's Notes
Electronic counting refers solely to the vote counting process. The voter goes to the polling station as usual and makes a mark in the appropriate manner on the ballot paper. The completed ballot paper is placed in the ballot box. The ballot papers are then counted by a machine, rather than by hand. OPT2VOTE are currently the supplier for the 2012 local government elections in Scotland – 32 authorities, 4m eligible voters, scanning within 4 hours. Scotland introduced electronic vote counting in 2007 and will use electronic vote counting again in 2012. Complex voting calculation algorithms, such as the Weighted Inclusive Gregory method for the Single Transferable Voting methodology, are simplified with the introduction of electronic vote counting. Transparency from the voters and observers perspective. In a manual count if the voter goes to the counting centre he/she can immediately ascertain what is happening. When observers attend an electronic count – see technology. Large voter education process, but also a number of things that can be done from a technology perspective to support transparency. Progress information & Floor plan – map, what is happening where? Using familiar technology – standard scanners – Canon, Kodak, Fujitsu Enhanced audit capability – trace ballot paper through the system Certification – independently certified – manual count, e-count Adjudication – view complete ballot images Enhanced count information – display and provide access to count calculations.