Projects: Open Source E-voting Aussie-style

Monday, November 03, 2003 - 06:06 PM

While critics grow more concerned each day about the insecurity of electronic voting machines, Australians designed a system two years ago that addressed and eased most of those concerns: They chose to make the software running their system completely open to public scrutiny.

Although a private Australian company designed the system, it was based on specifications set by independent election officials, who posted the code on the Internet for all to see and evaluate. What's more, it was accomplished from concept to product in six months. It went through a trial run in a state election in 2001.

Critics say the development process is a model for how electronic voting machines should be made in other countries.

Called eVACS, or Electronic Voting and Counting System, the system was created by a company called Software Improvements to run on Linux, an open-source operating system available on the Internet.

from Wired Magazine Article:
Aussies Do It Right: E-Voting By Kim Zetter Nov. 03, 2003 PT

"Instead of paying lawyers to threaten its critics, [e-voting companies] should invest in creating electronic voting machines that include voter-verified paper ballots and other security protections," said EFF Legal Director Cindy Cohn.

more resouce links:
• Electronic Frontier Foundation
• Chilling Effects Clearinghouse