Title: A Comparative Assessment of Electronic Voting – Elections Canada
Headings: A Comparative Assessment of Electronic Voting
A Comparative Assessment of Electronic Voting
Archived
Part II: Benefits, Drawbacks and Risks Associated with Internet Voting
Benefits
Drawbacks and Risks
Public Attitudes
Table 1: Benefits and Drawbacks of Various Electronic
and Remote Voting Methods

Content: The length of time remote Internet voting options remain in place appears to be related to increases in both its use and in voter turnout. Fourth, related to administration, Internet and telephone voting are claimed to produce faster and more accurate election results. Internet and telephone voting systems are said to deliver a faster official ballot tabulation process and are alleged to be more accurate than other types of machine counting (such as punching cards) which are sometimes criticized for error. Fifth, over the long term all types of Internet voting have the potential to be less expensive to operate and execute than traditional paper ballots which require setting up and staffing polls. However, the start-up costs for machines or kiosks can be very high. Finally, all types of Internet voting and telephone voting have the potential to improve the overall quality of ballots cast by reducing or eliminating ballot errors and by creating better informed electors. There can be no ballot errors, and, depending on the system, no spoiled ballots because the computer will not permit it. However, if the legal structure in a jurisdiction requires the option to spoil a ballot or allows for protest votes, a button can be added in some programs to give electors the option to cast a protest vote (or decline to vote). Furthermore, depending on the architecture of the Internet voting system, there is the possibility for additional information to be displayed regarding candidates and their policy positions in conjunction with the on-line vote. This would provide voters with basic information about the candidates and party platforms, and therefore better informing them to vote.