Digital elections offer numerous advantages over simple voting by a show of hands or voting with paper and pen. One of the biggest advantages is the time saved. Digital elections eliminate the need to count votes manually, making results available in real time. This not only increases efficiency, but also significantly reduces the error rate. Digital elections are also more cost-efficient as they minimize travel costs and material expenses.
However, there are also challenges that need to be considered. Security concerns and data protection are key functions that a digital voting tool must fulfill. Voters need to be sure that their votes are processed anonymously and securely. It is also important to ensure the platform is user-friendly to ensure a high level of participation.
In the end, it doesn't matter which term is used. The only important thing is that it is secure, or even better: legally secure voting software , such as NemoVote.
Survey tools therefore usually do not offer sufficient security.
For NGOs and NPOs, i.e. non-profit organizations, from Europe, it can also be particularly important that the voting solution also comes from Europe. This is particularly important for GDPR compliance.
Implementing a secure online election requires careful planning and preparation.
Legal aspects and adherence to compliance guidelines are essential for digital elections. It is important that the voting software used complies with the applicable data protection laws, such as the GDPR in the EU. In Germany, an AVV (data processing agreement) is also required. This ensures that voters' personal data is treated securely and confidentially.
See also: NemoVote security functions
Another important aspect is the legal recognition of election results. In many countries, digital elections must meet certain legal requirements in order to be legally binding. This applies in particular to the authentication of voters and the immutability of the votes cast.
In order to conduct a successful online election, some best practices should be followed. In most cases, comprehensive training of election officials and voters is not absolutely necessary but helpful to make the election process run smoothly. Platforms such as NemoVote offer detailed instructions for this.
Examples of video tutorials:
Communication with voters also plays an important role. Clearly worded invitations and regular reminders can increase participation. Test runs should also be carried out to ensure that all technical aspects function smoothly.
Finally, it is important to gather feedback from participants after the election. This helps to continuously improve the process and make future elections even more efficient and secure.