Understanding the Pro’s and Con’s of Online Voting

Technology has made it possible to do almost everything online. Today, people can do their banking and shop online. It is no surprise that many countries are now adopting online voting.

Considering the pace at which the technology is advancing, future internet voting will have some changes. However, countries that have already embraced online voting experience the following benefits:

1. Convenient voting

The traditional voting system requires voters to present themselves physically at the polling stations to cast their votes.

Online voting makes it possible for voters to vote in the comfort of their own homes. All that is required is a laptop, good internet connection, and a few clicks of the mouse.

2. Increased voter turnout

Ballot box voting is time-consuming. Some voters might not be willing enough to neglect their daily routine to show up at the polling stations.

For certain voters, it may be difficult to physically get to the voting stations. Internet voting requires less of a time and travel commitment from voters. This particularly benefits the sick, disabled and those with busy schedules.

3. It is inexpensive

Internet voting requires no voting machines or election day workers. Most of the tasks are done automatically online.

Governments that have made online voting mandatory save so much from the reduced election expenses.

4. No location required

The traditional voting system requires a location. These locations are often schools, local halls and fire stations.

These are turned into polling stations on the election day; which disrupts the normal schedule of these institutions.

Internet voting requires no location, so no disruptions to those in the traditional voting stations.

5. Security

Just like online banking and shopping, internet voting is highly secured. This is due to the end-to-end encryption whereby no unauthorised person can access the voting portal. 

Online voting is less likely to be manipulated than manual voting.

6. It is flexible

Unlike the traditional voting that requires voters to cast their votes in allocated locations, on an allocated day, online voting can be done anywhere.

Voters have the advantage of voting at any time, at any location without having to queue.

7. No over voting

It is possible for a voter to cast a ballot more than once in the traditional voting system. In an online voting system, every voter is a registered member with a unique number assigned to them.

The software has every voter details and thus can detect over voting.

8. Fewer mistakes

In ballot box voting, making mistakes while marking the papers means termination of that specific vote. Internet voting gives voters a chance to make changes before clicking on the submit button.

However, just like the traditional voting system, online voting too has a few disadvantages:

The poor are left out

Some people might not have the money to pay for an internet connection. Well, some might not own any smart device let alone a laptop.

Thus, online voting disadvantages the poor. The less fortunate might end up not voting due to lack of these resources.

Difficult for the illiterate

Some people might have difficulties operating a computer. This group of people will have troubles following the given procedures to vote online.

Due to these challenges, the illiterate might end up not participating in online voting.

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