Authentication Mechanisms for E-Voting

E-Voting Systems

Electronic government is defined as using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to enhance government’s operations, provide suitable services to citizens, and improve citizens’ participation (World Bank, 2007; Yanqing, 2010; Abu-Shanab, 2012). Mason (2011) emphasized the notion of citizen’s participation in democratic life, while others related e-government to the provision of information and knowledge to make suitable decisions in political life (Lee, Chang & Berry, 2011). In their pursuit toward improved accountability to citizens (Carter & Belanger, 2004), and improved public service quality (Irani, Al-Sebie & Elliman, 2006), governments try to implement new technologies in all aspects of their operations. E-voting is one of the essential applications especially in the election process.

E-voting is the most researched topic in the area of e-government, although it is not devoted to political cause only. Voting is a needed process in administrative areas, where a decision is needed based on some alternatives. Examples of such applications are used in group decision support systems (GDSS) and policy/agenda setting initiatives. E-voting is defined as using ICT to conduct voting (Buchsbaum, 2005). E-voting, as a democratic activity, includes the voter, the registration authority and a tallying authority, where an electronic system is used to cast votes (Kumar & Walia, 2011a). Research indicated that even with traditional voting systems, using information systems to count votes is considered an e-voting application (Remmert, 2004).