Tuesday 27 February 2007

Online Voting and ID Cards

The petition is entitled introduce online voting in tandem with the introduction of the UK ID card scheme and the explanatory notes say
"I object to the introduction of the unpopular yet inevitable UK ID card scheme. However, this promised "secure" scheme should allow online voting through a secure internet connection. Should the majority of the UK, ID card-holding electorate sign an e-Petition it shall be introduced as law or be adopted as policy. Repeatedly this government has chosen to ignore the will of its people who they represent and serve. The people of the UK deserve a reactive government that is in accord with the electorate."

I agree, very strongly, with the sentiments expressed by the petitioner - in that the ID card scheme (and most particularly the little-mentioned NIR "database" associated with it) is utterly reprehensible, insecure, not going to achieve what it's claimed to be for, etc., etc. I could write a very pretty rant.

On the other hand, I don't see how the scheme can provide a secure way of voting online. At least, it could be made to, I think, but not as it's proposed. And if it were possible, I'd be more interested in seeing it being used for actual online voting in elections than e-Petitions, which as I've discussed before in the blog post entitled "Referendum" would need to be properly written and so on ... anyway, this is an Interesting Idea and I am Thinking About It.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I've now wasted an hour reading numerous blogs you have written in the last two months. You undoubtedly were raised here in England, and are undoubtedly young, based on the factors that you believe that just because you are "entitled to an opinion" that your opinion is valuable. It is most often, in most cases I read, not. Just asking questions, or expressing skepticism, is a curious exercise in self-psychotherapy but it is not by itself of value to others. Please spend more time evaluating each issue on the basis of what it may mean to society, not you. That you put words behind your opinions does not garner respect for you... nor does it enhance anything except your own listings. Please think twice. In Frank Herbert's Dune an important principle was to "speak only the deepest truth you can sense". Please. Thanks. Anonymous only because I like most others have litle time and now I won't waste further time reading your rantings. But good luck anyway. Cheers, a real person