Accuracy or Accuracy of Manipulation

We all know that the internet has reinforced services/businesses such as e-commerce and effective social interactions (Social Media). On the other hand, Digital democracy (online voting) is a double-edged weapon by all means.

We all agree that internet voting will increase the number of voters due to the availability and accessibility of the internet, but this number might increase in favor of one party than the other based on the online population, the availability of political information on news sites and security issues (Kanter, 1999; Cannon et al., 2001). Many things seem to interfere with the validity of online voting such as selling online votes, lack of privacy while voting, or the attack of viruses to change or forward votes to third parties. Politicians along with online voting critics are torn apart between the effectiveness and the total adoptability of this tool and the possibility of fraud.

I believe that the security issues and the uniqueness of the voter individuality can be guaranteed if the right methods have been implemented adequately. Other than the personal identification numbers (PINs), biometrics such as voice or fingerprint recognition might be incorporated to ensure the security of the internet voting, and the credit card identification method to ensure the uniqueness of the voter individuality. If privacy, security and identification issues were taken to the higher level of online implementation, then the online voting would be the one and only voting system nationwide. By implementing E-voting (online voting) and putting it into practice, many benefits will be attained:

• Better democratic nation

• Modernizing electoral system

• Increase the number of voter due to the mobility of the system and the availability and accessibility of the internet

It seems that the only democratic approach in the election is choosing the political leader, but the way/method used to elect the politician is far from being democratic (online voting). I feel that politicians want to control or at least to keep an eye on the voting flow in such a legal way, but since the internet is designed to be democratic _ no one can control the online information flow or at least very hard_ and interfering in online voting is against the fundamentals of democracy, I don’t believe that it would be their ideal method to guarantee more votes.