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A 16-year-old is constantly on the phone, regularly posting selfies on Instagram and organizing meetings only via Whatsapp. She does not write letters, does not read newspapers. Many parents today live with their children like this. For some of these parents, cultural pessimism germinates. This is definitely unfounded. However, as the head of elections and votes in the canton of Basel-City, I ask myself the following question: The 16-year-old girl will be able to vote in two years – how will she want to exercise her political rights? On paper and with letters? Or electronically?
According to a study by the Aarau Center for Democracy, 69% of people vote for electronic voting . Among the younger generations, supporters are even more numerous: 90% of those under 30 are in favor of electronic voting.
The cantons wishing to introduce or introduce electronic voting also have in mind the next generation of 16 years. She will find it normal to do daily things numerically. Therefore, for the US authorities, there is less question of whether we can increase the vote by electronic vote. The surveys speak rather against. But one wonders if some of the "newcomers" will vote for abstinence if we do not offer them electronic voting.
"Formal errors and void votes are excluded."
Many cantons have recognized the potential of electronic voting. Since 2005, the Confederation and the cantons have been organizing a project: step by step, the project has been pursued together – according to the principle of "safety against rhythm". There were no relevant issues during this time with over 200 attempts. The cantons benefit from their experience. Because it is the cantons who are responsible for the execution and counting of the ballots, even for those who are in the alliance. In Basel-City, a team of six people takes care of electronic voting: computer experts, lawyers, political scientists, communication specialists.
But we, the townships, are even more concerned. First, improve democratic processes: it's one of the unpleasant moments of any state writer, when he has to declare Sunday, when voting, why, at a poll, to many votes were invalid and were lost. As recently at the Stadtzürcher Wahlen in March 2018.
For electronic voting, such formal mistakes are no longer possible. Voters are directed through the voting process. Invalid votes are excluded.
Second, we seek to improve the opportunities for those who have the right to vote, but who can not or will not vote. Independent and independent time-based electronic voting brings benefits, especially for people with disabilities. We can facilitate the vote. The assertion that electronic voting offers few benefits is therefore irritating.
Jurisdiction should return to the cantons
This journal has already detailed the technical aspects of the security of electronic voting, which is why I do not want to deepen that. But I would like to say something about efforts at the federal level, which should prevent electronic voting for at least some time. The parliament of Basel-City has already codified the electronic voting in the electoral law in 2008 and, last year, after an in-depth debate, it approved about six million francs for the national introduction of electronic voting for all voters in Basel-Stadt. Both decisions were submitted to referendum. This has not been taken either in the creation of the legal basis or in the loan approval. The electronic vote is thus anchored democratically in the canton of Basel-Stadt. The same goes for the other cantons that offer electronic voting.
The cantonal authority responsible for defining the voice channels should not be eroded. This must be taken into account in fair and important public discussion.
(Tages-Anzeiger)
created: 01.07.2018, 18:56
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