Analyzing Computer Security: A Threat / Vulnerability / Countermeasure Approach

Interlude B: Electronic Voting

Interlude Spotlight

• The meaning of electronic voting

• Voting confidentiality

• Controlling integrity

• What are free and fair elections, and how do we assure them?

What Is Electronic Voting? 475

What Is a Fair Election? 477

What Are the Critical Issues? 477

Once again, we step back to examine a broad issue that cuts across several areas we encounter as we live our lives. Each of us is a citizen, and in most of our countries, we vote to express our views and choose people who represent us in our towns, states, and countries. Traditionally, voting has taken place using paper ballots: We mark our choices on a sheet of paper and then hand the paper to someone who will tally the votes.

But even on paper, security ...