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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 9 Oct 2003

Vol. 572 No. 2

Written Answers. - Election Management System.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

202 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government the experience on which it was deemed desirable to introduce electronic voting here; if his attention has been drawn to the Californian chad controversy; the person at whose instigation here electronic voting became a desirable objective; the procedures in sequence, when the first report supporting the concept was produced in his Department; the costs and firms involved in the process; the firms which have to date been awarded contracts or with which discussions are taking place in this regard; the way in which electronic voting might be deemed desirable here while, internationally, it is accepted that the only verifiably accurate record of a ballot is a written ballot paper; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22779/03]

Electoral law and the practical arrangements for the holding of elections are under ongoing review in my Department. As part of that review an examination of the feasibility of introducing electronic voting and counting began in November 1998. It concluded that the introduction of such a system was feasible. A statutory basis for electronic voting was provided by the Oireachtas in the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2001.

Following an international tender competition, a Dutch/UK company, Nedap/Powervote, were appointed to deliver an electronic solution to the manual voting and counting system. The system was successfully used in three constituencies at the last general election and in seven constituencies at the Nice II referendum.

In addition to Nedap/Powervote, a number of companies have been engaged to test the system hardware and software including PTB, the National Institute for Science and Technology in Germany; TNO Electronic Products and Services BV and KEMA Quality BV, the Netherlands; Electoral Reform Services, UK and Zerflow Information Security, PMI Software Limited and Nathean Technologies in Ireland.

Carr Communications were appointed, following a tender competition, to assist in the educational and publicity campaign for the introduction of the system in 2002 and the MRBI carried out an exit poll to ascertain the electorate's views on it. The poll found that 87% of those polled preferred the use of the voting machine to the paper ballot. An Irish company Loredo has been awarded a contract to supply large trolleys for the transport and storage of the voting machines. Tender competitions are in progress for the supply of small hand trolleys, tables for the voting machines which will assist wheelchair electors in the use of the voting machine and for a company to undertake an extensive educational and publicity campaign before the use of the system on a nationwide basis at the European and local elections in June 2004.

The rationale behind the introduction of electronic voting and counting is to advance the modernisation and efficient operation of the electoral system. Experience to date has confirmed the advantages of the new system. The evidence so far is that the electorate finds electronic voting easier than manual voting. The system simplifies the work of returning officers and their staff; it eliminates spoilt votes and it produces more accurate poll results. The problem of hanging chads which was seen in the last US presidential election is associated with punch card voting machines and not the system of direct vote recording and counting adopted for Ireland.

The verification of votes cast is also maintained under the new voting system. When using the voting machine the voter will see their preferences beside the candidates' photographs. In addition, the details of each preference will be separately shown on a voting machine display screen. Before pressing the cast vote button a voter can amend, in secret, the preferences recorded on their ballot. Finally, the system software will enable the printing of a ballot paper for each vote cast, without attribution to the voter, where a court order to this effect is obtained at an election petition. Electronic voting takes place in a number of countries such as in the Netherlands, in some large cities in Germany, in parts of the USA, India and Brazil.

I am confident that the new electronic voting system will enhance the integrity, security and efficiency of the Irish electoral process. Preparations for its use countrywide at the 2004 European and local elections are at an advanced stage. The estimated cost is €36 million plus VAT. Precise costings will not be available until near polling day when the uptake and demand by returning officers for ancillary equipment such as the trolleys and special tables is known.

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