Election officials of the United States of America are making preparations for what could be the highest election turnout in modern records in the middle of a pandemic, says an article. Various states in the country will be using a new and untested voting scheme utilizing the internet. It aims to help voters who may be compromised by the COVID-19 pandemic to cast their votes.


The Latest Voting Technology

In the latest demonstration of the technology to be used in the upcoming elections, Delaware will permit voters with disabilities to send their ballots back through digital means in their initial vote in the following month. It is the second state in the U.S. to use such methods in voting. The decision comes despite some warnings given out by cybersecurity experts. The experts believe the new voting technology does not have enough mechanisms to protect the integrity of votes in the election.


Announcement to the Public

NPR first reported the development of the new voting scheme in the country, and it is yet to be announced to the public. 

Both the state and Democracy Live, a company based in Seattle that will be using the technology, has confirmed the decision. However, they disagree with the use of the term 'internet voting' due to the use of a cloud-based system.


U.S. States Implement Technology for Remote Voting

In the earlier parts of the year, West Virginia passed a new bill to permit the use of technology for its disabled voters. It was the first U.S. state to allow military and overseas voters to make use of an application to cast their votes in the 2018 midterms. Also, Delaware will be permitting military and overseas voters to cast their votes using the technology.


Worrying About Election Security

The developments are worrying some advocates for election security. Before the beginning of the pandemic, they have been focusing on cybersecurity before the 2016 elections. This was after Russian operatives were able to have the election networks of many U.S. states. Since then, a lot of states in the country had improved its security measures. Also, many of the states had refrained from using electronic voting systems. 


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Supporting the System of Democracy Live

Those who support the system of Democracy Live say that it is a paper-based system. A voter who submits their votes through electronic means gets their ballot officially printed before being counted. 

However, many security specialists do not show support for that concept because the ballot passes through the internet before it is placed on a stage where it can be printed. This exposes the vote to potential cyber manipulation. 


The General Public's Opinion

Some signs indicate that the general public is being open to the idea of voting through the internet. According to a survey by TargetSmart, many voters are supporting Internet voting amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

However, some advocates of Internet voting technology are expressing that its possibility may not be limited for disabled voters and overseas voters. Also, they see it as being used beyond a time of crisis. They view technology as a future of voting.