Electronic voting is the way forward
Published:Tuesday | February 28, 2023 | 12:07 AM
THE EDITOR, Madam:
Digitisation of elections is now increasing throughout the world. As a developing country, the Government of Jamaica should follow suit. The upgrade is necessary. The upgrade will limit unnecessary human interaction and the so-called ‘rigged’ election cry. Implementing the technology would be a major upgrade for the Electoral Commission of Jamaica and within the Caribbean.
To begin with, the Government of Jamaica should invest in electronic voting, as the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. The advantages include accuracy, as it pertains to ballot counting. This reduces human errors and manipulation of the elections. Investing in electronic voting will also limit ballot spoilage and increase security, as not all devices are networked together or connected to the Internet. Therefore, it is harder to be hacked. In fact, electronic voting is recommended as it is environmentally friendly. This will save over three million trees from being cut to develop ballot papers. One drawback to electronic voting is the cost. It is very expensive but worth it to provide efficiency for the electorate.
Naturally, the world is aiming for efficiency and transparency as it pertains to elections. The Electoral Commission of Jamaica is in need of urgent reform. The continuous transformation is to provide transparency among the citizens and within the international political sphere.
CHEVAUGN ROBINSON