Estonia went to the polls over the weekend in Parliamentary elections, and seem to have returned the incumbent coalition to power. Meanwhile, according to the detailed results on Wikipedia, the conservative Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica, in government until 2005, got thoroughly caned at the polls, seeing the 35 seats previously held by its constituent parties shrink to 19.
The most interesting feature of the elections however is the use of remote internet voting - people can vote from home at their computers, rather than going in to a polling booth. This is made possible by the widespread use of chipped ID cards, which act as a unique identifier and log-in for the voting system. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be any real protection against the real problem of electronic voting: lack of transparency and verifiability.
Bloody good!!
ReplyDeleteHopefully the Reform Party have the support of their coalition partners to follow through on their policy of reducing the flat tax rate from 22% to 18%.
I've covered the election HERE and HERE
What is with the fiddling of electoral systems? Instead of looking for technological panaceas, Whats so wrong with making voting compulsory and the day of the general election a public holiday. Elections are one of the few remaining events in our society that separate the consumer sheep from the engaged citizen. Make it an event that allows everyone to take a moment to savour their civic duties and democratic rights.
ReplyDeleteI doubt it - their coalition party - the Centre Party supports a progressive tax system.
ReplyDeleteSanctuary: because comulsory voting is a violation of people's democratic right to say "fuck you" to the entire political system.
ReplyDeleteA public holiday is a good ide a- though in NZ we have our elections on a weekend. There is a bit of a carnival atmosphere developing, though, which I quite like.
"I doubt it - their coalition party - the Centre Party supports a progressive tax system."
ReplyDeleteThey've been in coalition for the last couple of years, and in that time the flat tax rate has dropped from 24% to 22%.
Should be interesting to watch the coalition negotiations!!