[E-voting] Comparison with Paper

[Stan Nangle]

A Chairde,

>From section 5:

Paper voting is "likely to deliver a more accurate expression of voter preferences"

Inadvertent voting errors are estimated at 0.8% for paper, while inputting Postal 
Votes "in the wild" has an error rate of .34% (in spite of " a three-way check on each 
ballot before it was cast")

"Given the transparent conditions under which Irish elections are currently conducted in 
open public view using the paper method, the likely occurrence of major counting errors 
is extremely low" ---- versus ---- "the potential for an inaccuracy in the counting of 
votes to go unnoticed is greater under an electronic system than under the paper system."

"Although these weaknesses of electronic systems generally can be largely overcome by 
rigorous design, testing and assurance stages [...] these conditions are not met in 
respect of the chosen system at this time."

"the paper ballots are retained by election officials, with the consequence that an 
election can be fully audited with reference to manual vote records if required. [...] 
Since the chosen electronic system does not have this facility [...]  it is not subject 
to any meaningful independent audit of its vote recording function. Thus the paper 
system is superior in this respect."


Given the above advantages of paper, in the most critical aspects of the voting system, 
can somebody explain how the CEV came to conclude that paper was only marginally better 
than "The Chosen System"

Is mise,

Stan: