Back to Search Start Over

Scantegrity II: End-to-End Verifiability by Voters of Optical Scan Elections Through Confirmation Codes

Scantegrity II: End-to-End Verifiability by Voters of Optical Scan Elections Through Confirmation Codes

Authors :
David Chaum
Jeremy Clark
Poorvi L. Vora
Stefan Popoveniuc
Peter Y. A. Ryan
Alan T. Sherman
Emily Shen
Aleksander Essex
Ronald L. Rivest
Richard Carback
Source :
IEEE Transactions on Information Forensics and Security. 4:611-627
Publication Year :
2009
Publisher :
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), 2009.

Abstract

Scantegrity II is an enhancement for existing paper ballot systems. It allows voters to verify election integrity - from their selections on the ballot all the way to the final tally - by noting codes and checking for them online. Voters mark Scantegrity II ballots just as with conventional optical scan, but using a special ballot marking pen. Marking a selection with this pen makes legible an otherwise invisible preprinted confirmation code. Confirmation codes are independent and random for each potential selection on each ballot. To verify that their individual votes are recorded correctly, voters can look up their ballot serial numbers online and verify that their confirmation codes are posted correctly. The confirmation codes do not allow voters to prove how they voted. However, the confirmation codes constitute convincing evidence of error or malfeasance in the event that incorrect codes are posted online. Correctness of the final tally with respect to the published codes is proven by election officials in a manner that can be verified by any interested party. Thus, compromise of either ballot chain of custody or the software systems cannot undetectably affect election integrity. Scantegrity II has been implemented and tested in small elections in which ballots were scanned either at the polling place or centrally. Preparations for its use in a public sector election have commenced.

Details

ISSN :
15566013
Volume :
4
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
IEEE Transactions on Information Forensics and Security
Accession number :
edsair.doi...........44313d3ee75291e42a3549e66a6a3477
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1109/tifs.2009.2034919