Proof of pudding is in the voting

Political Reporter Michael O’Farrell visits the Netherlands to see electronic voting in operation.

DEEP in the bowels of a town hall 30 kilometres from Amsterdam, technical expert Michael vol Bergh wipes the sweat from his forehead and swallows hard. Things are looking bad.

Hilversum, a town of 80,000, is holding a referendum to decide whether parking metres should be removed. The vote, in common with the vast majority of Dutch elections, is using the same Nedap electronic voting machines that are to be introduced in Ireland in two months.