Can we trust computer vote?
This is a decision which will affect our country just as much as the Nice Treaty yet there has been almost no public discussion of the dangers involved.
The loss of the social aspect of the current system is only one of the problems. Far more serious is the potential insecurity of an electronic ballot box.
As in the courts, justice must not only be done, but be seen to be done: the electoral system must not only be reliable, but must be seen to be reliable. Even if the electronic ballot box is not tampered with, we will have no way to be sure and this will reduce confidence in one of the few parts of our political system which most ordinary people trust.
All elections should be open and transparent.
Minister Cullen instead seems to be saying: "Trust me, I'm a politician."
Barry Saul,
3, Mather Road,
Mount Merrion,
Dublin.
