Trust and distrust in electoral technologies: what can we learn from the failure of electronic voting in the Netherlands (2006/07)

TL;DR

This paper analyzes the collapse of electronic voting trust in the Netherlands (2006/07), highlighting the complex interplay between trust, distrust, and socio-technical factors in electoral technology adoption.

Contribution

It provides a detailed case study of trust failure in electronic voting, emphasizing the importance of socio-technical context and offering broader insights into trust management in digital government.

Findings

Trust in electoral technology can rapidly decline due to socio-technical issues

Managing distrust requires differentiated strategies from building trust

The case underscores the importance of public administration in securing technology environments

Abstract

This paper focuses on the complex dynamics of trust and distrust in digital government technologies by approaching the cancellation of machine voting in the Netherlands (2006-07). This case describes how a previously trusted system can collapse, how paradoxical the relationship between trust and distrust is, and how it interacts with adopting and managing electoral technologies. The analysis stresses how, although being a central component, technology's trustworthiness dialogues with the socio-technical context in which it is inserted, for example, underscoring the relevance of public administration in securing technological environments. Beyond these insights, the research offers broader reflections on trust and distrust in data-driven technologies, advocating for differentiated strategies for building trust versus managing distrust. Overall, this paper contributes to understanding trust dynamics in digital government technologies, with implications for policymaking and technology adoption strategies.