Evaluation of compliance with democratic and technical standards of i-voting in elections to academic senates in Czech higher education

TL;DR

This paper assesses the democratic and technical standards of i-voting systems used in Czech university elections, highlighting transparency issues that threaten election legitimacy and proposing the need for improved transparency measures.

Contribution

It provides a critical evaluation of i-voting systems in Czech higher education, emphasizing transparency concerns and their impact on election legitimacy.

Findings

Many systems lack transparency and security

Voter privacy and election integrity are often compromised

Transparency is essential for system legitimacy

Abstract

The shift towards increased remote work and digital communication, driven by recent global developments, has led to the widespread adoption of i-voting systems, including in academic institutions. This paper critically evaluates the use of i-voting platforms for elections to academic senates at Czech public universities, focusing on the democratic and technical challenges they present. A total of 18 out of 26 Czech public universities have implemented remote electronic voting for these elections. Yet, the systems often lack the necessary transparency, raising significant concerns regarding their adherence to democratic norms, such as election security, voter privacy, and the integrity of the process. Through interviews with system developers and administrators, along with a survey of potential voters, the study underscores the critical need for transparency. Without it, a comprehensive assessment of the technical standards and the overall legitimacy of the i-voting systems remains unattainable, potentially undermining the credibility of the electoral outcomes.