Encryption in Online Voting

Ballot security is one of the most hotly debated topics in the United States. People vote to make their voices heard, exercise their civil rights, and participate in democracy. While online voting can make elections more accessible, it can also increase the risk of unauthorized users intercepting, viewing, or manipulating ballots. 

Ballot security and accuracy are critical for businesses and organizations that rely on voting to make informed decisions. Encryption is one of the best ways to safeguard election results. 

What Is Encryption?

Encryption involves converting original information into an alternative form, a ciphertext. This alternative text is incomprehensible and appears random without the correct digital key to decode it. Only authorized users can “translate” the cipher back to the original, legible text. 

Encrypting sensitive data prevents unauthorized people from understanding it if they somehow get their hands on it. Many industries and platforms use encryption as a comprehensive defense against malicious third parties. 

Encryption offers several benefits for organizations.

• Ensures privacy: Encryption ensures only the intended owners or recipients can read communications. This process protects privacy by preventing governments, service providers, ad networks, or attackers from accessing sensitive data. 
• Provides security: This form of security can prevent data breaches. If someone steals a device or accesses the communication chain, the data is still secure because no one can read it. Furthermore, encryptions empower organizations to exchange sensitive information without worrying about leaks. 
• Upholds data integrity: Reliability and accuracy are crucial for many organizations. Encryption upholds data integrity by preventing anyone from manipulating or viewing it. This assurance is vital in processes like voting, where ballot tampering can lead to drastically different outcomes. 
• Meets regulations: Due to the extensive security encryption offers, many industry regulations require organizations to use it. 

How Does Encryption in Voting Work?

Broadly, encryption works with mathematical algorithms. Parties can decode the encryption by providing a password or string of numbers that the algorithm creates. Secure keys often have many characters, making it challenging for people to guess or use computers to calculate the correct key. 

Consider this example for online voting processes — you swap every letter for the letter four keys away from the original on a keyboard, such as turning “a” into “g” and so on. The result could turn the message “save” into “hg,u” to make it unreadable to those without the key. While this is a simplified example, sophisticated algorithms can transform information into less predictable and far more complex ciphertext.

There are also two types of encryption — symmetric and asymmetric. Symmetric encryption requires the same digital key for encryption and decryption, meaning the same key makes legible text incomprehensible and reverts to its original form. Symmetric encryption is often a more budget-friendly option because it requires less computing power and has fewer decoding delays. 

Asymmetric encryption uses two keys to perform encryption and decryption actions. One key is public, allowing anyone with the key to send an encrypted message. The second key is private, so only those with that specific key can decrypt messages. Asymmetric encryption requires more computing power and is less suitable for large quantities of data. 

How to Keep Voter Information Secure

Digital voting makes elections more accessible for many businesses and organizations. Online voting can also boost voter participation, giving you valuable insights. However, the shift to online voting demands increased security to ensure accurate results. Thankfully, you can use many strategies to secure voter information. 

• Consider data access points: Enhancing security begins with your data access points. Evaluate all website servers, software, and platforms to identify potential weak spots. 
• Create a security plan: After considering the attacks your organization may be vulnerable to, craft a security plan. Mitigate risks by defining the steps your team must take in a data breach or cyberattack. Formulate policies, update regulations, and make the necessary changes to assess and address risks and breaches for maximum security.
• Clean your database: Reviewing your member information is critical for ensuring security. Use accurate, up-to-date member lists to determine which members need to vote. Additionally, record-keeping can identify former members who should no longer have access to your systems. Removing these users from your database enhances security by preventing unauthorized access.
• Use embedded login links: Embedded login links simplify the voting process. Email your members a link that automatically takes them to the online voting platform. Your voters won’t need to log in, reducing confusion about forgotten passwords or lost URLs.
• Add single sign-on: Single sign-on is a popular method for logging into various platforms. SSO technology enhances security by requiring users to use another platform’s credentials to log into the platform they’re trying to access. Voters can avoid creating and remembering login credentials while easily accessing their ballot with instant redirection.
• Create QR codes: Customizable QR codes provide immediate access to voting materials or election instructions. Printing QR codes on envelopes, mail-in ballots, postcards, flyers, and other election materials could increase voter participation. QR codes can minimize errors by reducing problems associated with incorrect URLs or misread handwriting and enhance security by streamlining registration and controlling access to your information. 
• Use an auditable system: Constant monitoring and auditing are best practices for security in elections. Steps to take include performing vulnerability assessments and ensuring ongoing management. These reduce cybersecurity risks by scanning for potential threats and allowing you to respond to a threat as soon as it occurs. 

Ensure Election Security With Survey & Ballot Systems

Survey & Ballot Systems offers industry-leading security solutions for elections. Technology keeps improving, and your security measures must keep pace. When your members vote, you must take every measure to protect their information and ensure accurate outcomes. 

Our team provides solutions to protect election validity while streamlining elections. Top-level web hosting and encryption, reliable software and processes, and comprehensive monitoring and auditing strategies can transform your voting process and help you feel confident and secure. Contact us to learn more about our security capabilities and how we can manage your elections.