Secure e-voting a must for cities to improve voter turnout: Security Experts

TORONTO, Sept. 10, 2013 /CNW/ - By simply offering the option of voting from the comfort of home, municipalities can boost voter turnout and satisfaction, says security expert Claudiu Popa.

Known as secure Internet voting, online voting or e-voting, the process of participating in elections without leaving the comfort of home is an attractive option for many residents of Ontario municipalities. Huntsville has recently seen voter turnout increase more than 50% when the online option was offered while in 33 other cases participation increased 4-20% with no reported security breaches.

"People want the option to vote online as long as the process is fair and secure. Hacking fears are not a legitimate argument against e-voting" says Popa, a security expert specializing in financial and healthcare information systems.

By using standard protection such as data encryption, safeguards against unauthorized activity and properly configured systems, municipalities can demonstrate that they care about their voters' preferences.

"Municipalities must demonstrate they are not willing to abandon disabled voters and those who live far from polling stations. People who prefer more convenient voting options can no longer be treated like spoiled children who should just get out there or be excluded", says Popa. "because they may simply not come out. Not because they're apathetic. They may have young families or other urgent matters. Besides, we're almost 1/6^th of the way through the 21^st century already. Let's get with the program!"

The 'program' according to Popa, author of two books on information protection, involves a simple 3-step process:

1. select the best e-voting system you can afford
2. follow a standardized process for evaluating its security
3. carefully analyze statistical data to incrementally improve voter satisfaction

"Make a commitment to voters and we will help you secure systems, processes and data" says Popa, president/CEO of Toronto-based consultancy Informatica Corporation.

About Informatica Corporation:

The company provides Canada's most respected security trustmark, the Statement of Trust™ with every security and privacy impact assessment. Its Verify™ Risk Assessment Framework conforms to global standards including Privacy by Design™, the Payment Card Industry's PCI-DSS and others.

Informatica's Certified Risk Advisors manage sensitive projects for Canadian businesses, associations and government agencies.

SOURCE: Informatica Corporation - Information Security Management

For further information:

Claudiu Popa, [e-mail] (Twitter @datarisk)
Informatica Corporation: www.SecurityandPrivacy.ca
1 Yonge St., Toronto, Canada
416-431-9012