“Today ensuring 100-percent security is impossible. On the other hand, (…) we have to look for other ways and technological solutions,” Defense Vice-Minister Edvinas Kerza told BNS.
“Therefore, our proposal is to start on a smaller scale, for instance, holding election of elders with the help of IT tools. Let’s then observe and analyze the security standards, challenges and possible involvement of hostile forces. After evaluating the risks, we can move forward,” he said.
At the end of February, the Lithuanian government gave a green light to the project that would pave way for development of an online voting system, which could be used as early as during the 2020 parliamentary elections.
A few bills on online voting have been submitted at Lithuania’s parliament, however, were rejected. Supporters of online voting expect the system to boost voter turnout, while critics fear that the poor cyber security situation may make the online voting system an easy target of an attack aimed at changing the election outcome. Questions are also raised regarding anonymity.