Voter Identification Research Articles

Voting Application using Blockchain Technology

Abstract: Voting plays a crucial role in democratic societies, allowing individuals to voice their opinions and shape the direction of governance. However, traditional voting systems encounter challenges regarding transparency, security, and trustworthiness. In recent years, blockchain technology has emerged as a promising solution to address these issues and revolutionize the voting process. This research paper presents a novel voting application that leverages blockchain technology to enhance the integrity and efficiency of elections. By utilizing the decentralized and immutable nature of blockchain, the proposed system aims to provide a transparent and trustworthy voting process. Each vote is recorded as a transaction on the blockchain, ensuring a transparent and tamper-resistant ledger that can be verified by all participants. The implementation of smart contracts, which are self-executing and self-enforcing digital agreements, automates and streamlines the voting process. This eliminates the need for intermediaries, such as election authorities, and enables verifiable and auditable results. Additionally, the integration of cryptographic techniques further enhances the security and privacy of the voting system, safeguarding the confidentiality of voters' choices. The paper thoroughly examines the advantages and challenges associated with implementing blockchain technology in the voting domain. It explores the benefits offered by blockchain, including transparency, immutability, and decentralized governance, while also addressing concerns related to scalability, voter identification, and accessibility. Through a comprehensive analysis and evaluation, this research paper aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of blockchain-based voting systems and their potential impact on democratic processes. By harnessing the power of blockchain technology, it becomes possible to create a voting system that is more secure, transparent, and inclusive, ultimately strengthening the foundations of democracy.

ISLAMIC PARTIES AND THE VOTING BEHAVIOR OF CITY MUSLIMS IN WEST SUMATRA

The background of this research is that there are no parties based on Islamic values ​​that dominate the victory in the legislative elections in West Sumatra, especially in the three cities that will be the locations of this research. Where the cities are Padang City, Bukittinggi City, and Pariaman City. These three cities have a very dominant Muslim voting population, but in the implementation of legislative elections, not a single party based on Islamic values ​​was able to dominate the victory in the legislative elections. The Muslim community in this city is very synonymous with the policies of its government which are based on sharia, but their voting behavior in legislative general elections does not reflect behavior that supports parties that uphold Islamic teachings. This study uses the theory of voting behavior with a psychological school, to see how the characteristics of voters in this city's Muslim community use a voting behavior approach based on psychological aspects, with the independent variables Issues in the Campaign (X.1) Identification of parties (X.2) and Orientation towards candidates ( X.3) with the dependent variable, namely the voting behavior of urban Muslim communities in general elections. This research uses a quantitative approach with a survey research design, this type of research is explanatory research. Data was collected by distributing questionnaires, respondents were selected using the probability sampling method, namely, stratified random sampling and simple random sampling and using random numbers in determining the respondents. The analysis model for this research is a frequency table and hypothesis testing using Chi Square. The findings of the data in the field show that in measuring the influence between the voting behavior of urban Muslim communities on party identification (X) and voting behavior (Y), the results of this study found that there was a relationship between the identification of Muslim voters' parties on voting behavior of urban Muslim communities in general elections.

Biometric based Mobile Voting Application

With a population of more than one billion, India is the largest democracy in the world. Its electorate is more than 668 million people and includes 543 congressional districts. Each Indian citizen above 18 years of age is entitled to vote in elections to choose their leaders. The traditional method of voting involved paper ballot voting and at present Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) are employed. The goal of the mobile voting system research is to create a software that makes voting simple in all elections. This system aims to increase election security by using a fingerprint recognition algorithm for voter identity authentication. This allows all eligible voters to participate in the election from any place. There are some circumstances like COVID epidemic where a physical election is not feasible, and this model overcomes it. It helps to provide reliable, timely, and accurate election results. Voter ID, Aadhar ID and biometric system (fingerprint) are used by the website for user login.

Assessing the Impact of the United States Postal System and Election Administration on Absentee and Mail Voting in the 2012 to 2020 U.S. Midterm and Presidential Elections

Absentee and mail voting were important ways of ballot casting during the coronavirus pandemic and the 2020 presidential election. Several studies (Burden et al. 2014, 2017; Ritter and Tolbert 2020) have established that the impact of absentee and mail voting is shaped by the presence of other election laws and broader features of a state's election administration. However, more study is needed to address whether and to what degree accessible versus restrictive features of a state's election administration impact the ability of individuals to vote in these ways. Using the accessible voting framework (Ritter and Tolbert 2020) and data from the 2018 and 2020 Catalist voter file as well as the 2012 to 2020 Cooperative Election Study, this study evaluates the impact of excuse required absentee, no-excuse absentee, permanent absentee, and universal mail voting laws on individual-level voting. In addition, this study evaluates whether state cure laws, voter identification laws, notary or witness signature requirements, and variations in United States Postal Service delivery times moderate the impacts of absentee and mail voting laws. Ultimately, this study demonstrates that the level of accessibility of state absentee and mail voting laws as well as their administration have significant effects on voter turnout. The results also reveal that higher performing U.S. Postal Service administration can enhance the impact of absentee and mail voting laws, particularly in states with the most restrictive mail voting laws.

RFID Based For Biometric Voting Machine

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a current era that permits digital devices, software, sensors, vehicles, and home appliances to interconnect with networks and transfer data without human or computer intervention. However, the current electronic voting machines lack recent security measures that allow voters to verify their identity before casting their vote, which can lead to false voters casting duplicate or fake votes. To address this issue, a proposed system utilizes RFID and IoT to enhance security mechanisms in electronic voting machines. The system replaces the traditional voter ID with an active RFID tag that the system can scan and match with collected fingerprints. To verify their identity, the voter must scan their RFID tag and confirm their identity with their fingerprints. The voting machine includes an active reading device (reader) to read data on the RFID tag and a fingerprint scanner to capture fingerprints. If the fingerprints match against the database, the individual can cast their vote. In addition, the voting machine includes an LCD display to show the voter's relevant information from the database. This approach can help prevent illegal voting or impersonation since fingerprints are unique to each individual. This paper describes the layout and operation of a Smart Electronic Voting Machine the usage of Arduino UNO, RFID, to improve the election process by preventing electoral fraud and ensuring safety, security, reliability, and seamless conduct of elections in the country. The proposed solution involves the device communicating with the RFID tag. When the voter scans their RFID card, the controller verifies the ID, and if it matches, the LCD displays the result and enables the voter to cast their vote for the corresponding party. It is essential to ensure the secure implementation of the system.

SIMPLE BLOCKCHAIN-BASED E-VOTE APPLICATION

This paper describes a blockchain-enabled e-voting system that uses digital wallets to represent votercredentials, with each voter receiving a single "coin" to cast their vote. The voting process includes steps for voterregistration and identification, as well as the casting of votes using encryption or hashing algorithms. The authors discussvarious methods for voter identification, including the use of private and public key pairs, ID documents, and biometricdata. They also mention the use of the SHA-256 hashing algorithm for added security. The goal of the project is to developa flexible system that can be used in any institution and that guarantees maximum security against fraud. The system isbuilt using Rust, a new experimental programming language developed by Mozilla, and makes use of "task trees" tomanage the voting process. Consideration of various methods for voter identification, including the use of private andpublic key pairs, ID documents, and biometric data, shows a commitment to providing a flexible solution that can beadapted to meet the needs of different institutions and voting scenarios. The use of the SHA-256 hashing algorithm alsoadds an extra layer of security to the system, making it more difficult for malicious actors to manipulate or tamper withthe voting process. The use of Rust and "task trees" to manage the voting process also indicates a focus on developing arobust and efficient system that can handle the complexities of large-scale voting. Rust's emphasis on safety and memorymanagement can help prevent common programming errors that can lead to security vulnerabilities, while task trees canprovide a structured approach to managing multiple concurrent voting processes. Overall, the blockchain-enabled evoting system described in this paper presents an interesting approach to addressing the challenges of secure andtransparent voting processes. However, as with any new technology, it will be important to thoroughly test and evaluatethe system to ensure its reliability and effectiveness before it can be widely adopted

Presumptions of Legislative Intent in R (Coughlan) v Minister for the Cabinet Office

In R (Coughlan) v Minister for the Cabinet Office, the UK Supreme Court held that the Minister for the Cabinet Office acted lawfully when making orders which introduced, as a pilot scheme, a requirement for voter identification in local government elections in certain local authority areas. The case turned on the interpretation of section 10 of the Representation of the People Act 2000, pursuant to which the orders were made. This note argues that the Court erred when it concluded that the intended scope of the power created by section 10 was clear without first analysing the prior question of whether that power had to be interpreted restrictively. The Court's reasoning appears to misunderstand the operation of the presumptions in favour of a restrictive interpretation of interferences with fundamental rights and of ‘Henry VIII powers’. This note submits that, ultimately, the Court's approach threatens to erode the principle of legality.

Voter identification requirements, collective descriptive representation, and Black and Latino voter turnout

ABSTRACT Previous evidence on the racial and ethnic effects of voter identification (ID) requirements is mixed; some works find voter IDs decrease Black and Latino turnout, others find no effect, and some conclude they may increase non-white turnout. Though these findings seem contradictory, this study argues all are plausible under the right conditions, specifically, the (lack of) racial/ethnic collective descriptive representation. Collective descriptive representation, or the extent to which an individual is represented by multiple members of their racial or ethnic group in office, may mediate the impact of voter ID requirements by providing substantive and symbolic benefits that outweigh costs of obtaining IDs, and by providing ID information and social pressure through mobilization efforts. As such, it is likely that the discriminatory effects of voter IDs differ based on the extent to which voters are descriptively represented. Using voter surveys (2006–2018; N = 59 K Black, 54 K Latino) and a representative sample of national voter roll data (2012; N = 343 K Black, 279 K Latino), this study shows the effect of collective representation is larger in states with voter identification requirements, likely as campaigns attempt to offset the perceived negative effects of these requirements. However, this effect is only uncovered for Black, not Latino, Americans.

Voting While Trans: How Voter ID Laws Unconstitutionally Compel the Speech of Trans Voters

Voting While Trans: How Voter ID Laws Unconstitutionally Compel the Speech of Trans Voters

Preventing criminal and money politics in Indian electoral system with the use of ICT in the digital age

In recent years, the Indian electoral system has been marred by instances of criminal and money politics. These practices have not only undermined the democratic process but have also resulted in the election of corrupt and ineffective representatives. In this paper, we propose the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to prevent criminal and money politics in the Indian electoral system. We argue that the digital age provides a unique opportunity to enhance transparency and accountability in the electoral process, and ICT can be leveraged to achieve this goal. The paper begins by providing an overview of the problem of criminal and money politics in India and its impact on the electoral process. We then discuss the potential of ICT in addressing this problem, highlighting the various tools and technologies that can be employed to ensure transparency and accountability in the electoral process. We also discuss the challenges and limitations of ICT in this context, including issues related to the digital divide, cybersecurity, and data privacy. The paper then provides a detailed analysis of the various ICT initiatives that have been undertaken in India to prevent criminal and money politics in the electoral process. These include initiatives such as the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), the introduction of Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines, and the use of biometric authentication for voter identification. We evaluate the impact of these initiatives on the electoral process and identify areas for further improvement. Finally, we conclude by emphasizing the need for a comprehensive and coordinated approach to leveraging ICT for preventing criminal and money politics in the Indian electoral system. We argue that such an approach must involve the collaboration of various stakeholders, including the Election Commission, political parties, civil society organizations, and the general public. We also highlight the need for a strong legal and regulatory framework to ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of ICT initiatives in this context.

Native American Voting Rights in Utah: Federal Policy, Citizenship, and Voter Suppression

Native American Voting Rights in Utah: Federal Policy, Citizenship, and Voter Suppression

Turning rights into ballots: Mexican external voting from the US

ABSTRACT While some countries lag in enacting or implementing voting rights for nationals living outside the territory, others grant them but lag in turning rights into ballots. What explains the stagnation between offering democratic voice on paper to realizing active external voting in practice? We draw from the diaspora politics literature to analyse Mexico as a deviant case: we expect widespread external voting, given extensive state–diaspora institutionalization, continued legal and policy innovations, high financial investment, and consistent application of federal-level external voting since 2006. Yet, 15 years on, around 2% of those with a voter ID card and less than 1% of the pool of over 10 million potential voters participated in the 2018 election. Lowering key institutional barriers and easing voting modalities have yet to spur meaningful participation. Evidence from turnout data and electoral laws is supported with interviews within Mexico’s electoral management body, which capture insiders’ views on the politics behind innovations. The interpretive policy analysis contributes to understanding the role of electoral institutions and governance across territories. Innovations to ease registration and voting can fail to increase external voting numbers, leaving a large group of nationals abroad on the sidelines of democracy.

The effects of journalistic intervention and falsely balanced reporting on support for voter ID law

ABSTRACT Does the way journalists report on electoral fraud affect Americans’ support for voter ID laws? Drawing on an original survey experiment, we show that exposure to reporting on voter fraud that contains weight-of-evidence information and factual corrections reduces support for voter ID laws. The results of a causal mediation analysis show that this effect is mediated by beliefs about the severity of voter fraud. Further, we find that news source attribution does not moderate this effect.

Understanding a Key Electoral Tool: A New Dataset on the Global Distribution of Voter Identification Laws

ABSTRACT Relating electoral laws to electoral integrity has long been a focus of academic research. Using the strategic-relational approach, as outlined in this special issue, it is possible to better understand how electoral laws shape the voter experience and electoral outcomes. This paper contributes to this understanding by looking at Voter Identification (ID) laws. With no consolidated dataset of voter ID laws existing outside the U.S.A. it is difficult to answer research questions put forward in this special issue, especially the second. This paper begins to address this shortfall by presenting the Comparative Voter ID Law (CVIL) index. Which has collected data on 246 individual electoral jurisdictions. Data presented show how voter ID laws are distributed globally, regionally, by regime type and level of democracy. The second part of the analysis goes on to describe voter ID laws by whether a jurisdiction has compulsory ID laws, how many different types of ID are accepted and the minimum number of ID documents that must be shown. Thirdly, other variables within the dataset are described. The CVIL will provide opportunities to understand how Voter ID laws are part of institutional design, are used by actors, shape the voter experience and electoral out-comes.

Tattoo discrimination in Mexico motivates interest in tattoo removal among structurally vulnerable adults.

Tattoos are less prevalent in Mexico and tattooed persons are frequently stigmatized. We examine the prevalence and correlates of interest in receiving tattoo removal services among 278 tattooed Mexican adults living in Tijuana, Mexico who responded to interviewer-administered surveys, including open-ended questions. Overall, 69% of participants were interested in receiving free tattoo removal services, 31% reported facing employment barriers due to their tattoos, and 43% of respondents regretted or disliked some of their tattoos. Having a voter identification card, reporting moderate/severe depression symptoms and believing that tattoo removal would remove employment barriers were independently associated with interest in tattoo removal. Our findings suggest that there is substantial interest in tattoo removal services. Publicly financed tattoo removal services may help disadvantaged persons gain access to Mexico's labor market and it may positively impact other life domains such as mental well-being and interactions with law enforcement.

Exclusionary Citizenship: Public Punitiveness and Support for Voting Restrictions

Much scholarship has discussed how the expansion of the carceral state in the U.S. has consequences for other facets of the democracy. Specifically, felony disenfranchisement laws create a class of “carceral citizens” comprised disproportionately of racially minoritized individuals, and voter ID laws likewise closely mirror racialized segregation efforts that parallel the effects of justice system policies. Despite these clear theoretical linkages, little research has examined whether the anti-welfarism, anti-immigrant attitudes, and symbolic racism which fuel public punitiveness similarly increase support for voting restrictions. Further, it is unknown whether punitiveness itself intervenes in these relationships. Analyses of data from the 2020 American National Election Survey (N = 7,453) reveal considerable overlap between the sources of both punitiveness and voting restriction policies, and punitiveness sets an indirect path through which these social sensibilities influence support for voting restrictions. Further, party-specific analyses reveal that these associations generally are stronger for Democrats than Republicans.

No House, No Vote

Canadian election laws oscillate between elite and participatory approaches, where the former precludes, and the latter facilitates, equity-deserving groups from exercising their democratic right to vote. The term ‘houseless’ replaces the pejorative ‘homeless’, removing the inherent familial and kinship components of home possession to focus on lacking shelter as the missing element of one’s life. In this paper, I marshal extant scholarship in elections policy, voter identification law, and political history to argue that elite voter identification laws systematically exclude houseless voters from Canadian political venues. I articulate and defend a participatory approach in designing future election legislation, extinguishing heuristics surrounding houseless Canadians and supporting their political involvement. This article provides directions for optimal voter identification laws, reflecting a participatory approach to protect the democratic rights of every Canadian—not just those with a permanent roof over their heads.

Review: Whitelash: Unmasking White Grievance at the Ballot Box, by Terry Smith

Book Review| April 01 2022 Review: Whitelash: Unmasking White Grievance at the Ballot Box, by Terry Smith Whitelash: Unmasking White Grievance at the Ballot Box, by Terry Smith. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2020. 300 pp. $24.99 (paper). ISBN: 9781108445467. Gbemende Johnson Gbemende Johnson Hamilton College Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar National Review of Black Politics (2022) 3 (1-2): 51–54. https://doi.org/10.1525/nrbp.2022.3.1-2.51 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Cite Icon Cite Search Site Citation Gbemende Johnson; Review: Whitelash: Unmasking White Grievance at the Ballot Box, by Terry Smith. National Review of Black Politics 1 April 2022; 3 (1-2): 51–54. doi: https://doi.org/10.1525/nrbp.2022.3.1-2.51 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentNational Review of Black Politics Search After the 2020 presidential election, multiple states passed laws placing additional requirements and restrictions on access to the ballot, including increased voter identification requirements and absentee ballot restrictions. While these laws appeared race-neutral, observers argued that the goal of these laws was to reduce turnout among voters of color, who are more likely to cast their ballot for Democratic candidates. Optimally, laws that intentionally discriminate against populations based on race would fall in face of legal challenges. However, what if members of the public cast votes with racial animus against certain groups? Should there be a remedy to address such behavior and, if so, what should that remedy be? Also, should elected officials who use appeals that denigrate racial groups be held to similar standards as employers who engage in discriminatory behavior toward their employees? These are a few of the central questions that motivate Terry Smith’s discussion in Whitelash:... You do not currently have access to this content.

The Voter ID Debate: An Analysis of Political Elite Framing in the UK Parliament

Abstract In 2021, the Conservative UK government announced a proposal to introduce mandatory voter identification (ID) in elections, raising concerns around how these measures might disenfranchise already marginalised groups. Using computational content analysis techniques, this study analyses all parliamentary debates to date on voter ID to understand how political elites frame these requirements. Despite voter ID being justified as necessary to tackle voter fraud when the new Elections Bill was first announced, this study instead finds both Conservative and Labour Members of Parliament agree voter fraud numbers are small. Conservatives nevertheless significantly frame voter ID as necessary to strengthen public confidence in the electoral system, which contrasts Electoral Commission’s 2021 data instead finding 90% of the public consider voting to be safe from fraud at the polling station. Overall, this study sheds light to the ‘framing contest’ and polarisation present in parliamentary debates about voter ID, an increasingly contentious issue of the proposed Elections Bill.

Who Do Voter ID Laws Keep from Voting?

Voter identification (ID) laws have sparked concerns of vote suppression, but existing evidence relies on aggregate analyses or survey self-reports. We leverage unique information from Texas, where registrants without ID filed “reasonable impediment declarations” (RIDs) before voting. Linking 16,000 RID forms to the Texas voter file, we provide the first direct documentation of the traits of voters who would be stopped from voting under strict identification laws. Our preregistered analysis finds registrants voting without ID in 2016 were disproportionately Black and Latinx when compared to voters voting with ID. Examining voters’ stated reasons for not providing ID, we find socioeconomic hardships are not the most commonly cited impediment, but voters with hardships were less likely to vote in a strict-ID election than those who previously had identification. Our findings indicate that strict identification laws will stop a disproportionately minority, otherwise-willing set of registered voters from voting.