Irish Citizens for Trustworthy Evoting

Electronic voting in Ireland -- Latest News

(please see the introduction for more information about
Irish Citizens for Trustworthy Evoting)

23rd April 2009

Success! Minister Gormley has announced "that the Government has decided not to proceed with the implementation of electronic voting in Ireland."

27th September 2007

In the Netherlands a government commission has concluded that the whole country should return to paper and pencil voting. See http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2007/09/time_not_right_for_electronic.php

5th October 2006

Nedap machines hacked! Dutch group We Don't Trust Voting Computers revealed on Dutch TV last night that they have successfully installed software on Nedap voting machines (identical to the Irish machines in every important respect) that will cause the machines to lie about the votes cast on them. See our press release for more details.

6th July 2006

There was an issue yesterday with accessing our mailing list archives and our press release archives. The problem has been resolved, and you should be able to access both now. Sorry for the inconvenience.

4th July 2006

The CEV has released their second report.

"Based on the results of its work to date in relation to technical, procedural and comparative aspects of the chosen system, and recognising that the chosen system can potentially enhance and deliver real efficiencies in the administration of elections in Ireland (as demonstrated by systems based on the same design and used elsewhere for some years), the Commission concludes that it can recommend the voting and counting equipment for use at elections in Ireland, subject to further work it has also recommended, but that it is unable to recommend the election management software for such use."

2nd July 2006

A Sunday Times (Ireland) article claims that the next CEV report will be published this Tuesday.

June 2006

A campaign has been started in the Netherlands to halt the use of e-voting there. (website in Dutch)

15th December 2004

The Commission on Electronic Voting have released their full report.

8th December 2004

openDemocracy have published an article about Irish Citizens for Trustworthy Evoting, written by Margaret McGaley.

7th December 2004

evoting.cs.may.ie is back up after some technical difficulties. Apologies for any inconvenience.

6th July 2004

The Council of Europe released their " Draft Recommendation of the Committee of Ministers to member states on legal, operational and technical standards for e-voting".

24th June 2004

The Cabinet held a meeting to "agree a motion to go before the Dáil, extending the life of the independent Commission on Electronic Voting."

6th May 2004

Joe McCarthy has released a new spreadsheet (xls format) (pdf format, summary) indicating projected costs for the electronic voting system. It indicates that the total spent so far is €53,264,335 and that over its 20 year life span the system is likely to cost at least €110,429,089.

30th April 2004

The Commission on Electronic Voting have said that they are "unable to recommend the use of the proposed system at the local and European elections". The report is available for download from their website. Minister Cullen has said that the system will not be used this June.

15th April 2004

Joe McCarthy recently received several very interesting files under the Freedom of Information act. He asked ICTE to make them available here. Click on "files" above, or on the "Download" link on the left of this page.

5th April 2004

ICTE made a submission to the Democracy Commission.

26th March 2004

ICTE has handed in a submission to the Commission on Electronic Voting. The pdf is available for download. Mr Joe McCarthy's submission is also available online. If you have made a submission, and would like ICTE to link to it, please contact:

MMcGaley(at)cs.may.ie

14th March 2004

According to a Red C poll, published in today's Sunday Business Post, 58% of respondants want the introduction of electronic voting postponed until a paper trail is added to the system. Unfortunately, 27% of those polled said they would be less likely to vote because of the electronic voting system. (link pending).

11th March 2004

The Commission on Electronic Voting released a website and a public notice inviting submissions.

5th March 2004

We're looking for signatures on (a paper copy of) our statement.

4th March 2004

Amarach survey (scroll down to almost the end) shows fall in support for e-voting system, rise in opposition. The interviews took place between the 23rd of January and the 9th of February 2004.

3rd March 2004

The Irish Computer Society (ICS) has called for a paper-based voter verified audit trail. See their press release

2nd March 2004

The Government have set up a commission to inquire into electronic voting. It will make its first report before May 1st. Its terms of reference have not yet been finalised, but the members were announced today:

4th February 2004

A leaflet outlining our position is available to download in .pdf or .doc format.