MINSK, 22 January (BelTA) – Using tablets for signature collection is unlikely in Belarus in the near future, Chairperson of Belarus' Central Election Commission Lidia Yermoshina said at an online press conference at BelTA.
Replacing traditional paper carriers does not yet seem possible, the CEC head said. “Firstly, how will voters put their signatures on the tablet? Not all voters will have the right to electronic signature. Secondly, any manipulation is possible. I think this is the most unreliable means of collecting signatures because you can always destroy electronic data. It may be done unconsciously, or by a random virus,” Lidia Yermoshina noted.
She also repeatedly noted to the prematurity of introducing vote by mail for citizens abroad. “Voting by regular mail compromises the confidentiality of will expression. The envelope always has the data about a voter, the ballot has too. The United States allows e-mail voting for citizens abroad. They recognize that the confidentiality of vote is violated but note that if the voters use this form of voting, then these issues are of their concern,” she noted.
In addition, this method does not reduce costs. On the contrary it requires setting up additional conditions. “We are not even thinking of applying electronic voting. First we need to start using the electronic voter register, then we can think about further digitalization,” Lidia Yermoshina noted.
