Computerization of a voting management system.

A case study of Accra Technical University

 CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

According to Election-America (2019), computerization of a voting management system
refers to the use of technology to manage and administer elections. A voting management
system is a software that manages every aspect of an election, from nominations to
processing final results. The use of technology in voting systems ranges from hand-counted
paper ballots to electronic voting machines resembling bank ATMs. Computerized voting
systems make vote recording and tallying faster and more reliable. MIT (2020) revealed that
voting technologies have developed in parallel with advances in information processing
technology. Paper ballots were the only means of voting until the late 1800s when automation
began to be used to assist in counting votes. Nowadays, almost all ballots in the U.S. and
some parts of the world are counted using computer-assisted technologies. A major feature of
the 2000 recount controversy in Florida was the performance of punch-card voting machines,
which were beset with problems associated with poor ballot design and “chads” that failed to
separate from the punch cards correctly. Antiquated voting technologies were rapidly
replaced after 2000 with the increasing use of purely electronic machines, which prompted
controversies over whether they could be trusted to record votes accurately, MIT (2020).
That controversy has reversed the trend and led to a decline in the use of purely electronic
voting machines in recent years, along with agitation for more sophisticated methods to audit
the performance of voting machines.

However, Frenkel et al (2018), stated that documented difficulties in computerized elections

include security and social concerns over computer-aided elections. Despite these challenges,
voting management systems offer an all-encompassing solution to seemingly onerous
elections and simplify the process by establishing a virtual connection with an organization's
members. Think of a voting management system like a computer’s operating system, which
is powerful software that manages its core functions. For example, Microsoft has its famed
“Windows” operating system, and Apple, “macOS,” (Donnelly 2021).

Computers are now being used to overcome some of these difficulties cited above. Dugger
(2018) extensively evaluated several forms of manual and computerized voting systems. He
documented that for the past quarter of a century, the inner workings of democracy have been
computerized using different kinds of computer-based voting systems. He found that
computer use makes vote recording and tallying faster and more reliable. The early years of
automated electronic voting systems are now realizing big benefits. The state of Oklahoma
saved $1 million in manpower costs involved in manually counted paper ballots. The
automated system also processed voting information in minutes, rather than hours (Hoffman
2019). In 1990, the City of Burton, Michigan, used a computerpolling operation for the
verification of voter registration, and for directing voters to their correct precincts (Nations
Cities Weekly 1990, Mesut et al 2020). The city's Mayor explained that, "the objective is to
place computers at the polls in order to prepare our voters for the day when voting by
computer is the norm in the United States." The system was more accurate and faster than
traditional methods. New York City has three boroughs that use a signature verification
imaging system used to automatically process voter registration and tabulate votes for
election (Hoffman 2019).

Ajaji et al (2018) further stated that, similarly, a voting management system is engineered to
effectively administer every aspect of an election—from nominations through managing the
bolts and nuts of contests, and processing final results. Most organizations in the market for
such a service are member-supported. These include teacher unions, medical associations,
homeowners groups, cooperatives, and financial institutions, among others. They’re all
required to operate elections to decide critical matters, or elect new representatives to various
seats. As revealed by (Hammer 2020), the priority for the majority of these groups is to host
efficient elections, encourage participation, protect privacy, and whenever possible, reduce
costs. A positive election experience can be directly linked to how well your partner’s
respective election system performed, (Daly 2018).

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Computers have drastically changed the ways politicians conduct campaigns. Computer
software and hardware are becoming the powertools of campaign managers. Candidates are
increasingly relying on computer-aided campaign services for efficient campaign
management (Graft 2020). Campaign tasks such as tracking financial contributions,
identifying voters by sex, race, income, and sending letters, heavily rely on computers.
Candidates can also communicate with voters via on-line computer services such as
CompuServe and Prodigy in order to share their positions on issues (Schwartz 2018). Most
election computer applications have shifted to the personal computer, due to their increased
power and lower costs. According to Tobe (2020), the use of PC workstations and sofftware
greatly reduce the cost of producing campaign products and simplifies file maintenance. The
campaign software also offers desktop publishing capabilities and phone-bank lists for
polling voters. Segal (2019), deemed computer software selection as one of the most
important decisions a campaign manager will make during an election campaign. Supporters
of computer use believe that the use of computer networks as a campaign medium will attract
more ordinary citizens into the political process, and can give a politician the advantage in a
close election (Gameau 1986, Schwartz 2018). Berney (2016) documented several computer-
aided election victories that might have failed by using traditional campaign methods. Using
computer voting lists, candidates can keep tabs on voters. Using these lists, campaign
managers can learn more about how people are likely to vote and what literature to send to
them. Experts believe that direct mailings to voters are more effective than media advertising.
This is because with direct mail, the campaigners target only potential voters, whereas with
media advertising, the entire population is targeted.

Security concerns with computerized voting systems are issues of great concerns to
individuals, organizations and various stakeholders across the globe. Epic.org (2023)
highlighted that different voting systems can be subject to a range of vulnerabilities based on
how the votes are cast or tabulated. For example, computerized optical scanners are typically
used to tabulate votes made by paper ballot or by ballot-marking devices (BMD). However,
BMDs do not tabulate or record votes in the system’s memory. BMDs can be subject to
hacking or misconfiguration in the software that could print out an inaccurate ballot. BMDs
generally encode votes in bar codes or QR codes alongside the printed text of a voter’s
choices but voters cannot verify the accuracy of bar codes or QR codes before the ballot is
scanned by tabulation machines. Direct Recording Electronic (DRE) systems, on the other
hand, involve a voter casting their ballot in an electronic system and the ballot is counted
internally by the system’s computer. Because there is often no paper record, DRE systems are
not auditable. Relying on computers like DREs have inherent cybersecurity risks and
technological challenges, such as touchscreen miscalibration. There is currently no system
that can provide a secure way to vote over the Internet while preserving the secret ballot.
Human-readable paper ballots are the most robust method of casting a vote because it is not
subject to manipulation by faulty hardware or software and can be audited to verify the
results of an election, Epic.org (2023).
Our study will therefore look to further explore on the already existing literature on the
computerization of a voting management system by using Accra Technical University as our case
study.

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

1. To identify the voting management system used by Accra Technical University

2. To assess the impact of the voting management system on voting outcomes at Accra
Technical University
3. To elaborate on some ways of making voting more efficient at Accra Technical
University through the use of voting management systems

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

For this research, the following questions will be asked;

1. What voting management system is used at Accra Technical University?

2. What is the impact of the voting management system on voting outcomes at Accra
Technical University?
3. What are some ways Accra Technical University can make voting more efficient
through the use of voting management systems?

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study holds significant importance in the current era of technological advancements.
With the increasing use of technology in various aspects of society, the need for a secure,
efficient, and transparent voting system has become imperative. The traditional paper-based
voting system has several limitations, including time-consuming counting, susceptibility to
errors and fraud, and environmental concerns. The proposed computerization of the voting
management system aims to address these limitations by introducing a digital platform for
voting. The study will explore the feasibility, benefits, and challenges of implementing such a
system. It will also examine the impact of computerization on various stakeholders, including
voters, election officials and the general public. The study's findings will have far-reaching
implications for democracy and governance. A successful implementation of a computerized
voting system can lead to faster and more accurate results, increased voter turnout, and
reduced costs associated with traditional voting methods. Moreover, it can enhance the
transparency and integrity of the electoral process, thereby strengthening democratic
institutions.
In conclusion, the study "Computerization of a Voting Management System" is significant
because it explores a critical issue that affects the functioning of democratic societies. Its
findings will provide valuable insights into the feasibility, benefits, and challenges of
computerizing the voting process and inform policy decisions regarding its implementation.
As such, it is essential to conduct rigorous research in this area to ensure that any
computerized voting system is designed with integrity, security, and accessibility in mind.

1.6 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY

This project work is structured as follows:

The study is will be organized into five chapters.

Chapter one will look at the background of the study, statement of the problem, objectives
of the study, research questions, brief methodology, significance of the study, and the
organization of the study.
Chapter two will talk about the literature review which discusses the definitions, concepts,
and other related works from authors.
Chapter three will also look at the methodology which includes the research design,
population size, sampling, sampling size, and the data analysis technique.
Chapter four will look at the data analysis, presentation, and discussion; here various
statistical tools are used to analyze the data collected which includes tables.
And the final Chapter five will deal with a summary of findings conclusions, and
recommendations.