So, if I can buy cucumbers on-line, why can't I vote on-line?
It's a good question that deserves a good answer.
Thread...
It's a good question that deserves a good answer.
Thread...
To begin with, you are free to order as many cucumbers and as often as you want. As opposed to that, you're allowed to vote only once, otherwise it's voting fraud. So, unlike a cucumber-ordering system, an on-line voting system must ensure the uniqueness of your vote.
Next, you don't mind the grocery store knowing who you are, that you ordered cucumbers specifically, and where you live. In fact, you kinda demand it, if you expect your cucumbers to be delivered correctly.
As opposed to that, an on-line voting system is allowed only to know that a vote has been cast to elect a cucumber for the office of President and not who cast it and where they are, because voting must be confidential.
Next, once you order your cucumbers, you don't mind showing the receipt to your mum, to prove that you have completed the chore. As opposed to that, you must not be able to prove how you voted, in order to prevent you from selling your vote.
Next, after ordering the stupid cucumbers for your mum and getting on with the important things, like playing video games, you suddenly get a doubt - did I remember to order the damned cucumbers, or was I only thinking of doing it and ordered more essential stuff like candies?
Again, with the grocery store it's easy - you check the e-mailed receipt and see if you've ordered the stupid cucumbers and how many of them. But with voting, there is no receipt (see above why) and even the voting system doesn't know how exactly you voted (again, see above).
Now, is there a way to solve all these contradictory problems? Well, there's a clever mathematical construct, called "zero-knowledge proofs" that can be used to some extent. Look it up. Then spend the next three months trying to understand it.
Back already? Sorry, you understood it wrong. Go back to studying it for another three months.
Done? Now go explain it to Granny Smith from Podunk, Nowhere - and make sure that you explain it so that she understands it and trusts the voting system, instead of voting for the guy who's yelling "5G, voting fraud!" in her backyard.
Oh, and one more thing. If you screw up your cucumber order (or if the ordering system is flawed), what is the worst thing that can happen?
Well, you might run out of cucumbers or your credit card might get skimmed.
Well, you might run out of cucumbers or your credit card might get skimmed.
What's the worst thing that can happen if an on-line voting system fails? Well, a racist, misogynistic, narcissistic moron might become a President, despite your wishes to the contrary.
Then again, you might end up with one anyway, so maybe it's not such a big deal after all.
Then again, you might end up with one anyway, so maybe it's not such a big deal after all.
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