Latvian Central Depository initiates a public discussion on developing a concept for e-voting

08.06.2011 RIG

Riga, June 8, 2011 – Latvian Central Depository (LCD) announced at the press conference that its experts are ready to take part in developing a concept for e-voting that would allow a broader population base to participate in elections of all levels or in signature collection via internet, thus supplementing the traditional voting system and signature collection at polling stations. 

Aivars Slokenbergs, Chairman of the Management Board of Latvian Central Depository (from left), and Eriks Timpans, IT Project Manager of Latvian Central Depository.

LCD experts are ready to develop a concept for a secure and user-friendly e-voting and signature collection that would be, above all, guided by the principles of secret ballot, the voting subject proof to content modification or any manipulations, and the system accessible to the population. Moreover, the LCD specialists are ready to involve themselves in the development and implementation of e-voting concepts designed by public authorities and bodies and believes that developing a concept for e-voting should be open, involving both industry professionals and general public. Provided that the concept wins a sufficient support from the public, experts and politicians, the LCD experts believe that the launch of a pilot e-voting on the local government elections or a signature collection might take place already after a year. In the future, e-voting system could be used for the parliament and local government elections, referendums and European Parliament elections.  

Electronic voting system is already functioning in Estonia and under development in Lithuania. Up to now, the implementation of e-voting in Latvia was conditional to the introduction of electronic signatures and ID cards. The penetration of these services are low, the implementation is slack and incurs extra costs to population, thus being a constraint for implementation of the existing e-voting concept. Therefore, LCD offers to introduce extra tools in the concept in order to make e-voting possible using internet banking authentication solutions, currently having about 1 million users in Latvia, alongside with other authentication solutions e.g. mobile ID, electronic identity card or any other national level authentication methods recognized in other countries. A broader access to authentication system will increase the opportunities for Latvian citizens living outside Latvia to participate in signature collection and voting.

„LCD is a solid company with many-years’ standing experience in maintaining highly complex electronic registers and settlement systems.  Our experts are ready to participate in the development and implementation of the concept for e-voting, seeing its future prospect for attaining a higher public involvement when important decisions are taken, starting with option polls on local government level and signature collecting and ending with referendums and parliament elections. We invite industry professionals and the public authorities in charge to join an open discussion about the concept for e-voting system and the technological solutions, which is a key prerequisite for system security and reliability,” says Aivars Slokenbergs, Chairman of the Management Board of Latvian Central Depository.   

Ilmārs Poikāns, an IT expert invited by LCD, stressed that it is critical that as many as possible IT specialists and companies participate in the concept drafting and discussion of technical solutions: „The process should be based on open discussions, and this time IT companies should work towards the common goal, because e-voting is a project of national importance.  Several technical solutions are possible for building an e-voting system, but security risks can best be avoided when the system is based on open code that is understandable and accessible to anybody.”

Ieva Strode, Project Director, SKDS, explained that, according to public survey results, the potential target group of e-voters are active internet users, especially in the age groups 18-14 years and 35-44 years, people with higher education and prevailingly residing in Riga, yet, no doubt, it will open up more participation opportunities also to the rest of population. She pointed out that, with internet services becoming more and more widespread, the number of people who would prefer internet voting is going to increase.  

About Latvian Central Depository

Latvian Central Depository has specialized in developing and maintaining highly complex electronic registers of national importance for Latvia. Since 1993 it has been performing electronic accounting and settlement of securities, as well as maintains other registers, including that for the individual accounts for Latvia’s second pillar pension system. Latvian Central Depository has the status of national central depository for securities and performs the role of a central bank for securities by accounting, safekeeping and settling all Latvia-registered public circulation securities as well as non-listed securities. Latvian Central Depository is a member of European Central Securities Depositories Association and of National Numbering Agency (ANNA), performing the functions of the latter in Latvia.

More information:  www.nasdaqbaltic.com

Contact:

Aivars Slokenbergs
Chairman of Management Board, Latvian Central Depository
Tel.: 6721 2431
E-mail: aivars.slokenbergs@nasdaqomx.com
www.lcd.lv

Media contact: 

Āris Dreimanis
Head of Communications, Latvian Central Depository
Tel.: 6721 2431, 26124824
E-mail: aris.dreimanis@nasdaqomx.com
www.lcd.lv