Remote electronic voting (REV): Problems of trust and prospects for development

A key focus of this research is examining the need to enhance public trust in the use of the Remote Electronic Voting (REV) system. It is noteworthy that, to date, most constituent entities of the Russian Federation are characterized by low voter turnout in government elections. At the same time, it must be acknowledged that the number of citizens voting via the REV system has increased with each electoral campaign, despite calls from some political forces to abandon this modern remote voting method. Clearly, the use of remote voting today represents the most convenient and straightforward electoral procedure. However, unfortunately, not all members of the electorate are fully informed about the modern capabilities and methods available for casting their vote "from the comfort of their own home." Consequently, the aim of this study is to identify current issues of trust in REV within the context of applying blockchain technology, and to find ways to overcome them. To achieve this aim, the authors have set the following objectives: (1) to identify the conceptual problems of REV as an element of the modern information and telecommunication environment of the Russian Federation; (2) to analyze the overall experience with remote electronic voting in the Russian Federation; (3) to test the research through sociological surveys within the stated research directions; (4) to determine current solutions and identify viable opportunities for overcoming the problem of trust in REV within the framework of applying blockchain technology. In preparing this research, the authors employed methods of observation, comparison, analysis, synthesis, deduction, as well as sociological survey. The object of the study is Remote Electronic Voting (REV). The focus of the study is on the problems of public trust in the institution of remote electronic voting within the context of applying blockchain technology and methods for increasing the level of trust in it. The main sources on which the research relies are: normative legal acts; normative acts containing clarifications of legislation; leading doctrinal positions on the issue under consideration; and current data from the latest sociological studies. In conclusion, the finding is formulated that REV is progressive; experiments with its use in the regions (in Moscow, Kursk, Yaroslavl, and Rostov oblasts) have, in most cases, shown a fairly high level of citizen interest. The conducted surveys confirm a gradual formation of trust in the system among the population. However, some problems were also identified, the qualitative resolution of which is the key to the effective development of remote electronic voting in the Russian Federation. The authors declare no conflicts of interests.

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