Key benefits of electoral technology include accuracy, speed, efficiency and effectiveness.
Key challenges remain in the area of security, costs, sustainability, transparency and vendor dependence.
Trends are away from custom built systems for each EMB toward specialized vendors’ ready-made solutions.
As a consequence of short ICT life cycles, most equipment needs major upgrades or complete replacement between elections.
ICT equipment that was only put in place shortly before an election is likely still immature and has higher failure rates.
The initial purchase price of ICT systems can be expected to be only a fraction of the total cost of ownership over the equipment’s lifetime.
Highest ICT security levels are expensive; each EMB must determine how much security investment is needed, possible and justifiable.
Specialized election technology vendors offer an ever increasing range of services to EMBs, but also require EMBs to be aware of the challenges involved in dealing with these companies.
Voter education, public information and EMB staff expertise are important success factors for election technology implementations.
EMBs are expected to be accountable for the use of elections technology and need the ability to maintain ultimate oversight of the systems in place.
