23 June 2006Hoogheemraadschap van Rijnland

Improving transparency,

accountability and responsiveness

RIES: Rijnland Internet Election System

The Netherlands

Presentation at the UN NYC, June 24th, 2006 by

Gerard Doornbos, Chairman Rijnland District Water Control Board

23 June 20062 Hoogheemraadschap van Rijnland

Rijnland District Water Control Board

Rijn Delta

Rijnland: 1100 km^2; 1.3 million people

23 June 20063 Hoogheemraadschap van Rijnland

Water board election 2004 with RIES

• 35% voters used it• 86 % positive user feedback and zero negative• Flawless in processing• Full validation by independent parties

• What is RIES and how did we get there?

23 June 20064 Hoogheemraadschap van Rijnland

Background

• Dutch policy: 65% all public services admissible trough Internet in 2007

• Specific Water Board objectives for electionsOptimum combination of:

1. maximum accessibility2. maximum user-friendliness3. lowest cost possible

23 June 20065 Hoogheemraadschap van Rijnland

Main Goals: government perspective

• Combine with postal-mail voting, without any requirement for the voter to preregister his preferred way of voting.

• Fully transparent and verifiable by voters and independent experts.

• Increase of usability for handicapped and visual handicapped

• Simplification in back-office organisation

23 June 20066 Hoogheemraadschap van Rijnland

• Ability to cast vote in different ways and several times

• Ability to check if their vote was actually cast and counted in the tally; 70% of the voters stressed this as important

• 99% should be able to use the system on their regular Internet attached PC,

• Meets the formal government criteria for elections (transparency, etc etc)

Comfort and Transparancy: user’s perspective

23 June 20067 Hoogheemraadschap van Rijnland

Validation of votes: thrustworthy election

23 June 20068 Hoogheemraadschap van Rijnland

Transparency and accountability ´appreciated´

23 June 20069 Hoogheemraadschap van Rijnland

Relevance and transferability

• Any election can use RIES (formal and informal)• Fully transparent • Voters highly content

• 'Saves time‘• 'Otherwise, I would not have voted‘• 'I can vote whenever I please‘• 'I don’t have to leave home‘• 'Fast and easy'

23 June 200610 Hoogheemraadschap van Rijnland

The Future

• House of Parliament election 2006 Dutchman abroad

• Water board elections 2008: 12 million eligible voters

• RIES: fit for anyone!!

• Share the experience and knowledge within the UN.

23 June 200611 Hoogheemraadschap van Rijnland

Finally:

• The future of a system like RIES lies in the fact that it is actually used.

• Together, we could assist in building an even more democratic world!

• This award is huge step and huge recognition,

THANK YOU!

23 June 200612 Hoogheemraadschap van Rijnland

Improving transparency, accountability and responsiveness with RIES

For information please contact:

Piet Maclaine Pont / Architect RIESPietpont@mullpon.eu

Simon Bouwman / Project manager RIESries@rijnland.net www.rijnland.net/ries

RIES based onDES Virtual Ballot System

Some background information

RIES based onDES Virtual Ballot System

• Developed by Pieter G. Maclaine Pont/MullPon since 1998

• With IBM, SURFnet, TNO, Bell Identification, Alfa & Ariss, Rijnland, Magic Choice

• NL patent 1023861 • International patents in process • 8 man-year development by inventor • 9 man-year development by partners• 35 “student” man-year development

• Applied at• 2000: CHOOSE for Polytechnic University Delft• 2004: Water boards Rijnland and De Dommel• 2005: Rijnland re-election, SURFnet work council

RIES based onDES Virtual Ballot System

Some main facts:

• 2005 EU eGovernment Good Practice Label• 2006 UN Public Service Award

Not publicly announced: • House of parliament elections May 2007 for voters

living out of The Netherlands (KOA)

• Country-wide water board elections in 2008

All with intensive cooperation with SURFnet

Einde