Trust Frameworks in Application to Technology in Elections

David Duenas Cid; Leontine Loeber; Beata Martin-Rozumiłowicz; Ryan Macias

doi:10.18420/e-vote-id2023_07

Trust Frameworks in Application to Technology in Elections

Abstract

The prevalence of technology in elections has increased in recent decades, both in terms of voting systems as well as ancillary ones. At the same time, the issue of public confidence and trust has come to the fore as certain threat actors have sought to undermine electoral integrity through publicized attacks and disinformation campaigns against such technology. This paper examines the nexus between this public trust and the implementation of technology through an electoral cycle approach. It also presents a number of case studies at various points of democratic development and election management body type to examine how various trust variables impact implementation to either increase trust or distrust. This is done to better understand the directionality of these criteria through a methodologically driven approach, based on a uniquely developed trust model. It is hoped that this study will help experts to better understand how these variables impact the critical trust that underpins robust democratic institutions.