Components of the DRS e-Voting System

Pre-election management module

The pre-election management module looks after the configuration and management of the election, referendum or consultation.  It works in conjunction with the Election Manager’s electoral roll application and allows the user to define and create the election type.

Polling module

The polling module provides a set of interfaces that link to each of the separate voting channels including the Internet, telephone (IVR), touch-screen kiosks (DRE) and SMS texting.  These interfaces use EML compliant messages to verify the authenticity of a voter, to retrieve their ballot and to allow them to cast their vote.

Count module

The count system imports the election configuration from the pre-election management module and the votes cast from the polling module.  In the presence of the Returning Officer, secure decryption keys can then be used to tally the total votes cast for each candidate or resolution.  Allocated smart cards and appropriate security clearance are required to access this module.  A voter verification portal can also be provided, allowing voters to check that their vote has been counted.

Security management module

The security management module looks after the authentication of election officials when they interact with the e-Voting system.  It also provides the secure encryption keys, which are needed by the system to record transaction information.  This module provides full ballot paper traceability (should you be instructed, by law, to provide this) and allows full auditing of the e-Voting system.

Audit and Verification module

The Audit and Verification module is common to all areas of the system - all modules are required to produce audit information.  Strict rules control how this audit information can be stored and verified, to ensure it cannot be altered or damaged in anyway.  Audit information will only be visible and verifiable to users with the appropriate decryption key.

This module also contains a system health monitor that continually checks all ‘voter facing’ modules of the system, ensuring they are running correctly.  It will immediately alert the Election Manager should a problem be identified.