E-Voting in Brazil – Reinforcing Institutions While Diminishing Citizenship

Abstract

Brazil became the first country in the world to conduct a large-scale national election using e-voting technology. What does it mean for democracy to hold an electronic election for millions of poor people, most of them living under the poverty line? Is the high investment in e-voting technologies designed to the benefit of millions of illiterate people? The discussions about the lack of security of e-voting in Brazil and in many other countries are based on a rather reductionist view that neglects both its social and political aspects. In this work, an attempt is made to expand the critique of the problems of e-voting beyond its lack of security and technological failures. It is argued that information technology in many parts of the world is reinforcing institutions and has done little to change our democracy. In its current form, e-voting technology in Brazil seems to be reinforcing some institutions while diminishing citizenship and democracy.