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Date May 2019 Marks available 8 Reference code 19M.1.SL.TZ0.3
Level SL Paper 1 Time zone no time zone
Command term Evaluate Question number 3 Adapted from N/A

Question

Electronic voting (e-voting)

E-voting is a form of voting that uses a computer instead of a printed ballot paper. Voters go to a polling station and cast their vote using an electronic voting machine (EVM), such as the one shown in Figure 3.

Voters must be authenticated by the system before casting their vote. The votes are then stored in an encrypted form in a relational database.

The graphical user interface (GUI) of the EVM can be adjusted for different voters. For example, the font size can be increased for voters who have limited vision.

Figure 3: Example of an electronic voting machine (EVM)

[Source: cmannphoto/iStock]

E-voting is already used for local elections in the towns and cities of several countries, such as Belgium, Canada and Estonia. Countries such as Finland are now considering whether to use e-voting for the whole population in their national elections.

In addition to adaptable font size, identify two features of the e-voting graphical user interface (GUI) that could be customized to make it accessible for all voters.

[2]
a.i.

Identify two features of authentication.

[2]
a.ii.

Identify two features of encryption.

[2]
a.iii.

Elections using e-voting in countries such as Finland will create significant amounts of personal data. The government of Finland will have to ensure it has appropriate policies for the collection, storage and sharing of the data.

Explain why it is important to have an appropriate policy for the collection, storage and sharing of the data from elections that use e-voting.

[6]
b.

Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of e-voting.

[8]
c.

Markscheme

Answers may include:


Award [1] for identifying each aspect of the GUI that could be customized, up to a maximum of [2].

a.i.

Answers may include:


Award [1] for identifying each feature of authentication up to a maximum of [2].

a.ii.

Answers may include:


Award [1] for identifying each feature of encryption up to a maximum of [2].

a.iii.

Answers may include: 

Collection of data

 


Award [1] for identifying an appropriate policy for the collection of the data and [1] for an explanation for why it is appropriate up to a maximum of [2].

 

Storage of data

 

 


Award [1] for identifying an appropriate policy for the storage of the data and [1] for an explanation for why it is appropriate up to a maximum of [2].
 

 

Sharing of data

 


Award [1] for identifying an appropriate policy for the sharing of the data and [1] for an explanation for why it is appropriate up to a maximum of [2].
 


Mark as [2] + [2] + [2].

b.

Answers may include:

Advantages of e-voting


Disadvantages of e-voting

 

In part (c) of this question it is expected there will be a balance between the terminology related to digital systems and the terminology related to social and ethical impacts.  

Keywords: voting, reliability, transparency, accountability, trust, automation, intuitive, identification, authentication, security, cost, change, expression, power, systems, values

 

Refer to SL/HL paper 1, part c markbands when awarding marks. These can be found under the "Your tests" tab > supplemental materials > Digital society markbands and guidance document.

c.

Examiners report

[N/A]
a.i.
[N/A]
a.ii.
[N/A]
a.iii.
[N/A]
b.
[N/A]
c.

Syllabus sections

Topic 2: Concepts » 2.1 Change
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