[Electionprocess-comment] Comment on election process

[Andrew Alston]

Hi Neriah,

Don't get me wrong, it is not that I have a lack of faith in the process.  It is that I believe we need external validation of any vote tallies in order to maintain the same levels of credibility applied to the paper ballots.

I point out that there has been significant controversy at previous elections even with safety checks involved, and I really would like to see us avoid further such incidents as they damage the credibility of afrinic in the eyes of the world.  I point specifically to the incident in Tanzania where a particular candidate objected to the results and demanded site of the secret ballots (which was denied after outcry from the floor).

As such, while I am fully aware of everything you have said in your email, can AfriNIC confirm that external members from third party RIR's WILL indeed be added to the verification and tallying process?  I realize the facilities are there, I want to confirm that the facilities are being used with an external party.

Thanks

Andrew


From: Neriah Sossou [mailto:neriah at afrinic.net]
Sent: Friday, February 28, 2014 9:57 AM
To: Andrew Alston
Cc: electionprocess-comment at afrinic.net
Subject: Re: [Electionprocess-comment] Comment on election process

Dear Andrew,

We understand your concern and would like to reassure you that this aspect of tallies has been taken into account.
One of the requirements to create an election in the system is the identification of trustees.
Trustees are responsible for decrypting the election result and as such, they hold the key to the election.  Each one of them must generate, prior to the setup of the election, a set of keys which must be available for the election results to be computed.   When comes time for tallies, each trustee needs to provide his secret key to decrypt the vote.  Without these keys, the votes cannot be tallied and the election will be invalidated.
Trustees could very well be staff of other RIRs which will provide credibility to the election process.
Please rest assured that said safety net has been incorporated in the electronic voting process and thus makes it beyond reproach.
We remain available if further information is needed to reassure you of the process.
Regards,
__________

Neriah Sossou

Head IT & Engineering, AFRINIC Ltd.

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On Feb 26, 2014, at 3:58 PM, Andrew Alston wrote:


Hi AfriNIC,

The way I see it there is a fundamental flaw in how votes are tallies in the electronic voting system.

If you look at the paper ballot verification process, these votes are always externally validated by a external party from another RIR.  This lends them credibility and means the elections are beyond reproach.

I find it very worrying that we have removed this safety net from the electronic voting process which could carry the majority of the votes.  I am of the firm opinion that external validation by a third party from another RIR is necessary when it comes to the counting and tallying of electronic votes else it brings the voting process into question and invalidates the safe guards implemented on the paper ballot process.

Thanks

<298DF687-4776-4685-B7AF-699C0B71A8AD[2].png>
Andrew Alston
Head of IP Strategy
Liquid Telecommunications Limited, 6 New Street Square, London EC4A 3BF
T: +27 76 219 7933
E: andrew.alston at liquidtelecom.com<mailto:andrew.alston at liquidtelecom.com><mailto:andrew.alston at liquidtelecom.com>   -   Skype: symm001

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