Working Paper on Releasing Ballot Images and Cast Vote Records, and Protecting Privacy

Abstract

Confidence in election results can be increased by sharing electronic copies of ballots, as long as they cannot be linked to individual voters. Independent tallies of these copies build confidence. For public release, privacy can be protected by redesigns of district boundaries, ballots and procedures, and sometimes small redactions. Model laws cover these issues, including laws against reporting how others vote.

Keywords: ballot image, cast vote record, cvr, privacy, transparency, election, ballots, confidentiality, Dallas, Maricopa, Somerset, recount, voter