Research in Partnership with the Human-Centred Cyber-Security Network

This project, in collaboration with H2C, focuses on two major questions:

1. How are new technologies used to improve and harm electoral integrity and democratic discourse?

2. Where there are opportunities for improvements in security, accessibility or public trust, how can these be implemented and promoted?

Through ‘new technologies’ we will focus on two major changes in the way we run elections over the past decades:

1. Technology used in the Administration of Elections

   The first research area concerns the use of technology in the administration of elections. This includes all aspects of the electoral cycle: from the voter registration process and database management, to voting and the counting of ballots. New technologies include online platforms, electronic voting machines, tabulators, and other technologies used ‘behind-the-scenes’ by election administrators. But how do they impact the accessibility of voting, and trust in electoral integrity? 

2. Social Media, Political Information and Public Discourse

   The second research area concerns the political information and public discourse, especially in an era of social media. New challenges include dis- and mis-information including false and mis-leading information promulgated by domestic and international actors, for use in public debate, campaigning and more nefarious purposes. Furthermore, the introduction of democratic debate to the online world has suggested new challenges relating to the equality of information received by citizens, and the ability of citizens to voice their concerns.

We will evaluate new technologies used in the democratic process according to three key criteria:

1. Security: Security issues arising from the introduction of new technologies into the election administration, campaigning and voting process are among the mots pressing concerns of democratic governments and election administrators. These security concerns include issues of interference, both domestic and international in nature, technology ownership and data privacy.

2. Accessibility: Democratic elections are founded on the principle of equal participation of all citizens. But we know that gaps in participation, be that in voting or democratic discourse, continue to exist. Variables including gender, age, education and literacy levels, and disability continue to create divisions between those who can easily participate and those who cannot.

3. Trust: Elections are only as good as they are trusted. Confidence in the electoral process is key if voters and candidates are to accept the results and move on to the task of governance. But we know that technology has put doubts into the minds of some citizens as to the trustworthiness of the electoral process.

Team Members

Holly Ann Garnett (Researcher, RMC/Queen’s University)

Jean-Nicolas Bordeleau (Lead Research Assistant)

Christian Leuprecht (Researcher, RMC/Queen’s University)

Jeremy Clark (Researcher, Concordia University)

Recent Research