Bearing in mind the substantial role that technology plays in our daily lives, coupled with its increasing significance in the electoral process, CeMI, as part of the civil monitoring project for the local elections in Niksic 2021, undertook a comprehensive review of the existing state of technology employed in electoral activities. This review also encompassed an examination of the legislation governing this crucial domain for the utilization of modern technical devices in elections.
Technology progresses at a pace faster than the evolution of laws intended to regulate its use. To ensure the smooth modernization of the electoral process, it is imperative to implement a series of actions and measures. These include, but are not limited to, the acquisition and testing of new technology and amendments to legal regulations. Such amendments are essential to guarantee the safety and efficacy of new hardware and software solutions relevant to the implementation of electoral actions.
The application of modern technology in election activities is in its infancy in Montenegro, contributing to the security of the entire election process by mitigating risks associated with contemporary technical solutions. Electronic voting and, consequently, electronic vote counting are not yet implemented in Montenegro. As a result, public trust in the vote counting process is not a prevalent issue. Public mistrust in the electoral process primarily revolves around activities during the pre-election campaign period and irregularities in the voter list.
Montenegro aims to enhance its information and technology capacities in the forthcoming period, signifying improvements in the functionality of the electoral administration body and the overall election process from an information and technology perspective. However, technological modernization brings inherent risks that require careful consideration, as technology can significantly influence the conduct of fair and honest elections.
The policy brief presented here is an outcome of the civil observation project of the local elections in Niksic 2021. It provides a concise overview of the existing technical solutions available to the authorities responsible for conducting election activities. Additionally, it outlines fundamental technical and legal shortcomings that need resolution to enhance the security of electoral administration bodies and the electoral system.