Äänestyskoneet

Äänestyskoneet, known in English as voting machines, are electronic devices used to cast and often count votes in elections. They are designed to replace traditional paper ballots and lever machines, aiming to increase efficiency, reduce errors, and potentially speed up the vote tabulation process.

There are several types of voting machines. Direct-recording electronic (DRE) machines allow voters to make selections by touching a screen or pressing buttons, with the vote recorded electronically. Optical scan machines, on the other hand, use paper ballots that voters mark, and the machine then scans and tabulates these marks. Ballot-marking devices are another category, assisting voters with disabilities by providing accessible interfaces to create a ballot that can then be scanned or recorded electronically.

The introduction of voting machines has been accompanied by ongoing debates regarding their security, accuracy, and transparency. Concerns often raised include the potential for malfunctions, susceptibility to hacking or tampering, and the lack of a voter-verified paper audit trail in some DRE systems. Proponents argue that modern machines, when properly secured and maintained, can improve election integrity and accessibility. Many jurisdictions have implemented rigorous testing and certification processes for voting machines to address these concerns. The use and regulation of voting machines vary significantly across different countries and even within regions of the same country.