Helsinki Administrative Court rejects appeals over electronic voting glitch

Brax: appeal to higher court likely

Tuija Brax

print this

Minister of Justice Tuija Brax (Green) does not yet want to take a stand on the implications of a court decision to reject complaints about problems with electronic voting in three communities in the municipal elections in October last year.
      Helsinki Administrative Court handed down a decision on Thursday to reject demands to hold new elections in Karkkila, Kauniainen, and Vihti.
      Electronic voting was used in all three communities on an experimental basis.
     
A total of 323 votes were not registered because of a glitch in the voting system.
      Worst affected was Vihti, where 122 votes were lost - a number with which it would have been theoretically possible to win a seat in the local council, as the lowest number of votes for getting a seat in Vihti was 77.
     
Brax noted that the decision will probably be appealed to the Supreme Administrative Court, which will have the final say on whether or not new elections should be held.
      In its ruling, the Helsinki Administrative Court recognised that there had been shortcomings in the design, implementation, and function of the electronic voting system.
      However, the court found that there were no mistakes in the instructions that voters were given, even though there would be room for improvement.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Errors in electronic voting could lead to new elections in three communities (10.12.2008)
  Minister of Justice says future of electronic voting remains open (30.10.2008)
  Over 200 electronic votes disappeared (29.10.2008)

Helsingin Sanomat