E-ELECTIONS

The operating declaration of the government of Prime Minister Aigars Kalv�tis states that in the 2009 local government and European Parliament elections, people should be able to cast their votes electronically.  This is to be made available to anyone who wishes to take part.  The solution will be particularly convenient to those who might otherwise never go to the voting precinct.  To be sure, traditional voting methods will remain in place.  Preparations for the E-election are in the hands of the Secretariat of Special Assignments Minister for Electronic Government Affairs and of the Interior Ministry, which supervises Latvia�s Voter Register.
Special Assignments Minister for Electronic Government Affairs, Ina Gudele, has met with Interior Minister Ivars Godmanis to discuss the most important aspects of E-elections.  Financing will come from the national budget, and LVL 120,000 have already been awarded for preparations.  Money will also come from the Structural Funds of the European Union, which are meant for the development of national information systems.  The two ministers discussed several models for E-elections, seeking out the best way of ensuring secure identification of individuals while also ensuring the secrecy of the ballot.  The concept on E-elections that comes from the Secretariat of Special Assignments Minister for Electronic Government Affairs proposes three technologically difference solutions.  One would use a new electronic identity management system, while the others would make use of the functions of the existing Voter Register, supplementing it with software related to the determination of the identity of voters, as well as the voting process itself.  This means that the voter will be identified in one system, and then he or she will cast a vote in the other.  This means that users of the E-election system will be ensured of anonymity and the secrecy of their votes.

ELECTRONIC APPLICATION TO UNIVERSITIES

Another important aspect of electronic government affairs is the ability of people to file applications to universities electronically.  This is particularly important because many students apply to more than one university or faculty, and only later do they decide which one to attend.  At this time, this involves the personal completion of paper-based applications, and inevitably, this means long, long queues.  There are universities, of course, not only in the capital city of R�ga, but also in regional cities such as Valmiera, Ventspils, Daugavpils, Liep�ja, etc.  It is clear, therefore, that E-applications would make life far easier for many young people.  No longer would they have to travel to various regional educational institutions.  This could help to increase student numbers at such schools, because they might attract those who have been a bit indolent, who have not been able to decide, or who have been too busy or lazy to travel to a regional university, preferring to stick with those that are nearby.
Universities will have to agree on whether they want a centralised E-application system or whether each university or university college will pay for its own system.  A centralised system or special portal, of course, would be cheaper, and it would be easier to guarantee data security and precision.
Minister Gudele met with rectors of universities to hear their views about the matter.  Some rectors said that they are prepared to introduce their own E-application system, while others prefer the existing order of paper-based applications.  They say that the system ensures the important process of meeting with potential students.
The electronic applications system has been in place in Lithuania since 2000.  Interestingly, there is such a system even in Tunisia, where there are far fewer home-based computers than is the case in Latvia.  The Tunisians have found a very simple solution.  Potential students go to their local post office, where there are Internet services and the ability to make payments electronically.

Author�s contacts: gunta(at)sakaru-pasaule.lv