Implementation Challenges for Cryptographic Voting Systems

In this paper we will analyze and propose some solutions for potential issues implementing a partially cryptographic voting system called Scratch & Vote designed by Ben Adida and Ron Rivest from the perspective of creating an improved voting system in the United States. We will briefly analyze issues with current voting systems and make a case that Scratch and Vote provides marked improvement while still being potentially implementable. We will then examine potential problems with implementation with regards to equipment i.e. the public bulletin board, usability, and user education. We will then examine some known attacks as well, and suggest potential system modifications that could yield solutions to these attacks. Finally we will state what we believe the biggest remaining challenges to implementing Scratch & Vote and areas of further research.