Several European countries have either introduced or tested e-voting systems, including Estonia, where over half of all votes in the most recent parliamentary elections were cast online. In contrast, Poles remain cautious about the idea, according to a 2024 CBOS survey, likely due to serious concerns about vote security and anonymity. Developing an e-voting system requires both high levels of cybersecurity and a strong foundation of public trust in the state.
“I believe internet voting is the future, but we must acknowledge that it comes with numerous risks. First and foremost, we need to develop a secure voting system that is resistant to various types of cyberattacks,”
says Prof. Magdalena Musiał-Karg, President of the Polish Political Science Association and a professor at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań.
“It’s a future that’s still some way off before countries feel ready to implement such systems, mainly because it’s difficult to create a secure, trustworthy system.”
According to International IDEA, as of 2023, 19% of countries (34 out of 178) used electronic voting at the national level. In 15% of countries, feasibility studies or pilot tests are being conducted with a view to possible implementation in future elections. However, 11 countries (6%) have abandoned e-voting, mainly due to concerns about trust and election security.
“The global leader in internet voting is Estonia,”
notes Prof. Musiał-Karg.
Estonia held its first internet-enabled election in 2005, with a small share of voters using the system. Over nearly two decades, that percentage has grown significantly: 44% in the 2019 parliamentary elections and 51% in 2023.
“In the early 2000s, the Estonian government made a strong push for digital infrastructure and civic education. They developed a coherent strategy, which allowed them to introduce e-voting gradually. It was effective, but we must remember Estonia is a small country, where implementing such innovations is much easier,”
she adds.
Security and Trust Are Key
Experts list increased accessibility as a key benefit of e-voting, especially for people who cannot physically get to polling stations. However, there is no clear evidence that e-voting leads to higher voter turnout.
“Even in Estonia, where electronic voting has been used since 2005 across various types of elections, there is no clear sign that voter turnout has increased. What’s growing is interest in internet voting, as shown in the 2023 parliamentary elections, where more than 51% of voters used the online system. But that doesn’t translate into overall turnout,”
Prof. Musiał-Karg explains.
Another commonly cited benefit—lower election costs—is not straightforward either.
“Internet voting, especially in its initial stages, requires major investment. Also, it’s never the only voting method—it complements traditional voting,”
she notes.
Poland: Moderate Interest, Strong Concerns
In Poland, e-voting has not been introduced, although proposals have surfaced to allow online voting via platforms such as ePUAP or the mObywatel app. Implementing such systems would require mechanisms to guarantee vote secrecy, a key concern for voters who want confidence that their vote is accurately counted.
Estonia, considered one of the world’s most digitally advanced nations, uses a dual-envelope security system. The outer envelope contains the voter’s digital signature and is discarded after the vote is submitted, ensuring anonymity. Once the election ends, all identifying information is removed before votes are counted.
“We’re becoming more aware of the risks involved. There’s no such thing as a fully secure, impenetrable online voting system. That’s why trust in the state, its institutions, and election mechanisms is so important,”
says the Political Science Association president.
However, even the best safeguards cannot fully protect electoral systems from potential foreign interference—a concern that may intensify in the context of internet voting.
“Given today’s cyber threat landscape, ongoing investment is necessary to ensure that systems are hardened against external threats,”
she adds.
Who Supports E-voting in Poland?
Despite concerns, support for online voting in Poland is growing. The 2024 CBOS survey found that 53% of Poles support the option of voting via the internet, and a similar share said they would use it if available. However, attitudes vary based on age, education, and income.
Those least supportive of online voting tend to be:
- 55 and older
- Residents of small towns
- People with vocational education
- Farmers
- Skilled laborers
- People with low incomes
While e-voting is making progress across parts of the world, security, trust, and technological investment remain critical challenges—especially in larger and more complex democracies like Poland.
