The OASIS Election

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The OASIS Election Voter Services Technical
CommitteeProgress ReportJohn Borras
Chair Technical Committee
www.oasis-open.org

• COE e-Voting Review Meeting Madrid 16 October 2008

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Development of EML (Election Markup Language)

• OASIS TC History
• Formed March 2001
• Chair since Aug 2001- UK Govt (currently
  Ministry of Justice)
• Committee Membership
• Governments, Corporations, Election Services
  providers, Academia

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The Challenge

• It is extremely unlikely that in the future
  elections will not have some e-enabled
  component(s). Its probably more a question of
  how many components and when they are introduced.
  But there are still many concerns to be allayed
  and a good deal of confidence that needs to be
  built before e-voting becomes the norm.
• Standards are the base on which to build future
  e-enabled elections that will be trustworthy,
  open and creditable.

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EML Deliverables

• Process and Data Requirements
• Outlines voting processes
• Identifies data requirements
• Contains glossary of terms
• Addresses security issues
• XML Schemas
• Overview of approach taken in preparing the
  schemas
• 38 Individual schemas
• White Paper The Case for EML

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Current and Future TC work

• Version 5.0 approved in Dec 07
• Awaiting approval as an ISO Standard
• Compiling list of changes for inclusion in next
  version
• Provide more advice and guidance on
  implementation issues
• Assist with national localizations
• Develop compliance accreditation processes
• Ongoing enhancements to accommodate any changes
  in voting policies/legislation

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ISO/JTC1 Approval

• Submitted by OASIS to ISO under PAS arrangements
• Formal ballot by JTC1 voting members (40)
• 44 observers without voting rights
• Approval requires two-thirds majority of the
  voting members in favour and not more than
  one-quarter of the total number of votes cast
  against
• Timescale 2 months ballot, awaiting start date

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ISO/JTC1 Voting Members
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ISO/JTC1 Non-voting Members
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Take-up

• UK election modernisation programme
• Flemish local elections
• USA Election Assistance Commissions (EAC) draft
  Voluntary Voting System Guidelines (VVSG)
  encourages suppliers to use EML
• Australian General Election
• California State Elections
• EU e-Poll project
• Misc EU Suppliers, USA VIP Project

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Summary

• Technology will not go away future generations
  will demand its use
• Standards are the base on which to build future
  e-enabled elections that will be trustworthy,
  open and creditable
• EML is the recognised international open standard
• With your help we can evolve it to meet the
  challenges ahead
• Help us achieve ISO approval please

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John Borrasjohnaborras_at_yahoo.co.ukOASIS TC
www.oasis-open.org/committees/tc_home.php?wg_abb
revelection