1. Hoogheemraadschap van Rijnland 23 June 2006 Improving transparency, accountability and responsiveness RIES: Rijnland Internet Election System The Netherlands Presentation at the UN NYC, June 24 th, 2006 by Gerard Doornbos, Chairman Rijnland District Water Control Board

2. Hoogheemraadschap van Rijnland 23 June 20062 Rijnland District Water Control Board Rijn Delta Rijnland: 1100 km^2; 1.3 million people

3. Hoogheemraadschap van Rijnland 23 June 20063 Water board election 2004 with RIES 35% voters used it 86 % positive user feedback and zero negative Flawless in processing Full validation by independent parties What is RIES and how did we get there?

4. Hoogheemraadschap van Rijnland 23 June 20064 Background Dutch policy: 65% all public services admissible trough Internet in 2007 Specific Water Board objectives for elections Optimum combination of: 1.maximum accessibility 2.maximum user-friendliness 3.lowest cost possible

5. Hoogheemraadschap van Rijnland 23 June 20065 Main Goals: government perspective Combine with postal-mail voting, without any requirement for the voter to preregister his preferred way of voting. Fully transparent and verifiable by voters and independent experts. Increase of usability for handicapped and visual handicapped Simplification in back-office organisation

6. Hoogheemraadschap van Rijnland 23 June 20066 Ability to cast vote in different ways and several times Ability to check if their vote was actually cast and counted in the tally; 70% of the voters stressed this as important 99% should be able to use the system on their regular Internet attached PC, Meets the formal government criteria for elections (transparency, etc etc) Comfort and Transparancy: user’s perspective

7. Hoogheemraadschap van Rijnland 23 June 20067 Validation of votes: thrustworthy election

8. Hoogheemraadschap van Rijnland 23 June 20068 Transparency and accountability ´appreciated´

9. Hoogheemraadschap van Rijnland 23 June 20069 Relevance and transferability Any election can use RIES (formal and informal) Fully transparent Voters highly content 'Saves time‘ 'Otherwise, I would not have voted‘ 'I can vote whenever I please‘ 'I don’t have to leave home‘ 'Fast and easy'

10. Hoogheemraadschap van Rijnland 23 June 200610 The Future House of Parliament election 2006 Dutchman abroad Water board elections 2008: 12 million eligible voters RIES: fit for anyone!! Share the experience and knowledge within the UN.

11. Hoogheemraadschap van Rijnland 23 June 200611 Finally: The future of a system like RIES lies in the fact that it is actually used. Together, we could assist in building an even more democratic world! This award is huge step and huge recognition, THANK YOU!

12. Hoogheemraadschap van Rijnland 23 June 200612 Improving transparency, accountability and responsiveness with RIES For information please contact: Piet Maclaine Pont / Architect RIES Pietpont@mullpon.eu Simon Bouwman / Project manager RIES ries@rijnland.net www.rijnland.net/ries

13. RIES based on DES Virtual Ballot System Some background information

14. RIES based on DES Virtual Ballot System Developed by Pieter G. Maclaine Pont/MullPon since 1998 With IBM, SURFnet, TNO, Bell Identification, Alfa & Ariss, Rijnland, Magic Choice NL patent 1023861 International patents in process 8 man-year development by inventor 9 man-year development by partners 35 “student” man-year development Applied at 2000: CHOOSE for Polytechnic University Delft 2004: Water boards Rijnland and De Dommel 2005: Rijnland re-election, SURFnet work council

15. RIES based on DES Virtual Ballot System Some main facts: 2005 EU eGovernment Good Practice Label 2006 UN Public Service Award Not publicly announced: House of parliament elections May 2007 for voters living out of The Netherlands (KOA) Country-wide water board elections in 2008  All with intensive cooperation with SURFnet

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