Rostra - eParticipation, eVoting and eDemocracy in Denmark

Acronym of the case:

ROSTRA

Web address of the case:

http://e-demokrati.borger.dk

Country of the case:

Denmark

Posting Date:

17 November 2008

Last Edited Date:

24 November 2008

Author:

Lisbeth Hvingtoft (The Danish National IT and Telecom Agency (NITA))

Flagship | election | digital-signature

Type of initiative

Project or service
Strategic initiative

Case Abstract

ROSTRA is an online system for public debate and expression of opinions through voting facilities based on the Danish Digital Signature. The tool is a part (called afstemning og debat) of the Danish citizens portal borger.dk developed by the Danish National IT and Telecom Agency. It functions as a national â€œdebate and voting portalâ€ allowing citizens, businesses, politicians and journalists to participate in debates and votes organised by levels of government, subject, etc. The tool can handle debates and votes at the local, regional and national levels and it is possible to autencify your identity through login with the Danish Digital Signature.

Description of the case

Domain

eGovernment

Topic

eParticipation, eDemocracy and eVoting | Inclusive eGovernment

Sector

Communication (infrastructure)

Start date - End date

June 2007 (Ongoing)

Date operational

June 2007

Target Users

Citizen | Administrative

Target Users Description

All Danish citizen can use the eDemocracy on-line system on www.borger.dk, where it is possible to overview all active debates and votes in the country. If order to vote it is necessary to use the Danish Digital Signature.

Scope

National

Status

Operation

Language(s)

Danish

Policy Context and Legal Framework

In its modernisation programme, the government has committed to the use of ICT to underpin â€œcreation of a more open, user-oriented and democratic administrationâ€ where both citizens and businesses have greater access to the workings of government and are able to participate in strengthened dialogue with politicians. While this commitment has not translated into any specific goals under the eGovernment strategy, it has nonetheless been acted on at the all of government level through the development of the online system for public debate and expression of opinions through voting facilities based on the Danish Digital Signature.

Project Size and Implementation

Type of initiative

Participation

Overall Implementation approach

Public administration

Technology choice

Open source software

Funding source

Public funding national

Project size

Implementation: €49-299,000

Yearly cost:

€1-49,000

Implementation and Management Approach

The tool is available for all Danish authorities. All debates and votes are shown at the national citizen portal. It is also possible to integrate the tool into other websites and designs. Authorities can define which groups of people are allowed to participate in a specific voting (i.e. citizens in a specific municipality).

To help the Danish authorities to set up and use the debate and voting system the Danish National IT and Telecom Agency have established a hot-line help.

Codes of conduct are available for both authorities and citizens.

This Danish National IT and Telecom Agency will implement the tool with a marketing plan towards the Danish authorities to increase the volume of the debates and votes.

Impact, innovation and results

Impact

Further developed pilot project autumn 2008: On the basis of the ROSTRA tool Denmark developed a new voting system for binding election regarding the Danish parochial church councils. To secure the secrecy of the ballot and to ensure unique identification of the voter, the voting process is developed around the Danish Digital Signature. It was possible for all potential voters to cast their vote digitally in a period for 10 days before the physical election took place, November 2008. To ensure that there will be no connectivity between the voters personal information and the vote itself, it has been decided, that once you vote digitally, the option to physically place your vote at the voting facility is suspended.

This e-election is a pilot project between The Ministry of Ecclesiastical Affairs and The National IT and Telecom Agency. The pilot project will be evaluated late 2008 in order to decide, whether this type of electronic voting system should be used in elections regarding the Danish parochial church councils and other binding election to ensure the possibility of casting the vote digitally.

Track record of sharing

Early 2009 the source code will be at disposal at the open source software exchange website http://www.softwareborsen.dk

Lessons learnt

The project will be evaluated late 2008. The expected lessons to be learned:

- A network of authorities is very important

- Intensive marketing is necessary

- User involvement in the development produces user-friendly solutions

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