In recent elections, voter turnout has been higher than in the past, with people visiting polling sites in person, using absentee ballots, and taking advantage of email, fax, or online uploads. While not all states offer the same voting options, most are seeing increases in the use of absentee and online choices. However, not everyone is convinced electronic options are secure, and that lack of security may lead to problems developing during the counting process.
Proponents of online faxing are pushing for more states to adopt the option or make it easier for overseas voters to use. Opponents state online options are fraught with problems and make voter fraud easy. However, industry experts respond, saying those concerns are vastly overblown and must be discounted to preserve the right of people to vote for their candidates.
While it’s important to grasp both the pros and cons of online faxing and other digital voting options, the underlying issue is that citizens have a right to vote using an appropriate method. So, how do elections benefit from online faxing and international faxing in an electronic world?
Introduction to Online Faxing in Elections
Online faxing has become an essential tool in modern elections, enabling candidates and campaign teams to send and receive sensitive documents securely and efficiently. With the rise of digital communication, online faxing has revolutionized the way election campaigns are run, making it easier to manage paperwork, communicate with voters, and comply with regulations. This technology allows campaign teams to send a fax internationally without the need for traditional fax machines, ensuring that important documents reach their destination quickly and securely. By leveraging online fax services, election teams can streamline their operations, reduce costs, and enhance overall productivity, making it a critical component of any successful election campaign.
Exploring the Recent History of Voting in the U.S.
In the 2020 election, a record number of U.S. citizens turned out to vote, but the way they voted is arguably more important than the actual numbers. A record number of voters opted to vote early, by mail, and by using digital options. The reasons for people choosing those options varied but certainly included the pandemic and fears of intimidation at polling stations. When sending international faxes, it is crucial to include the correct country code to ensure the fax is routed properly to the foreign destination.
Voters living outside the U.S. also faced challenges voting in that election, with mail service in many parts of the world seeing slowdowns or disruptions due to political conditions and the pandemic. Those factors lead to many of those voters seeking safer, faster ways to cast their ballots, including correctly entering the international dialing code along with the recipient’s fax number to ensure successful transmission.
Throughout the U.S., the validity of votes cast both in person and by other methods was challenged. The allegations were that widespread fraud was changing the outcome of the election. However, no evidence of widespread fraud ever surfaced, which suggests the integrity of the existing system hadn’t been compromised.
Those voters living abroad still submitted ballots using the postal system, but a large number of them opted to use digital voting methods, including online faxing, where permitted. The safety of voting digitally includes a few inherent risks, but there were no significant issues reported among the votes submitted digitally. With the increasing number of challenges when mailing ballots from overseas, it’s likely more voters will opt to use digital voting methods in the future, which leads experts to wonder what types of issues may develop if those methods were commonly utilized in future elections. To send international faxes, it is important to use the correct country and international dialing codes, highlighting the advantages of online faxing solutions over traditional methods for global operations.
Understanding the Opposition to International Faxing in an Election
The primary concern with using digital options for voting, including secure online faxing, is security. That’s understandable as countless examples of hacking occur every year, but industry professionals are well aware of the threats and take steps to maintain the integrity of their systems. However, it’s still important to understand the potential for issues to develop with digital voting. Here are a few of the problems online security experts consider.
1. Privacy Issues. When submitting a ballot digitally, there is currently no way to guarantee voter anonymity. That means it may be possible for anyone involved in processing the votes to discover the identity of a digital voter. It’s also likely the states require voters to sign an affidavit affirming they understand their anonymity is not guaranteed.
2. Votes Cannot be Audited. It’s virtually impossible to audit digital votes, as the process is commonly understood. In other words, reconstructing lost or digitally damaged votes would be difficult if not impossible. That’s an important issue, as most people want their votes counted. Of course, it’s also impossible to guarantee there will never be problems even at typical, in-person polling places. The key will be to use the most secure email and online faxing options.
3. Malware Transmission. If a voter’s computer is infected with malware, it’s possible to introduce that malware to the transmitted to the equipment used by the site receiving the online ballot. While most sites are protected, the voter’s ballot may not be counted due to the presence of malware. However, if the site receiving the online ballot is not properly protected, significant issues can result.
4. Votes May Be Manipulated. When there is no encryption, email and online faxes are subject to manipulation. In other words, it’s theoretically possible to alter ballots during the transmission process. Votes may be changed or discarded at some point in the process, especially at the receiving site. Additionally, using the wrong international prefix when sending faxes internationally can lead to ballots being sent to incorrect locations or not being delivered at all.
Of course, the likelihood of experiencing these types of problems is minor, but consider that players could alter, to some degree, the election results at specific sites even when typical security protocols are in place.
Indeed, security experts warn that security issues will be present when digital voting options are in use. The very way digital communications are designed makes it possible to alter or destroy online faxes or email ballots. Should that stop people from using those systems? The short answer is no, as the odds of significant problems occurring are currently slim. However, it’s incumbent on voters and government agencies to take all appropriate security steps when a system will be used as part of the country’s voting process and to upgrade security protocols when possible.
Some security experts suggest it’s safer to improve the mail service than it is to provide foolproof online voting options, but is that really an option given the trends seen during the last election?
Why Voters in Foreign Countries Prefer to Send a Fax Internationally When Voting
As noted earlier, using traditional mail services has proven to be slow and unpredictable. The odds of a late or lost ballot are high when mailing ballots from some foreign countries, which means your vote would not be counted. That’s not acceptable for many individuals. Even though there are some risks involved with online faxing of a ballot, those risks may be preferable to mailing. Having an international fax number can be particularly convenient for overseas voters, ensuring they can send and receive faxes globally without hassle.
Some states allow both email and fax voting, but others may accept one or the other. It’s always important to determine well in advance what your options are when submitting your vote while you’re in another country. Voters using online faxing to vote find the process to be straightforward and relatively easy to use. When sending your fax, make sure to correctly input the recipient’s fax number to ensure successful transmission.
Even if voters in another country don’t have access to an actual fax machine, apps and software that convert email attachments to faxes are readily available. Users scan their ballot, as well as any other required documentation, and follow the appropriate instructions for the online faxing app or software they’re using. Using an international fax can simplify the voting process and enhance reliability.
It’s important to review how an online faxing system works before election day to ensure you’re able to submit your ballot within the accepted timeframe. If you anticipate problems, make sure there is help available to walk you through the process.
According to voting assistance experts, more than half of all states now permit overseas voters to vote electronically rather than using paper ballots and mail services. When voting using online faxing, it’s always a good idea to retain your copy of the ballot to provide a paper trail should a problem occur during the online voting process.
Advantages of Online Faxing over Traditional Faxing
Online faxing offers several advantages over traditional faxing, particularly in the context of elections. Here are some of the key benefits:
Convenience: Online faxing allows campaign teams to send and receive faxes from anywhere, at any time, using any device with an internet connection. This flexibility is crucial during the fast-paced election season, where timely communication can make a significant difference.
Security: Online faxing services use advanced encryption and security measures to protect sensitive documents, ensuring that they are transmitted securely and in compliance with regulations. This is especially important when dealing with confidential voter information and campaign strategies.
Cost-effectiveness: Online faxing eliminates the need for traditional fax machines, paper, and ink, reducing costs and minimizing waste. Campaigns can allocate these savings to other critical areas, such as voter outreach and advertising.
Efficiency: Online faxing automates the faxing process, allowing campaign teams to focus on more critical tasks and improving overall productivity. With features like bulk faxing and automated delivery confirmations, teams can ensure that their messages are delivered accurately and on time.
Security and Compliance in Online Faxing
Security and compliance are critical considerations in online faxing, particularly in the context of elections. Here are some key security and compliance features to look for in an online faxing service:
HIPAA compliance: Ensure that the online faxing service is HIPAA-compliant, which means it meets the standards for protecting sensitive health information. While HIPAA primarily applies to healthcare, its stringent security standards are beneficial for any organization handling sensitive data.
Encryption: Look for online faxing services that use advanced encryption methods, such as SSL/TLS, to protect documents during transmission. Encryption ensures that only the intended recipient can access the faxed information, safeguarding it from unauthorized access.
Password protection: Ensure that the online faxing service requires password protection to access and send faxes. This adds an extra layer of security, preventing unauthorized individuals from sending or viewing sensitive documents.
Audit trails: Look for online faxing services that provide audit trails, which allow campaign teams to track and monitor fax activity. Audit trails offer transparency and accountability, making it easier to verify that documents were sent and received as intended.
Where Are Online Fax Services Heading in the Future?
Currently, online faxing to vote isn’t available to people voting in the U.S., as other options are available and provide more security. However, the 2020 election demonstrated that voters are looking for other ways to cast their ballots in future elections. Choosing a reliable online fax service that accommodates international faxing requirements could be crucial for future elections.
The pandemic made many voters nervous, as they did not feel comfortable visiting a polling station in person to vote. They chose, instead, to vote by mail, where possible, to avoid the odds of coming in contact with an infected poll worker.
Other voters chose to vote early to minimize their exposure to other voters as well as poll workers. That didn’t work as well as expected, as many others also chose that option. However, the experience exposed voters to options other than voting on election day, and many of them appreciated having alternate choices for voting.
Does that mean future voters will look for ways to avoid voting in person on election day? Many experts believe the die is cast and voters will expect additional voting options in coming elections. Even though some people doubted the outcome of the past election, there is no evidence of any wide-spread voting irregularities during the 2020 election. Some states have passed laws making it more difficult to vote by mail, but voters are seeing the advantages of using alternate voting options rather than voting in-person on election day.
Might digital voting be a viable option for future elections? While it’s unlikely that will happen in the immediate future, events like the current pandemic may significantly alter the way everyone lives which, in turn, may lead to considering the use of online faxing as a way for anyone to vote. Additionally, the ability to receive international faxes could streamline the process for voters abroad, making digital voting more accessible and secure.
Conclusion
In conclusion, online faxing has become an essential tool in modern elections, offering convenience, security, cost-effectiveness, and efficiency. By understanding the benefits and security features of online faxing, campaign teams can streamline their operations, improve productivity, and ensure compliance with regulations. Whether you’re a candidate, campaign manager, or election official, online faxing is a critical component of any successful election campaign. Embracing this technology can help ensure that your campaign runs smoothly and that your communications are secure and reliable.