E-Voting in Linux Operating System

Hardware and software requirements

The voter and their computer must fulfil the main requirements for voting.
Electronic voting involves electronic use of ID-card. Linux-compatible ID-card software must have been installed in the computer. Help in installing the latest software is available at: http://ideelabor.ee/id-kaart/linux.

Use a browser that enables personal identification with the Estonian ID-card. The system should support all Mozilla project based browsers (Firefox, Netscape, Mozilla, Galeon, Epiphany). OpenSC module supporting the Estonian ID-card must also be installed and correctly set up.

Go to the e-voting front page, keep your ID-card and your PINs handy and click Hääleta siin (Vote here). Then download the e-voting client application.

Set-up of e-voting client application

Voting client application valimine.bin is available for download after you enter the system with your ID-card.

You will then reach the next page:

Clicking Edasi (Forward) will take you to the page where you can download the voter application. The size of the application is 4.4 MB and the download speed depends on your Internet connection. Please be patient.

Save the file in a suitable folder:

After having downloaded the file, please check that the MD5 and SHA1 checksums of the client application correspond to the checksums published in the web, using the utilities md5sum and/or sha1sum. Enter the two following commands on the command prompt:

md5sum valimine.bin
sha1sum valimine.bin

If the checksums displayed by the utilities do not correspond to the ones in the web, please contact the National Electoral Committee immediately and inform them of a possible attack. Do not, under any circumstances, use the application for e-voting!

If the checksums coincide, close the browser, open the terminal, go to the folder where you have saved the downloaded client application and type in the command prompt:

then start the application:

Using e-voting client application
After having started the client application you are asked to give the PIN1 of your ID-card.

Enter the number and click Nõus (OK). If you entered the correct PIN, you will reach the next page:

After you have read the introductory text and clicked Otsustama (Decide), the program will display the list of candidates participating at the election.

After you have selected a candidate, you must confirm your choice on the next page. If you are sure that you want to vote for the chosen candidate, click Hääletan (Vote).

The system encrypts your choice, which must now be signed. You are therefore asked to type in the PIN2 of your ID-card.

This concludes e-voting and you are asked to close the window. This ensures that the connection to the voting centre has indeed been cut. You may also remove your ID-card from the reader.

Repeat voting
E-voting system allows you to vote again. Please note that in case of repeat voting only the last vote will count. In order to vote again you must enter the e-voting web page, following the instructions above. The system ascertains that you have already voted and asks confirmation that you wish to vote again. If you wish to vote for another candidate, respond to the confirmation question by clicking Otsustama (Decide). If you are happy with your first choice, respond Loobun (Cancel).

Annulment of the vote
Voting in a polling place during the advance poll will annul the electronic vote.

If an error occurs
Read (in Estonian) what to do when the ID-card does not function.

For help on how to use your ID-card, please call 1777.
For technical assistance in issues of electronic voting, please write to abi@valimised.ee.
In other issues related to elections, please contact val@riigikogu.ee.

If your computer or a technical error does not allow you to vote electronically, you can vote in a polling place following the normal procedure.