E-Voting in Windows Operating System

The voter and their computer must fulfil the main requirements for voting. Electronic voting involves electronic use of ID-card. Directions on how to get an ID-card and how to use it on the Internet are available here. You can also call 1777 for information.

E-voting client application functions with the following Windows operating systems:

Before starting the e-voting process, please check that the latest security updates (Windows Update) have been installed.

We recommend using the newer versions of the Microsoft Internet Explorer web browser (starting with IE 5.0) for e-voting.

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

Users of Windows Vista must start the browser from the command prompt Run as administrator in order to install the voter application. After the initial set up, users with lower rights can run the system.

Setting up the web browser
Normally a web browser does not need to be set for e-voting since the initial settings allow access to the e-voting pages. Setting up is, however, necessary when settings have been changed and do not allow the web page to be opened or navigated. Nevertheless, please check that your web browser allows Javascript and starting of signed ActiveX applications. You need to act as follows:

• Click the Tools menu, then Internet Options;
• Choose the page entitled Security and click Custom Level. Security settings window will open;
• Find the setting Download Signed ActiveX Controls in the window and define Enable;
• Find the setting Run ActiveX Controls and Plug-Ins and define Enable;
• Find the setting Script ActiveX Controls Marked Safe for Scripting and define Enable;
• Click OK to validate the settings.

Personal identification

Insert the ID-card into the card reader. Click Hääleta siin (Vote here)! on the e-voting opening page. The following dialogue window will be displayed on a new page:

The dialogue window will display your name and personal identification code. Click OK to continue.

If the dialogue window is empty as shown below, data could not be read from your ID-card.

In this case please check that the card has been inserted into the reader correctly. Then click Cancel and reload the page by clicking Ctrl+R or Refresh.

If many ID-cards have been registered in the computer, their data is shown. Choose the ID-card which is currently in the reader and click OK.

It may take a moment to identify you, so please be patient. The system checks whether you have already voted. The system also downloads the party and candidate list of your voting district.

You are then asked to enter the PIN1 of your ID-card.

Enter the number and click OK. If you entered the wrong code, the following notice is displayed:

In this case click OK, which will reopen the dialogue window with your name and personal identification code (cf. above).

Voting

If you entered the correct PIN-code, you will reach the next page:

Clicking Edasi (Forward) will load the actual voting application into the web browser. The size of the EXE version of the application is 2.5 MB; in case of ActiveX opening in browser - 3.0 MB. The downloading speed of the application depends on your Internet connection. Please be patient.

The following announcement may appear when opening page: ”An ActiveX control on this page might be unsafe to interact with other parts of the page. Do you want to allow this interaction?” (Yes, No).

Click Yes to continue voting.

If starting up of ActiveX components is not allowed, the following notification appears:

You have to decide whether to set the web browser to use ActiveX or download the EXE version of the voter application. In the first case, the e-voting takes place in the web browser, in the second case the programme valijarakendus.exe is downloaded. In order to vote electronically, the downloaded program must be started despite the following warning. Click Run.

The voter application starts in a few seconds and PIN1 is asked again.

The application has now been started in the web browser or as a separate program.

After you have read the introductory text and clicking Otsustama (Decide), the program displays the 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 party or candidate, click Hääletan (Voting).

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 voting 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 party or candidate, respond to the confirmation question by clicking Otsustama (Decide). If you are happy with your first choice, respond Loobun (Cancel).

Annulment of a 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.