Nevada’s EASE system, originally set up for military and overseas voters, has been expanded to include voters with disabilities and those living on reservations. However, the state has come under scrutiny for using an honor system to determine eligibility for the program.
Voters using the EASE system must affirm their eligibility, but there are no safeguards to ensure that individuals are telling the truth. The system does verify identity through Social Security numbers or driver’s licenses, but these checks do not confirm whether someone qualifies to use the program.
Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar’s office pointed to penalties for providing false information when asked how they verify eligibility. Still, critics argue this approach is insufficient for preventing potential abuse.
Experts from UC Berkeley have warned that it’s nearly impossible to stop fraud in online voting without strong digital security measures. A report from the American Association for the Advancement of Science echoed those concerns, calling online voting insecure due to vulnerabilities in voter authentication.
Nevada’s reliance on an honor system has led many to question the integrity of the EASE program. As other states consider adopting similar systems, Nevada’s experience may prompt a deeper look at how to ensure the security of online voting.
