Nevada’s EASE system, an online voting program designed for military and overseas voters, has expanded to include those with disabilities and voters living on reservations. However, state officials have admitted they rely on an honor system to determine whether someone is eligible to use it, sparking concerns about potential misuse.
The EASE system allows voters to register, receive, and return their ballots entirely online. But when asked how Nevada ensures only eligible voters use the system, the office of Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar pointed to the law, which makes providing false information a felony. Still, there are no built-in safeguards to verify that voters meet the eligibility criteria beyond their personal declaration.
This has raised alarms among security experts and voting advocates. A working group from UC Berkeley has stated that preventing fraud in online voting is nearly impossible without strong digital credentials. Furthermore, a report by the American Association for the Advancement of Science called online voting “simply not secure,” warning of potential cybersecurity risks and problems with voter authentication.
While Nevada’s system matches voters’ identities to existing records like Social Security numbers or driver’s license information, this only verifies who the voter is, not whether they qualify for the specific voting program. The lack of verification for eligibility has led many to question the integrity of the system.
As more states explore online voting options, Nevada’s EASE system highlights the challenges of balancing convenience with election security. With concerns about online voting growing, many believe that reforms will be needed to ensure these systems are both accessible and trustworthy.
