Securing Digital Democracy

About this course: In this course, you'll learn what every citizen should know about the security risks--and future potential — of electronic voting and Internet voting. We'll take a look at the past, present, and future of election technologies and explore the various spaces intersected by voting, including computer security, human factors, public policy, and more.

Created by:  University of Michigan

• Taught by:  J. Alex Halderman, Associate Professor

  Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Commitment 2-3 hours/week Language English How To Pass Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. User Ratings 4.8 stars Average User Rating 4.8See what learners said Coursework

Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.

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University of Michigan The mission of the University of Michigan is to serve the people of Michigan and the world through preeminence in creating, communicating, preserving and applying knowledge, art, and academic values, and in developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future.

Syllabus


WEEK 1


Voting as a Security Problem
Approaching voting problems with the security mindset


8 videos, 5 readings expand

1. Reading: Syllabus and Logistics
2. Reading: Staff
3. Reading: Companion Reading and Resources
4. Video: Welcome
5. Reading: Help us learn more about you!
6. Reading: Reading List
7. Video: The Security Mindset
8. Video: Security Requirements for Voting
9. Video: The Living Voice
10. Video: Early Paper Ballots
11. Video: The Australian Ballot
12. Video: Mechanical Voting Machines
13. Video: Punched Card Voting

Graded: Voting as a Security Problem

WEEK 2


Computers at the Polls
Voting enters the computing age


7 videos, 1 reading expand

1. Reading: Reading List
2. Video: Computers at the Polls
3. Video: Optical Scan Voting
4. Video: DRE Voting Machines
5. Video: Inside the Black Box
6. Video: Paper as a Defense
7. Video: Diebold
8. Video: Goes Wrong

Graded: Computers at the Polls

WEEK 3


Security Procedures and Voting Around the World
Methods for ensuring the security of democracy


9 videos, 1 reading expand

1. Reading: Reading List
2. Video: Voter Registration
3. Video: Voter Authentication
4. Video: Guarding Against Tampering
5. Video: Field Testing
6. Video: Case Studies
7. Video: India's EVMs
8. Video: Tamperproof?
9. Video: India's Response
10. Video: Bonus: Deport on Arrival

Graded: Security Procedures and Voting Around the World

WEEK 4


Human Factors and Internet Voting
Users don't always behave as expected, even when voting


8 videos, 1 reading expand

1. Reading: Reading List
2. Video: Usability
3. Video: Usable Paper Ballots
4. Video: Accessibility
5. Video: Absentee Voting
6. Video: A Bad Idea
7. Video: Client-side Threats
8. Video: Server-side Threats
9. Video: Washington, D.C.

Graded: Human Factors and Internet Voting

WEEK 5


New Technology and Policy
Lessons learned


7 videos, 2 readings expand

1. Reading: Reading List
2. Video: Criteria
3. Video: Post-Election Auditing
4. Video: End-to-End Verifiable Voting
5. Video: Verifying an E2E Result
6. Video: Election Policy in the U.S.
7. Video: Testing and Certification
8. Video: Recommendations
9. Reading: Post-course Survey

Graded: New Technology and Policy
Graded: Final Writing Assignment