Open source code for e-voting system on the internet

The Norwegian Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development is now publishing the first part of the source code for the e-voting system on the internet.
The source code is the instructions to a computer - in a form that can be read by people - for what will be the final computer program for e-voting.

The ministry will continuously update the source code as the e-voting system is finalised for the election. Detailed documentation is also available, so as to make it as easy as possible to understand the code.

"Trust is vital for the Norwegian electoral system. It is therefore important that everyone who wishes to do so can find out how the system works. In order to safeguard this principle, the ministry is now publishing the source code for the e-voting system. In this way those who wish to do so, and who understand computer programming, can download it and inspect it," says Liv Merete Wiker, Head of Communications at the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development.

People who have been trained in programming can read the instructions in the source code and thus understand what the computer will do. Open source code does not mean that someone reading the source code can see how people vote. Anyone reading the source code will not be able to see any of the information in the system - only what the system will do with the information.

• The source code.

Want to discuss source code on Twitter? Use the hashtag #evalg.

For more information, contact the press centre at the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development on tel. 22 24 25 00.