This morning, on a beautiful late summer day, I went to my local school here in Stockholm to vote in Sweden’s EMU referendumIt was my first time voting.. It all went so fast that by the time I got goosebumps I was already back outside in the bright sunlight. Voting feels good.

I was surprised, however, that merely handing in my röstkort was enough to be allowed to cast my ballot. I was all ready to show my ID card to vouchsafe my identity, as per the instructions, but the 3 people in charge happily waved me on after crossing me off their list. I’m sure that voter fraud is unlikely, but isn’t the ID check there to prevent the overly enthusiastic from voting on behalf of others?

The same goes for voting by post. It poses the same problem for me as voting via the internet would: namely, that you cannot guarantee the secrecy of the ballot. It makes vote buying possible, wherein an interested party looks over your shoulder as you place the “correct” ballot in the envelope and seal it, and then watches you walk up to the counter and vote, after which you receive your reward.