Towards the end of 2008 three major political parties in Israel (Likud, Labour and Kadima) held primary elections allowing party members to vote via computer terminal rather than traditional paper ballots. These hybrid elections preceded the national elections held a few months later and were viewed by the political system and the public as a testing ground for internet based voting planned in the future, with the planned introduction of biometric national identification cards. In addition, the parties had a vested interest in presenting an image of being technologically advanced and up to date. In all three instances the parties experienced severe problems with the electronic voting process. Ranging from technical problems to design/interface issues to methodological issues, these elections cast doubt among the public, the parties and politicians regarding the viability and feasibility of electronic voting in Israel - not only at the primaries level, but at the national level as well. This paper presents the three cases with their inherent problems underlining the process, in an attempt to shed light on the effects of computer based voting on the party(s), the electorate and electoral procedures.
