With paper ballots (physical tokens):
* Paper ballots allow the voter to verify that the ballot represents the voter's vote.
* The general public can verify that the voter cast a ballot, without having to know the vote.
* The general public can verify that the paper ballots are not tampered with while waiting to be counted.
* The general public can observe and verify the count of the ballots.
In electronic voting (abstractions, not physical tokens):
- The voter cannot verify that the internal state of the device represents the voter's vote. (This is true no matter how many pre-election or post-election tests are performed on the device).
- The general public cannot observe or verify that the voter cast a ballot. (The electorate has a critical, prime responsibility to observe and verify this).
- The general public cannot observe or verify the (abstract, invisible, electronic) ballots are true to the forms (state) they were in when cast.
- The general public cannot observe or verify the (invisible, electronic) count of the (abstract, invisible, electronic) ballots.
Elections are far more important than the check-out line at the grocery store, bank or Amazon. Verification is needed by the individual voter, by the rest of the electorate, and by the general public while still maintaining a secret ballot. Physical tokens that human beings can perceive are required.