Option to use Smart-ID for identification in e-voting to be made available

TALLINN – Starting from the upcoming local elections in Estonia, in addition to an ID card or Mobile-ID, voters can also identify themselves using Smart-ID in the voter application when voting online.

Arne Koitmäe, head of the State Electoral Office, said that the addition of an additional identification tool makes e-voting more convenient for voters, as a large number of people prefer Smart-ID as their everyday electronic identification tool.

"The technical readiness to introduce Smart-ID is in place and the necessary law amendment has also entered into force," Koitmäe added.

According to the amendments to the Riigikogu Election Act adopted last year, a voter may identify themselves in the electronic voting system in addition to documents issued under the Identity Documents Act also with an equivalent electronic identification system tool. To do this, the electronic identification system tool must comply with the high level of trustworthiness of the regulation on electronic identification and electronic transactions of the European Parliament and of the Council and have a valid decision on it.

Smart-ID, created by SK ID Solutions AS, is certified under the eIDAS regulation and accounts issued based on the Estonian personal identification code have a high level of reliability in Estonia. The basis for registering a Smart-ID Estonian account is a national identity document.

For secure and smooth e-voting, voters must check in advance whether the certificates of their personal identification tool are valid.

The local government council election week lasts from Oct. 13 to 19.