María Estrada, Rector of the Technological Institute of Costa Rica, elected with the EUniversities platform, spoke exclusively with EVoting and highlighted the security and support of the company.
In May 2023, the Technological Institute of Costa Rica elected for the first time a woman as rector and, in addition, the electronic democracy made its debut in this type of process in the institution. Almost 10 months after the election, María Estrada Sánchez talked about the process with EVoting and what it meant.
How does it feel to be the first woman rector of TEC Costa Rica?
I am very happy. In fact, I am very excited, it is a hopeful topic for the country and the region. I think we are making history, very excited for the opportunity, but also very full of challenges for all the trust and commitment that this means for the institution and for its future.
What did you think of the fact that, for the first time, electronic means were used for the election of the Rector?
It was a very interesting opportunity. The Institutional Electoral Tribunal, quite rightly, had made the decision to move towards electronic voting in other previous elections, but not in the rector’s office; these were not elections of such a high institutional hierarchy, but having advanced in such a foresighted manner in these matters, I believe that it gave the institutional community the security of feeling that the elections were well attended through this platform. In addition, the results that could be known in an efficient and expeditious manner, also gave the institution that security at a time that was not only effective, but also timely. So I am very happy that the court allowed us to do it that way. Because, as we have our campus all over the country, it also allowed the whole community to be present and also to vote from wherever they were.
What would you highlight about the process with EVoting?
The efficiency in the delivery of the results and the monitoring of this issue. I think that the protocol -that many times we, the voters, do not manage to dimension what is behind the voting process- is done in a very ceremonious way. That is perhaps what most caught my attention, not only the process prior to the voting, but also the process at the time of removing the keys to see the results, is what most generates that impact of security and tranquility to institutional democracy.
In that sense, how do you think EVoting’s security and transparency worked?
I think it worked wonderfully. Again here to highlight the work that the Electoral Institutional Tribunal had previously done with you. Then, all those opportunities for improvement that they were able to work on from the very first moment in which they made a vote for some of the institutional positions, allowed us to feel in a more natural way in the elaboration of this voting process. So, I would like to highlight the capacity for adaptation that EVoting has, and the whole team behind it, which manages to transfer to the tangible and intangible elements of the platform what the institution needs. So, I think this is something to highlight very much, because that is what is needed at this time, not only to take the step towards this vote, but also to feel sure that it is a platform with which I feel comfortable because it is ensuring that the user experience is timely and realistic from what the institution needs.
Finally, would you recommend other institutions to use this type of mechanism?
Yes, of course I would. I think it is a great opportunity to approach these elements of electronic voting, so people will feel more confident to use a tool like this. Perhaps the biggest questioning that I could find around the court proposing a tool like this was the part of the concern of the very personal and totally confidential element, but around these issues I think that, as it goes very much hand in hand with the device that each person makes, that is what gives the person more peace of mind. So yes, totally. I would recommend the process, I would recommend the company with which our tribunal is accompanied in these processes.