Finding an appropriate e-voting system for Italy

This dissertation examines the feasibility of introducing electronic voting (e-voting) in Italy, a country where electoral procedures remain firmly paper-based despite the broader digital transformation of public administration. Traditional voting entails significant financial, logistical, and environmental costs, while also creating accessibility barriers for citizens with disabilities or those living far from polling stations. To address these challenges, the study employs a mixed-methods approach that combines a bibliometric analysis of more than 1,000 scholarly publications on e-voting, a comparative review of adoption patterns across different countries, a machine-learning assessment of the socio-economic determinants of adoption, and an evaluation of blockchain and related technologies within the Italian legal and institutional framework. The findings indicate that larger, wealthier, and more democratic countries are more likely to adopt e-voting, with blockchain and advanced cryptographic protocols emerging as central themes in the academic debate. Italy, although cautious, has already conducted limited pilot projects that provide valuable lessons for future implementation. The dissertation concludes that the country possesses the infrastructure and institutional capacity to pursue e-voting, but that a prudent, incremental strategy is essential. Gradual deployment through carefully designed pilot programs—prioritizing security, verifiability, inclusiveness, and environmental sustainability—represents the most viable path toward a trustworthy and socially acceptable transition to electronic voting in the Italian electoral system.