Estonia was crippled by cyberattacks on government networks during a dispute with Russia in 2007. Today the tiny tech-savvy nation is so certain of its cyber defenses that it is the only country in the world to allow internet voting for the entire electorate, in every election, and thousands have already done so ahead of elections to the European Parliament.
Internet voting — or i-voting —has been available since 2005 in the nation that gave the world Skype, and the percentage of voters using the internet to cast ballots has increased with each election, reaching 44% of voters in national election in March.
Linda Lainvoo votes online in the European elections from the comfort of a cafe in Estonia's capital, Tallinn, Thursday May 16, 2019. Estonia is the only country in the world to allow internet voting for the entire electorate, in every election. (AP PhotoDavid Keyton)
A ferry departs from Estonia's capital Tallinn as the sun sets over the Baltic state's medieval town, Wednesday May 15, 2019. Online voting in the European elections has begun in Estonia, the only country in the world to allow internet voting for the entire electorate, in every election. (AP PhotoDavid Keyton)