Welcome to the...
Undergraduate Association Online Housing Referendum
 
 
1. Use the right Netscape browser: Read carefully
If you're on your home PC, make sure you have Netscape 4.06 or higher.  Please note that versions other than that, or any browser other than Netscape, will not work at all. 

 If you're on Athena, the default version of Netscape will not work. However, you can easily run Netscape 4.5 (not 4.05) by following these instructions: 

athena% add outland 
athena% netscape-4.5 &

2. Obtain the appropriate certificates.
If you've used WebSIS, you probably don't need to do this, but here are the two simple steps: 

First, you'll need to get an MIT Site Certificate
Then, you'll need to get a Personal certificate.

3. Enable Java for your browser.
EVOX is written entirely in Java. In Netscape, go to the Edit Menu. Choose the "Advanced" category (it is a category header, but click on the word "Advanced"), and make sure "Enable Java" is selected. 
4. Vote.
 You will be able to vote starting at 11:59 PM on Friday, 16 October 1998.
Please come back then.
 
 
 
 
 
Information about the voting system
A recent article in the Tech covered EVOX in a very unfair way concerning its use for the UA Freshman Elections. It criticized the fact that it only runs in certain browsers, and that counting took a while. 

The reason why EVOX requires the most recent versions of the browsers is because it is written in Java 1.1.  The reason it is written in Java 1.1 is so that it may use Java 1.1's cryptographic functionality to ensure your security. The reason it is written in Java at all is to allow cross-platform access to a fully secure, anonymous voting system. The reason we are forced to use Netscape is because no one else supports Personal Certificates, which is the technology that enables us to ensure that no one can "fake" your vote. 

What the Tech forgot to mention about the previous voting system is that it does not in any way ensure the anonymity or security of your vote. EVOX is the implementation of a published cryptographic voting protocol which is meant to ensure the anonymity and security of your vote. It was recently approved by the MIT Office in charge of student privacy for use in this referendum. 

As for counting, EVOX will have tabulated results of this survey approximately one hour after the end of the voting period. 

If you have any further questions about the system, please do not hesitate to contact the administrator

Benjamin Adida <ben@mit.edu>