But traditional, non-cryptographic paper ballots allow you to pick none of those things. Traditional ballots don't really provide any authentication. If you ch

But traditional, non-cryptographic paper ballots allow you to pick none of those things. Traditional ballots don't really provide any authentication. If you check your mail and find a blank ballot addressed to someone who used to live at your address, you can vote twice. Nobody will know unless that person comes looking for their ballot. Traditional ballots don't really provide any verification. Sure, two weeks after election day I can look up the code printed on my ballot to see if it's been counted. But there isn't any way to verify that it's been counted correctly, nor is there any way to prove that the system isn't lying to me. Traditional ballots don't really provide any anonymity. In addition to the aforementioned number printed on the ballot, my return address and signature of displayed on the outside of the envelope. I'm told that whoever or whatever opens the envelope won't look at the ballot inside, but I have no way of proving that. Authentication, verifiability and anonymity are all properties that can only be implemented with together with the aid of cryptography.