The present invention relates to systems and methods for digitally signing one or more extensive markup language (
XML) or election markup language (EML) documents to ensure authenticity, integrity, and non-repudiation of the said documents. The systems comprise an at least one
processing unit (104) configured to at least: prepare the one or more
XML or EML documents; perform a
canonicalization step to the prepared
XML or EML documents to determine one or more canonicalized XML or EML documents, wherein the
canonicalization step ensures that the XML or EML documents are in a
standard form; determine a hash value of the determined canonicalized XML or EML documents using one or more cryptographic hashing
algorithm, wherein the hash value represents one or more content of the XML or EML documents; sign the hash value using an at least one private key of one or more signers; create one or more signed XML or EML documents by adding the signed hash value, one or more signing
algorithm, and the signer's identification to the XML or EML documents; and verify the signed XML or EML document by at least extracting the hash value from the signed XML or EML document. The systems further comprise an at least one
user interface, connected to the
processing unit, for allowing access and configuration to the said
processing unit; an at least one data storage device for storing the processed result data by the processing unit; and an at least one communications unit, connected to the processing unit, configured to at least send the processed result data to an at least one third-party device and / or an at least one remote
server.