UK Voters Want To Vote Online

InternetVoting writes "A recent UK research survey by NTL:Telewest Business found that nearly half of the younger respondents would be more likely to vote online. This year the UK government has authorized 13 local election pilots including Internet voting. ntl:Telewest Business estimates 10 million UK households have broadband and 4,789 local libraries offer public access. In the US political parties are beginning to test the Internet voting waters with the Michigan Democratic Party to offer Internet voting in their 2008 Presidential Caucus. There were some notable differences in generational interest: 'The YouGov poll of almost 2,300 people, carried out on behalf of NTL:Telewest's business unit, found that younger voters were even more positive about the idea of alternatives to the trusty ballot box. 57 per cent of 18-34 year olds liked the idea of evoting, but only a third of the over 55s were as keen.' Given security and privacy concerns in the states, how likely is this to appeal to US voters? "

How likely?

[zappepcs]

Very likely if they can find a company (NOT Diebold) who can manage to make it a secure process. I certainly appreciate all the things that are government related that I can do online now. Voting would be useful. Those that don't want to, or cannot vote online can continue to do so at voting stations. The combination should cover everyone.... IF they can make it secure and keep the graft out of the process.

If it were more open...

[The Living Fractal]

I think e-voting can work. As long as the votes are kept totally public then I see it as being viable. It's the only way you can be sure everyone's vote was really counted how it should've been. The moment you start hiding votes and secreting them away you introduce the possibility for corruption from the organizers.

So, my question is: what's wrong with everyone knowing what everyone else voted? Does it create bias in the workplace? Do Liberal bosses see their Conservative employees votes and thus not give them raises, or worse, in an at-will state such as mine, just fire them outright?

Is this the kind of person you want to be your boss anyway? Wouldn't the system naturally cleanse itself from people like that? Sure, at first it'd be a bumpy road and a lot of chaos would ensue, but it seems to be the final state of things would be a lot smoother than the state of not even knowing if your vote was counted right, or if the people counting the votes stacked them somehow. It just seems like hiding votes has always been a crutch.

But please, correct me if I'm wrong...

TLF

Consititionally busted voting

[Original Replica]

"Given security and privacy concerns in the states, how likely is this to appeal to US voters? "

For anyone to trust online voting, we would need some sort of paper trail or other form of accountibility. Can I print out a vote receipt? Not in the US.
Heck the only reason that we kinda trust the voting system we have is tradition and a lack of other choice. No the two party political system here is actually reliant on the electoral college and the untrackable vote to hold their two faceted monopoly on US Government. For further reading: http://gning.org/electoral.html [gning.org]

Re:Scariest shit i have heard in ages

[jez9999]

I've never understood all this 'encouraging people to vote' bullshit. The answer to me seems simple. Make it fucking MANDATORY, and put a 'none of the above box' on the ballot. Problem solved. I would be just fine with the few hundred lazy morons who couldn't be bothered to vote being in jail. Australia shows that it's quite feasible.

Re:There is a good reason to retain the voting boo

[Zarhan]

Already solved in Estonia. You can vote as many times as you want online, only your latest vote count. So if someone peers over your shoulder making sure you vote right, you can just change your vote as soon as he's gone. Also, by going to the actual physical voting booth you can also override any online votes if all else fails.

No we don't

[Anonymous Coward]

May I say, as an Englishman who's opinions are pretty middle of the road and representative, we want no such thing.

This report is a concoction. Based on the evidence of what I've seen in the United States I have no faith in
electronic voting systems whatsoever.

I will absent myself from the country and use my legally ensured right to vote by post if necessary.

Consider this before you *bah*

[ushering05401]

One of my biggest gripes about elections is how simplified the issues have become, and how difficult it is to understand what each candidate *really* stands for.

IF they instituted online voting they could have drop down boxes for each candidate with summaries of opinions and hyperlinks to voting records, speeches... Hell, they could even link in the publically disclosed lists of contributors. I believe most voters don't have the time or inclination to do this sort of research on their own, but might be more inclined if the info was more easily accesible.

A voter could spend all the time they like reading about each candidate and issue on the ballot *while* casting their vote.

All it would take is some legislation and a bit of funding to amass the linked materials.

Political spin would have a reduced effect on anyone with enough motivation to click a couple of links.

Regards.

Re:bah

[yahooadam]

just have an ID like the postal vote

the government doesn't want to introduce eVoting because it means they lose control, if we can vote online for who governs us, what stops most important decisions from being made with an eVote

What about if the entire British populous is able to vote about where we go to war with whoever T-Blair decides is the next big threat

that's why we wont see the eVote for some time to come

Re:Consider this before you *bah*

[Millenniumman]

If someone has internet access, which is necessary for this ridiculous scheme anyway, then they have the resources at their disposal to easily find all the information in the world about the candidates they will be voting for. If they choose not to do so, they don't care. You can't force information on them.

And no, you can never, ever, expect to get objective and complete political information from one source, especially a government one. You'll have the same "political spin", but one sided.

I can see it now:

"The incumbent supports everything good, has done a wonderful job, and here are links to a few speeches he read."
"Running against him is a jerk, and here are links to a few embarrassing quotes"