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Could E-Voting Cure Voter Apathy?

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the sure-can't-make-it-worth dept.

Bendebecker notes that The Register is saying that "A major trial is about to kick off in the UK that could help decide whether e-voting is merely a gimmick or whether it can genuinely help cure voter apathy." Voter Apathy or Flash Poll Elections? What is the lesser of 2 evils?

4 of 474 comments (clear)

  1. In a word, no! by jonathonc · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The mechanism for voting will have little impact on current apathy. A significant proportion of the country doesn't vote because they have little or no faith in politicians and their constant lies, double standards, corruption and inability to keep promises. Sure, clicking a button will make it easier to vote but you're stilling voting for the same distrustful candidates.

    1. Re:In a word, no! by mz001b · · Score: 5, Interesting
      A significant proportion of the country doesn't vote because they have little or no faith in politicians and their constant lies, double standards, corruption and inability to keep promises. Sure, clicking a button will make it easier to vote but you're stilling voting for the same distrustful candidates.

      That is why we need a "None of the above" choice on the ballot too. California tried this via referendum, but it didn't go through.

  2. Linus Torvalds elected President in 2010 by 192939495969798999 · · Score: 5, Funny

    By a landslide write-in upset of 97 trillion votes. Electronic fraud is suspected in the election, results of the investigation are pending...

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    stuff |
  3. Lesser of two evils==Duverger's Law by robla · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The little dig at the end of the CmdrTaco's intro is absolutely correct. There's a pretty big link between voter apathy and the "lesser of two evils" problem. The root cause for the lesser of two evils problem is Duverger's Law, which gives us the two party system. The link between voter apathy and two-party systems is pretty unmistakable, and there's a lot of research on the subject showing it. Read the Wikipedia link above for good starting reference material.

    Rob Lanphier
    p.s. Visit Electorama! for more on this subject