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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? "
It's worth noting who commissioned the survey, and who responded. NTL customers are, generally speaking, Joe and Demi-Jade Sixpack and their brood of shell-suited and bizarrely-named chav offspring (from several fathers, natch).
I think it's fine letting them vote online. Assuming that the webform just dumps the info. Keeps them quiet and prevents their influence - they'll never be smart enough to figure out their being ignored. Seems win-win to me.
Seriously though, these are not Alpha demographic respondents - that should be borne in mind before potentially annihilating democracy.
Just because you are too dumb to think up an online voting system that can't be fooled by a botnet, doesn't mean everyone else is.
A colleague of mine is Australian and is now living half way around the world from his homeland. His local government elections are coming up(and the article mentioned focused on local government elections not Prime ministerial elections) and he is frustrated by the vote by post process and said he would be willing to vote online. I know a lot of the the respondents are thinking Bush v Gore but voting online can be a viable option for expatriates. The major issue of course is security but the majority of comments sounded like paranoia rather than genuine concerns.
End of line
On a related note, is "cross" British for the symbol "x"?