08 March 2008
Allowing citizens the choice to use Internet to vote
The European Movement has launched an interesting campaign in the run up its 60th Anniversary event to take place in The Hague, commemorating the Congress of Europe held there in 1948.
The campaign "60 ideas for Europe" aims to collect the best sixty ideas and present them to Euripean leaders gathered in The Hague in May.
Never one to shy away from a challenge, I thought a bit (not very much, in fact) and with a prod from Pat Cox, the current President of European Movement International, have decided to throw my idea into the ring. If you like it, please give it a vote (well, 5 votes!) on the "60 Ideas for Europe" blog: Click here
We see a continual decline in voter turnout across most parts of Europe; increased cynicism towards politicians and politics in general; and even lower participation in voting in European elections.
In contrast, more and more people - particularly younger people but the elderly too - are getting involved in online communities and interest groups, and embracing technologies to overcome hurdles, disabilities, fears, absence from home or simply expressing a preference.
We should harness Internet-based technologies to help citizens reconnect with politics, offering them concretely a means to participate in a way that follows the trend in other parts of their lives. Many simply do not have the time or opportunity to vote at their local voting station.
I propose therefore that the Member States - with support from the European Commission - should organise to allow citizens the choice of voting via the Internet at the 2009 elections. What a signal it would give if they were willing to participate in a joint initiative to make this possible in - say - a selected constituency or area in each country as a first step.
It would show that it is meeting a commitment to:
- making the most of technology for public good;
- reinforce public trust in those technologies (they are and can be made safe and secure);
- offering a new channel for participation (beyond polling stations and postal ballots) for people who cannot or do not want to vote in person.
It has been used this year in the US for the Democratic Party primaries and in the Australian general election.
Many member states already have budgets set aside for Internet voting but are waiting for when the moment is right, against a background of often sceptical media and concerns about the safety of the Internet. A cross-EU pilot would address and dispel concerns (and myths) and offer an exciting new channel of participation for the future.
It has to be the way forward and surely it’s just a question of when not whether. So let’s make it now.
The campaign "60 ideas for Europe" aims to collect the best sixty ideas and present them to Euripean leaders gathered in The Hague in May.
Never one to shy away from a challenge, I thought a bit (not very much, in fact) and with a prod from Pat Cox, the current President of European Movement International, have decided to throw my idea into the ring. If you like it, please give it a vote (well, 5 votes!) on the "60 Ideas for Europe" blog: Click here
We see a continual decline in voter turnout across most parts of Europe; increased cynicism towards politicians and politics in general; and even lower participation in voting in European elections.
In contrast, more and more people - particularly younger people but the elderly too - are getting involved in online communities and interest groups, and embracing technologies to overcome hurdles, disabilities, fears, absence from home or simply expressing a preference.
We should harness Internet-based technologies to help citizens reconnect with politics, offering them concretely a means to participate in a way that follows the trend in other parts of their lives. Many simply do not have the time or opportunity to vote at their local voting station.
I propose therefore that the Member States - with support from the European Commission - should organise to allow citizens the choice of voting via the Internet at the 2009 elections. What a signal it would give if they were willing to participate in a joint initiative to make this possible in - say - a selected constituency or area in each country as a first step.
It would show that it is meeting a commitment to:
- making the most of technology for public good;
- reinforce public trust in those technologies (they are and can be made safe and secure);
- offering a new channel for participation (beyond polling stations and postal ballots) for people who cannot or do not want to vote in person.
It has been used this year in the US for the Democratic Party primaries and in the Australian general election.
Many member states already have budgets set aside for Internet voting but are waiting for when the moment is right, against a background of often sceptical media and concerns about the safety of the Internet. A cross-EU pilot would address and dispel concerns (and myths) and offer an exciting new channel of participation for the future.
It has to be the way forward and surely it’s just a question of when not whether. So let’s make it now.
Labels: Euro-elections; European Movement; 60 Ideas for Europe
Blog post URL: Allowing citizens the choice to use Internet to vote
