The Community Importance of Internet Voting

The ability of Britons to vote through the internet, at last, is gaining serious attention after the Speaker, John Bercow, announced, with determination, that he is commissioning research into how this can be achieved. The small country of Estonia is the first country to use internet voting, and take-up has been large with about half the population expected to vote this way, online or by mobile phone, in 2015. Because it is quick, easy and cheap to cast their ballot in this way it is estimated that voting figures for the 2011 election were much higher as a result, and there are no reports that I have seen of abuse of the system. Careful security measures were in place, and will be a key consideration if the UK follows suit. [caption id="attachment_2230" align="alignright" width="150"] John Bercow[/caption] Already doubters are questioning the feasibility of the idea, and suggesting both that tight security would be impossible and that it is an idea for the long-term future, not now. Those who are sceptical may wish to remember that fraud in the postal voting system is rife and that even the Electoral Commission has admitted our voting system is flawed and needs an overhaul. Even more significantly, voter apathy is huge and the disengagement of British citizens from their political representatives has never been greater in recent times. There is a problem in our politics when people cannot be bothered to vote because they do not believe their ballot will make a difference, or they vote in anger to show their contempt for the establishment. It is sad when the leadership and government of a democratic nation is determined by a minority, leading to a distorted representation of what the majority want. It is unfair, but it is unfair also that potential voters fail to cast their vote whether through laziness, disinterest or cynicism: elections are an opportunity for the community to decide the way ahead, and however much they may dislike the world of politics as it is, there is a moral obligation on the members of the community to contribute to the decision-making and take shared responsibility for the outcome. It is an opportunity, too, to gain the political representation they want. A number of countries including Australia have compulsory voting, and it would serve Britain well to consider this option too. Meanwhile, the idea of internet voting is an important move forward in the quest to motivate voters and engage the public. I hope the doubters do not inhibit the development of John Bercow’s ideas and that his vision will develop rapidly. Anything is possible.   [byline]  ]]>