Online Voting: Has it's Time Finally Come?
[Opinion Poll - Do you trust online voting?]
Dateline: 12/18/99
Sad Introductory Facts
- In 1996, only 49.08% of the voting age population of America voted in the general election. (Source: Federal Election Commission data)
- According to the US Census Bureau, "time constraints are now the single biggest reason Americans, who are registered, give for not voting."
Since interactive web sites first hit the Internet, online voting has appealed to American governments and citizens alike. The ability to increase voter participation while reducing the cost of holding elections would seem to make the online ballot an idea who's time has come. However, ongoing concerns over security, identification, and accuracy have prevented governmental online voting from being used in other than limited test or "mock" election situations.
However, on Friday (12/17/99) President Clinton ordered the National Science Foundation to conduct a one-year online voting feasibility study and at least two states have announced the official use of online voting in the 2000 presidential primary cycle. In Alaska and Arizona, online votes will, for the first time, count in an election for national public office.
Alaskan GPO Primary Will Use Online Voting
in Snow-Bound Districts
On January 24, 2000, the 3,500 registered Republican voters living in Alaska's remote 36th, 37th and 38th districts will finally get to vote in the state's Republican primary straw vote thanks to online (web-based) voting.
Extending the power of the vote to citizens in remote or isolated parts of America has long been one of the promises of online voting.
"Remote" and "isolated" were invented to describe this Texas-sized area of Alaskan bush country bordered by Canada on the east, the Bering Sea to the north, and the Yukon River to the west. Bitter cold is a given, but it's also dark 20 hours a day in winter and usually accessible only by snowmobile, seaplane, or dog sled. However, Alaskans are by no means out of touch.
The US Department of Commerce estimates that 62.4 % of all Alaskan households had a computer in 1998, the highest of any state, and that 44.1% of those had Internet access, thus making the state a natural test-bed for perfecting the strict security and identification requirements of online voting.
Internet voting services for the January 24, 2000 Alaskan Republican primary will be provided by VoteHere.net(tm) who conducted Internet voting tests earlier this year in Washington State, Iowa, Virginia, and Ohio.
In a December 11, 1999 press release, VoteHere.net(tm) president Jim Adler is quoted as saying, "Reaching out to voters in remote areas fulfills one of the promises of Internet voting; these Alaskan citizens finally have convenient and secure access to their ballot."
Quoted in the VoteHere.net press release, Alaskan Republican Party Chairman, Thomas McKay summed up the project saying, "There has been a high level of interest and excitement over this project. Many people in the bush feel neglected and we are trying to counter that perception by using this breakthrough technology to bring democracy to their doorsteps. Due to natural barriers it has been difficult for these U.S. citizens to participate in the democratic process."
Arizona Democrats Look to Online Voting
to Increase Primary Turnout
The Arizona Democratic Party plans to provide its members with online voting for its March 11, 2000 presidential primary.
After seeing only 10,000 conventional ballots cast in its 1996 primary, Arizona Democratic Party political director Cortland Coleman hopes that online voting will contribute to a 2000 turnout of at least 40,000 Democratic voters.
"We need to get more people out there to vote," Coleman said.
However, some political observers remain opposed to online voting. Baker Miller, election lawyer, expressed the possibility of suing the Arizona Democratic Party in order to stop the legally-binding online presidential primary.
"We have grave doubts whether an election by this method would comport with minimal constitutional requirements for a fraud-free election," he stated.
While Mr. Miller's comment may well summarize the feelings of those opposed to online voting, you just know that someday, somehow, we will vote online.
About.com Online Voting Opinion Poll
Is online voting for public office trustworthy? Vote here -- online, of course.
About.com Poll
If you voted "No" and would like to share your reasons or have other comments about online voting, please visit the Forum Topic: Online Voting: Can We Trust It?
Related Resources
VoteHere.net(tm)
Developers of the online voting system to be used in the Alaskan GOP primary.Votation.com
Developers of the online voting system to be used in the Arizona Democratic primary.The Silent Majority Has a Virtual Voice
Analysis of the impact of the Internet and E-commerce on the political system from entrepreneurial start-up services provider, Yazam.White House to order e-vote study
Story from USA Today - 12/17/99The US Federal Election Commission
Official administrators of America's election and campaign laws.Internet Voting Demo
From Worldwide Elections, an Internet voting system developer. Enter any Voter ID: and Password to proceed.
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information via the Internet. From your About.com Guide.
Alaskan Winter Weather
According to Alaska for Visitors Guide Sam McConkey,
January high temperatures in Arctic regions of Alaska average -7 degrees F. Good weather
for online voting.
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