The Internet has the answer for just about every question. However, when the question of online voting is proposed, the Internet may not have the best solutions. A recent Globe and Mail article discussed online voting and its potential impact in British Columbia where voter turnout, like Ontario, has been dropping. The issue is not a matter of people not intending to vote as 94% of British Columbians said they intended to vote while 89% said voting was easy and they knew what they need to before the 2009 BC provincial election.
Here's the problem: only 51% of eligible voters showed up at polling stations. Where is the other 49%? I'd say they were at home checking their emails, creeping on Facebook and updating their Twitters (or at work doing the same thing). If these British Columbians are to be seen as typical of all Canadians, then why not institute online voting if Canadians are already on their computers?
The benefits of online voting are very appealing:
1) Online voting would make voting easier
- Canadians could simply visit the Elections Canada website and register
to log in with a special securepassword generated by Elections Canada
that had been emailed to all registered voters.
2) Lowering the cost of elections
- Elections are always very expensive due to the high costs of paying elections
staff and producing all election related materials such as ballets and
informational pieces.
3) Eliminating line-ups at poling stations
- One reason people don't vote is the fact that they have to wait in line at their
local polling station. Voting online means no waiting and no bitching.
4) Increase accessibility for persons with disabilities, illness or those away on travel
or at college/university
- Going to a local polling station can be a difficult task for those with disabilities
or persons who are ill. Also, those who are away from home during an election
may not have the opportunity to vote in their local ridings. Perhaps an online
voting system could make this possible by tracking our individual postal codes
and posting local candidates based on this.
5) Young Canadians are more likely to vote
- This will be discussed more in Part 2 and in future posts.
However, to be fair, the risks should not be overlooked:
1) Computer Virus'
- In an advancing world of computers, virus' are an unliked constant. There is potential
that they could compromise election results.
2) "Hackers"
- The same argument that was made for computer virus' can also be made towards
" hackers" and the risk that they compromise an election. One only needs to look
at the recent Wiki Leaks founder Julian Assange and the uproar caused by
so-called "Hackers" over his arrest. (As an aside, when I say "hackers" all I can
think about is someone like Comicbook Guy from the Simpsons sitting at home,
alone.)
3) Increased Voter Fraud
- The risk that someone is voting on the behalf of others is increased. In Canada,
voting for someone else is illegal.
4) Increase the "Digital Divide"
- Online voting would signal out those who have high-speed internet vs those
who have low-speed/dial up internet. Also, as shocking as it is, not everyone
has a home computer. Thus, issues on income, education, gender, geography,
race and ethnicity would likely be raised.
5) Those "Kids From Yesterday"
- By "Kids From Yesterday" I refer to seniors, those who are most likely to go out
and vote. Would an online system be too complicated for them? Would voter
turnout be decreased even more?
I decided to divide this post into two parts as I have to spend the next few days doing research :( Think about both sides of the debate. Leave your comments below! Next time, I'll give my own persepective on the debate and talk a bit more on youth voting. I know you're all excited...
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