Re: ‘Easy access will boost voter turnout, ‘ Oct. 23 Gazette:
Your editorial suggests that introducing online voting might increase voter turnout to municipal elections. However, the premise is that most people currently don't show up at polling stations because of some inconvenience. But I doubt that this accounts for the low turnout.
My gut feeling is that most of those who don't vote do not appreciate its importance in a free society, nor do they care to inform themselves about the platforms of various candidates. Online voting does not address those issues. I chuckled at your statement, "Electors will be able to vote either from home or from specific Internet polling stations." So do you really believe that people who currently can't be bothered to go to their polling station will bother to show up at an Internet station instead? And how might touch-screen voting be more engaging than paper ballots?
I personally don't care one way or the other about the principle of online voting, but before it's introduced at least the relevant authority should determine (but please, not by hiring an overpriced consultant!) whether or not voter turnout in other jurisdictions has increased significantly with the introduction of online voting. You pointed out the security issues that have to be solved, and those solutions don't come cheap, so let's at least be reasonably sure that any investment is likely to correct a perceived problem.
But might we be overstating the problem? Perhaps we worry too much about low voter turnout. Why should we be concerned that elections are decided only by those people who are informed about the issues? Would the result really improve if the turnout results were boosted largely by those who vote out of convenience rather than from conviction?
Reuben Kaufman, St. Albert
