Voters respond well to online initiatives, says Delvinia in wake of CANARIE trial

A quarter of those voting using new online technology during the recent 2003 Markham ON municipal election did not vote in the 2000 election, say the authors of a report detailing results of the CANARIE Inc.-funded online voting trial spearheaded by Delvinia Interactive Inc. The trial had two components: voting online and a corollary web site that publicized the election and provided information on how to cast a ballot. Over 4,600 surveys of in-person and online voters were completed to analyze the trial, and the results seem to indicate that the vast majority of voters in Markham were aware of the Internet voting option. Overall 17% of voters used the web to cast their votes. Encouragingly for proponents of e-democracy, survey results showed that nearly 70% of in-person voters said they were likely to vote online in the next election (which will be held in 2006). In fact, says Delvinia, there are strong indications that practical considerations such as missing deadlines or simply enjoying the voting experience were the most common reasons for not voting online in the 2003 contest. Some 40% of those registered to vote online ended up not doing so. Security and voter authentication were also provided as reasons for not voting online, but the survey seems to indicate that few voters have any philosophical problems with casting an electronic ballot as opposed to a real one. While a more comprehensive report is yet to be delivered by Delvinia on the results of its broadband web site and education campaign in increasing voter turnout, there were some positive signs the company, in partnership with the municipality, made some progress. The report notes that 69% of voters were aware of the broadband web site as a source of voter information, 23% of in-person voters had used it, and 96% of online survey respondents found the site to be useful. Of those who took the online survey, only 8% had used the Town of Markham’s tele-phone information system. Even more promising, indications from the study are that those who voted online or used the web to find voter information were "ordinary" Canadians, and couldn’t be classified as early adopters of technology. "While the pioneering efforts of the Town of Markham did not contribute to an overall increase in voter turnout," reads the report, "the Internet cannot be overlooked as a legitimate and effective channel for future municipal elections."

Voters respond well to online initiatives, says Delvinia in wake of CANARIE trial

Broadcast | February 6, 2004

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