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London (pte030/24.06.2003/15:45) - E-voting trials carried out in 2003 English local elections have not been successful. In spite of high expectations, voter participation generally sank and only remained the same in communities using a traditional voting procedure.
The assessment of the e-voting trials has been published in a report by the Electoral Reform Society http://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/publications/briefings/pilotingalternativevotingmethods.htm .
The various e-voting methods tested included voting per Internet, telephone, TV and SMS. The study came to the conclusion that while e-voting increased voter comfort, it did not increase the number of those taking the trouble to vote, and that the government's plan to improve participation with e-voting had failed.
In total, 59 communities with about 6.5 million inhabitants tried the new methods of voting, of which 32 introduced voting by mail and 17 provided e-voting as an alternative.
While average voter participation in small communities not taking part in the trials remained the same, in e-voting-equipped communities participation dropped by an average 1.5 per cent. Only one of the e-voting groups saw an increase in voter activity. Participation did, however, increase and achieve 50 per cent in communities offering voting by mail as an option.
In addition to voting by mail, the Electoral Reform Society recommends three measures to attract voters: Political parties should come up with clearer and more positive campaigns, the government should provide more information on elections, and the electoral system should be changed to make every vote count.
The Electoral Reform Society would like to see the introduction of a proportional voting system that does away with secure seats and gives each vote more meaning.
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