News

U.K. voters back e-elections, poll shows

April 23, 2003

LONDON--Voters here might be more willing to turn out in elections if they could cast their votes electronically, according to a poll reported by Sky News. Possible forms of electronic voting mentioned in the article include kiosks, text messaging, Internet or even digital TV.

The poll, conducted by the electoral commission, was timed to coincide with next week's English local government elections, in which some 1.5 million people across 18 local council areas will be able to take part in electronic voting trials.

The article said only 59 percent of qualified voters turned out for the 2001 general election. The poll found that 55 percent of those surveyed would be willing to vote if convenient electronic voting was available. The article did not note how many were polled.

According to the poll, electronic voting is particularly popular among younger people. Three-quarters of 18- to 24-year-olds polled said it would make them more likely to vote, the article said.