Electoral commission registers e-voting uptick in NSW by-election

Electoral commission registers e-voting uptick in NSW by-election
Users of the NSWEC’s iVote system doubled in the Clarence electorate

Record numbers of NSW voters used the state electoral commission’s e-voting system, iVote, to cast their ballot in the recent by-election for the seat of Clarence. The number of voters who employed iVote in the electorate more than doubled compared to the March state election.

The iVote system was established by the NSW Electoral Commission’s (NSWEC) for blind, vision-impaired and disabled voters, as well as those living in remote areas and out of state on the day. It was first slated in June 2010 and used in the state election earlier, with more than triple the number of expected voters casting an e-ballot with the system. --->>>

Voter Turnout: Thinking Outside the (Ballot) Box

Voter Turnout: Thinking Outside the (Ballot) Box

Online voting alone won’t resolve the deficiencies in Canada’s electoral system, but new media holds great promise. --->>>

NZ: Online voting to boost turnout: Greens

Online voting to boost turnout: Greens

The Green Party wants parliament to consider online enrolment and voting for future elections, after a record low turnout for last month's election.

The final election results, released on Saturday, show only 74 per cent of enrolled voters cast a vote in last month's general election, down from 79 per cent in 2008.

Following the election, the Green Party called for parliament's justice and electoral select committee to look at why voter turnout was so low as part of its regular post-election inquiry.

The Greens have since undertaken an informal online survey, asking people what would make them more inclined to enrol or vote. --->>>

Elections Canada Releases the Results of the National Youth Survey

Youth split on reasons they aren't voting says Elections Canada study

A new study suggests young Canadians who say they can't get to the polls may actually mean they don't want to.

The Elections Canada National Youth Survey found that 64 per cent of people age 18-34 said the reason they didn't vote in the May 2011 election was due to issues with access.

But drilling down into the data reveals that those who say that school or work or family obligations get in the way of going to the polling station may be using that as an excuse, Elections Canada researcher Miriam Lapp said. --->>>


Press Release:
Elections Canada Releases the Results of the National Youth Survey

Chief Electoral Officer of Canada Marc Mayrand today released the results of Elections Canada's National Youth Survey, a study of youth and young adult participation in the 2011 federal election.

The survey reveals the important role that politicians and families play; youth who were contacted directly by candidates or political parties, or who discussed politics with their families, were more likely to vote. It also underscores the importance of political knowledge and interest in the decision to vote, reinforcing previous findings on the positive impact of civic education.

"This survey shows that when young people are interested and engaged in politics, they are more likely to vote. I believe that all of us - teachers, parents and politicians - have a role to play in fostering interest among young voters in participating in our democratic process and institutions," said Mr. Mayrand. --->>>

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Internet voting: Exactly what the 99% needs

Internet voting: Exactly what the 99% needs

Why is internet voting so slow to take off? Security is one aspect — after 100 years of refining the paper-and-pen approach, it’s understandable that some states would be apprehensive about switching to that terrifying, publicly-owned entity that is the internet — but as Estonia has shown, with ID cards that also act as public key encryption smart cards, it’s possible to create a secure internet voting platform. --->>>

Can internet voting boost turnout without risk?

Can internet voting boost turnout without risk?

Since various appeals to democratic principles have failed to move people off their couches to vote, some governments are considering internet voting to try and increase voter turnout. --->>>

The Voter Fraud Fraud - New York Times (Andrew Rosenthal)

The Voter Fraud Fraud

By Andrew Rosenthal

Even in this cynical era of the politics of fear, obstruction and exclusion, I am surprised at the lengths to which some groups will go to put up barriers to voting. --->>>

Online Voting: Security Issues Remain A Major Hurdle - The Hartford Courant

Online Voting: Security Issues Remain A Major Hurdle

Allowing citizens to cast ballots online would increase participation in elections and make democracy more accessible.

But don't expect to vote on your iPhone in Connecticut anytime soon; the technology just isn't there to ensure secure elections, said several experts who participated in a panel discussion at Central Connecticut State University Thursday night hosted by Secretary of the State Denise Merrill. --->>>

Military voting increased last year, report finds

Military voting increased last year, report finds

Buoyed by a new law that requires states to make absentee ballots more accessible to military personnel serving overseas, troops voted at a higher rate than the general population in last year’s midterm elections, according to a new report.

Overall, 46 percent of the military cast ballots, a 21 percent increase from the 2006 midterms and slightly higher than the 45.5 percent of the general population that voted last year, according to a report released Tuesday by the Federal Voting Assistance Program. --->>>

The alarming decline in voter turnout - Globe and Mail

The alarming decline in voter turnout

This year’s spate of federal, provincial and territorial elections has made one thing abundantly clear: Turnout virtually everywhere is dropping like a stone. --->>>

Addressing voter indifference

Premier considering implementing e-balloting to boost turnout in provincial elections.

Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger is vowing to do what he can to improve voter turnout in provincial elections and he is casting his eyes towards the World Wide Web.
A week after he led the NDP to a fourth consecutive majority government, Selinger says turnout in the 2011 provincial election was just not high enough and he wants to do something about it.
"We have to undertake something," said Selinger. "We're going to take a look at e-voting."

New voting restrictions affect millions

New voting restrictions affect millions

NEW YORK, Oct. 3 (UPI) -- More than 5 million Americans will face new restrictions on voting passed by more than a dozen states, a study released Monday said.

The restrictions will have the greatest impact on young, minority, low-income and disabled voters, the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law found. --->>>

Internet voting in advance polls a great success in Markham, report finds

Internet voting in advance polls a great success in Markham, report finds

Internet voting in advance polls in Markham has helped increase overall voter turnout, engage non-voters to vote and greatly improve overall voter satisfaction, according to a research and public opinion report released Monday. --->>>

Also: E-voting gets almost unanimous praise, study finds

BC: Online voting a hot topic at municipalities' convention

Online voting a hot topic at municipalities' convention

Everything from improved sweeping of bike lanes to implementation of online voting will be up for discussion as local politicians gather in Vancouver this month for the annual Union of B.C. Municipalities convention.

Two resolutions calling on the province to support the implementation of online voting by 2014 have the endorsement of the UBCM executive.

That's not surprising, say local politicians. Given sagging voter turnout - many municipalities struggle to get 30 per cent - everyone is looking to boost voter participation rates. --->>>

Study shows voter turnout can be increased with simple word change

Study shows voter turnout can be increased with simple word change

A new study by social psychologist Christopher Bryan and his colleagues at Stanford University shows just how easily people can be manipulated using their own vanity; by doing nothing more than changing the word "vote," to "voter," on a survey, Bryan et al, have demonstrated that it's possible to increase voter turnout in real-world elections. The team has published their results in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. --->>>

Voter apathy may signal failing party system, professor suggests

Voter apathy may signal failing party system, professor suggests

... Brian Tanguay, a political science professor at Wilfrid Laurier University who has studied electoral reform in Canada, says he isn’t surprised by the numbers and says it’s a sign of a “general disillusionment” with the party system. --->>>

Globe Editorial: Apathy is overrated

Globe Editorial: Apathy is overrated

... Electronic voting, which has worked well in some Canadian municipal elections, would essentially eliminate the reasons – or excuses – of a wide-ranging united alternative of electoral abstainers. In other words, if one adds up “too busy,” “out of town/away,” “own illness or disability,” “too difficult or transportation problem” and “weather conditions,” the sum is an impressive 45.5 per cent – when that same percentage is found among those who actually do vote, that’s enough for a majority government. --->>>

Canada: Reasons for not voting in the May 2, 2011 federal election

Reasons for not voting in the May 2, 2011 federal election

More than one-quarter of the 7.5 million eligible voters who reported they did not cast a ballot in the May 2, 2011 federal election indicated they did not do so because they were not interested in voting. Another 23% said they were too busy to vote. --->>>

A vote against voting [Editorial: Washington Post]

A vote against voting

A FLURRY OF activity in state legislatures across the country is threatening to make it more difficult for people to vote. These Republican-sponsored measures move the nation in the wrong direction.

The bills generally take two forms: stringent new requirements for the kind of IDs voters must show and restrictions on early voting. Both would suppress turnout in a nation that already fails to turn out a majority of its eligible voting population. --->>>

How states are rigging the 2012 election [Dionne, Washington Post]

How states are rigging the 2012 election

An attack on the right to vote is underway across the country through laws designed to make it more difficult to cast a ballot. If this were happening in an emerging democracy, we’d condemn it as election-rigging. But it’s happening here, so there’s barely a whimper.

The laws are being passed in the name of preventing “voter fraud.” But study after study has shown that fraud by voters is not a major problem — and is less of a problem than how hard many states make it for people to vote in the first place. Some of the new laws, notably those limiting the number of days for early voting, have little plausible connection to battling fraud. --->>>