Press Release: Survey & Ballot Systems (SBS) launches The Election Experts

Survey & Ballot Systems (SBS) launches The Election Experts – A blog dedicated to helping member-based organizations with online voting, elections and surveys.

The Election Experts will be updated twice per week and will offer advice regarding online voting, elections and surveys for associations, cooperatives, unions, financial institutions and other member-based organizations. Recent election news, technology and case studies will also be spotlighted. --->>>

Blog url: http://www.surveyandballotsystems.com/resource-library/blog/

e-Petitions: the good and the bad - The Guardian

e-Petitions: the good and the bad

Efforts to get the best out of e-petitions depend more on the broader processes than the technology, writes Mark Say --->>>

Councils miss e-petitions requirement - Guardian

Councils miss e-petitions requirement

Local authorities in England are failing to meet a mandatory requirement to provide an e-petitions facility on their websites --->>>

UK - e-petitions to be strengthened

Government to move e-petitions

The government is planning to strengthen the link between its e-petition system and the legislative process.
Government sources have indicated that the most popular e-petition will provide the foundations of a parliamentary bill, and that any receiving more than 100,000 signatures will be debated in the House.

PR-CANADA.net - Election Website Votomatic.co.uk Launched Today

PR-CANADA.net - Election Website Votomatic.co.uk Launched Today:

The aim of the votomatic.co.uk is to present the policies of the three main political parties to the general public in an interactive and accessible way, but there is a twist. Rather than simply outline various policies, votomatic.co.uk will offer voters an opportunity to assess the parties' policies free from preconceived bias.

Votomatic.co.uk users will be presented with 3 policy statements on 13 topics and asked to select which one they agree with. However they will not know which policy belongs to which party until the end of the survey.

...cont'd ...

Microsoft campaigns against Google with politically-focused online voting tool | Top of the Ticket | Los Angeles Times

Microsoft campaigns against Google with politically-focused online voting tool | Top of the Ticket | Los Angeles Times:

The new TownHall software lets politicians host a website for posing questions to constituents and letting them vote on those topics. Users can create accounts and submit their own questions.

see article ...

Canadian Province Alberta Seeks Citizens Views On Its New Early Intervention Programme

Canadian Province Alberta Seeks Citizens Views On Its New Early Intervention Programme - eGov monitor

A review panel was established this past summer by Children and Youth Services Minister Janis Tarchuk to study the system and suggest ways it can be strengthened to support at-risk children, youth and families in the province. As part of this review, the panel has launched a website with a discussion guide where Albertans can offer their thoughts and ideas.

“Albertans’ feedback will give our panel a better understanding of how the system really works in all parts of the province. We are also eager to hear ideas about how the system can work better to address today’s issues in Alberta, as well as future challenges,” said Dr. Nico Trocmé, review panel co-chair, Philip Fisher Chair in Social Work at McGill University and Scientific Director of the Canadian Centre of Excellence in Child Welfare. “The panel is committed to hearing and carefully considering many different points of view as we develop a report and recommendations for the Minister of Children and Youth Services.”

Birmingham signs up to online petitions | Kable

Birmingham signs up to online petitions | Kable:

Birmingham City Council is to introduce e-petitions to encourage citizens to have their say about local issues

The council plans to introduce online petitions later in May on its website, so that petitioners can add their views and upload external documents and images as supporting information. They will also be able to follow the progress of their petition through its life cycle using a timeline function.

globeandmail.com: It's time to e-consult our citizens

globeandmail.com: It's time to e-consult our citizens:

It's time to e-consult our citizens

Democracy requires ongoing relationships with Canadians between elections. Our democratic deficit is growing like record U.S. debt levels. Low voter turnouts, eroding trust for elected officials and dismal civic literacy are all symptomatic of a democracy in need of healing. This democratic deficit also encompasses the gap between public desires and decisions that are made.

Stephen Coleman, an e-democracy guru in Britain, often soothes elected officials by reassuring them that most citizens don't want to govern, they just want to be heard. Research shows that citizens feel there is a gap between their desire to participate in consultations and the opportunities they are afforded.