Voting Methods Pilots
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Applications sought to pilot electoral innovations in 2007
The Department for Constitutional Affairs has invited local authorities in England to run pilots testing out different voting methods at the May 2007 local elections.
The different methods of voting include:
- remote electronic voting (internet and telephone)
- e-voting kiosks in supervised locations, including processes which support electors voting from any polling station
- electronic counting of votes
- advance (early) voting.
The pilots will build on previous experience of piloting, most recently at the 2006 local elections. The Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) hopes to learn more about making elections more accessible by making it easier to vote, improving the efficiency and cost effectiveness of electoral administration and maintaining or increasing the security of elections.
Bridget Prentice, Democracy Minister at the DCA, said:
- "We need to make sure that people can vote when they want to and how they want. Not everyone can get to a polling station, so we need to introduce different ways of voting to make it easier for the public to exercise their right to vote.
- "More and more people, and particularly young people, are using the internet in our daily lives. We need to respond to this to enable people to participate in elections and the democratic process."
