By Andy McCue, 6 April 2005 16:00
NEWS The government has unveiled plans for a massive two-year electoral modernisation project that aims to pave the way for e-voting at the next general election.
E-voting technology will not be used at the forthcoming general election on 5 May despite an ÂŁ18m trial of phone, text and internet voting during local elections back in 2003.
But the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) is now inviting IT suppliers to register their interest in taking part in wider trials that will run from 2006 to 2008.
The trials will include internet, telephone, text message and digital TV voting channels, electronic polling stations and vote counting systems, voter verification technology and other electronic services to support the modernisation of the democratic electoral process.
Up to 20 suppliers will be invited to tender for the framework agreements, which will initially run for three years with an option to extend for a further two.
A spokeswoman for the ODPM said there are not yet any specific details of trial locations or the amount of government funding committed to the project.
"Government remains committed to multi-channel e-enabled general elections some time after 2006," she said.
Comments
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1. Tim Haines
This is technology for technology's sake... don't need it, don't want it. Our present paper and pencil system works very well - apparently much better than the US electronic systems. Note the number of disputes after the last two US elections and lack of the same over here. Oh, and Tony Blair doesn't own the pencil manufacturing company...
2. John Eden
Fully agree with Tim Haines. Given the revelations at the recent trial for voting fraud in the Birmingham By-Election, I shudder at the magnitude of potential fraud if the UK continues down this path. If we do, our Prime Minister could have the same prestige as Robert Mugabe. I think the ODPM should seriously consider turning it’s attentions to running a banana republic.
3. Richard
What about coercion?
The ODPM seems concerned only about "identification" and "authentication" of voters.
However, as shown by the recent voting scandals, when people are not protected by the physical privacy provided by polling stations; "coercion," "bribery" and other dangers are very real threats.
Until this government, we assumed that parliamentary elections were rather more important than "Pop Idol!"
4. James Gray
All this is a puerile attempt by politicians to increase the number of votes they receive, so they can regard themselves as ‘celebrities’.
After voting and canvassing in virtually every election for the past 40 years, I now realise that there is no point as our leaders do whatever they wish just so they capture media headlines irrespective of the wish of the people.
In my opinion democracy no longer exists in the UK so why waste money on the pretence ?