By Will Sturgeon, 29 January 2002 08:23
NEWS The local council elections in the UK in May are likely to see the first widespread trials of online voting. If given the go-ahead, the schemes will be welcomed by commuters, shift workers, busy parents, couch potatoes and others, who, for whatever reason, are unable to make it along to the polling stations on election day. Other ideas which have been suggested ahead of a decision on new voting methods to be made on Thursday are phone votes (democracy Pop Idol style), and an extension to polling station opening times. The government hopes to encourage more voters to attend elections and according to the Financial Times has said any successful pilot schemes in May could lay the foundations for online voting in a general election before 2011. Swindon is one of at least ten councils around the country hoping to introduce virtual ballot boxes, and has said it will issue voters with a pin number to ensure their internet vote cannot be abused by others. Voters in Swindon will be able to register their vote online in the week leading up to the election.
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