The technology developed in the 20th Century, particular computer technology, has in many ways dramatically altered the way in which elections are conducted. While the basic election tasks of voter registration, voting and vote counting have conceptually remained much the same since the beginnings of the modern democratic process, the extension of the franchise, growth in population numbers and the increased reach of democracy throughout the 20th Century have meant that the logistics of modern elections depend very much on technology.
New technology has the potential to continue to change the way in which elections are conducted in the 21st Century.
What changes will technology bring to elections in the future? Here are a few predictions.
The demise of the paper ballot
Paper ballots have served the election process well. They are relatively easy to produce, easy to mark and easy to count. They can also be expensive to print and distribute, can only be used once, and are not a particularly good use of resources. They can be an imperfect means of recording a vote, and counting paper ballots manually can also be an imperfect process. They also need a physical method of distribution. They can be relatively easy to use fraudulently. The development of cheap, easily delivered, reusable, reliable electronic voting methods may gradually replace the paper ballot in many countries.
The demise of the polling place
The physical polling place, that has to be rented, staffed and equipped, might become an expensive anachronism in many places where alternative electronic delivery mechanisms can be used. The move to putting government facilities 'on line' on the internet and in public places may replace the need for a physical polling place.
The rise of electronic voting methods
As electronic devices become cheaper, more powerful and more secure, it will not be long before a variety of inexpensive, reliable electronic voting methods become widely used.
Internet voting
While security and identity concerns lead many to preach caution toward internet voting in the 2000s, it should not be too long before these concerns can be answered and internet voting becomes safe, secure and widespread. The potential of the internet to change the dynamics of both the election process and the wider political process should not be underestimated.
Internet referendums and initiatives
The widespread accessibility of the internet could also lead to the rise of 'digital democracy', whereby ordinary citizens could vote directly on issues and legislative proposals. Such votes could be taken as indicative or binding. In this way voters could take control of the political process in a way never feasible before. Whether such moves would be good for the democratic process is debatable.
Electronic identities
As this is being written, electronic identity systems are being developed to ensure that citizens can participate in the new electronic world of commerce and government. As more and more 'necessities' of life in the modern world come to be delivered electronically, the need for secure, reliable electronic identity systems will see the development of country-wide if not world-wide methods of uniquely identifying people by electronic means. We are already putting microchips in our dogs and cats - will it be long before we are all micro-chipped at birth? George Orwell must be smiling.
Electronic information delivery
The 20th Century has often been described as the information age. Never before has so much information been readily accessible to ordinary people. The continuing development of the internet and other electronic means of information delivery will see the amount of information accessible to people continue to expand. This may have a profound impact on the democratic process as the opportunities for information dissemination and retrieval expand beyond the traditional methods dominated by mainstream media. For election management bodies, the emerging electronic information service delivery methods will expand the options available for reaching voters and other clients with a wide range of information products.
Electronic service delivery
In addition to the possibilities of electronic service delivery for the voting process and for the provision of information, many other services provided by election management bodies have the potential to be provided electronically. Voter registration, political party registration, candidate nomination, disclosure of donations and expenditure, provision of expert advice, and any number of other services provided by electoral authorities can lend themselves to electronic delivery.
Wireless electronic infrastructure
Many people reading this may think, this is all very well for developed countries, but what about less developed countries without appropriate infrastructure? It is possible that the development of wireless electronic infrastructure, delivered by satellite, microwave or radio transmission, could allow electronic service delivery in the most remote locations. Combined with cheap, mass-produced electronic registration and voting devices, such wireless electronic delivery systems could see electronic voting systems reach any person, anywhere in the world.
Remote service delivery
With electronic service delivery, there is no need for the service provider to be in the same suburb, city or even country as the user. Perhaps the 21st Century will see the demise of the local election management body, as services become remotely delivered by internet, wireless transmission or by whatever arises to replace current technologies.
It really is a brave new electoral world.
