An innovation is about to take place in our society, soon people can be able to vote online about political matters. This development is worth investigation and consideration mainly because of the flaws that this kind of system arises. For example, is this kind of system fair for the voters?
This kind of system has many positive aspects, because it allows people to vote at home were they feel safe and it prevents chaos at polling stations. But what kind of flaws can such system have? First and foremost it relays on the fact that everybody has a computer and knows how to use it. This has been the criticism that weights most when talking about this kind of system. Many people, like the elderly and the disabled, don’t have a computer and don’t know how to use it and would therefore not vote if the ballot papers would only be accessible online. If that would be the case, it would not be fair to the Icelandic voters. However, this kind of system can be very comfortable for the voters, but I think it would be necessary to have polling stations as well.
Apart from this flaw, this is a very exciting innovation and I look forward to see how it will develop further.
I guess this kind of change is inevitable, but it certainly does ring warning bells. But then that is always the question with technology, the internet is no different, as it moves on it changes society and it changes the structures of society. And to resist this at times seems, well terribly undemocratic. If we are to benefit from technology then surely we should embrace it... but somehow we have to do this with one eye open and somehow know when to listen to those warning bells and when to ignore them.
ReplyDeleteOr in a case like this, know how to listen to them whilst also taking advantages of the potential benefits that may be brought to our society.