Discussions on updating voting technology
for the 21st century typically revolve around elections at different
levels of government: municipal, provincial/state/regional, and national. There
are talks about how e-voting technology can be best implemented in these major
acts of democracy where the people elect the government officials who will be
responsible for their cities, provinces and countries. However, it is just as important
to look into how technology can improve the democratic process in other areas
too.
We recently took a look at e-voting in the
context of listed
companies in Taiwan, for example, bringing electronic voting technologies
into the realm of corporate business decision-making. And the will of the
people can be exercised not only in electing government officials and making choices
in a professional context, but also in voicing their concerns and viewpoints on
specific issues.
Individuals can write to their members of
parliament, senators and other elected officials on a one-to-one basis, but it
can be difficult to enact change on a single voice. This is why we see peaceful
protests and other demonstrations on the street where many people get together
to express their passionate beliefs on particular issues. Petitions are another
avenue that can be explored.
The trouble is that traditional petitions
are paper-based (not unlike paper ballots in a traditional election). What this
means is that the supporters of the petition need to actively go out to collect
signatures in person. This can be incredibly difficult, as even the
people who support the cause may not know about the opportunity to sign such a
petition. Geographical limitations may also mean that people who live in rural
areas or even the suburbs of major cities may not come across someone who is
collecting those signatures.
And this is why in the city of Burnaby in
British Columbia, Canada, politician Jane Shin is so persistent in her quest to
introduce
electronic petitions to the legislature in the province of British
Columbia. A member of the New Democratic Party, Jane Shin has now proposed the
introduction of electronic petitions three times. The proposed bill did not
pass in the two previous efforts, but she is determined and steadfast in her
effort.
The bill, which may now have a better
chance at passing because a proposal for electronic petitions gained unanimous
approval at the federal level in Canada, would allow for the submission of
e-petitions in addition to paper petitions. Oddly, the traditional paper
petitions are accepted in the BC legislature currently with no requirement for
a minimum number of signatures, while e-petitions aren't accepted at all.
Moving toward the option of
electronic signature collection is a more eco-friendly option, as well as being
one that allows for greater access by people regardless of geography. It's also
more engaging and cost-effective than traditional paper-based petitions. And
it's also far more relevant for the younger demographic who grew up around
technology; for them, paper petitions can feel like an archaic relic from the
past rather than a means of moving society forward.
