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The research project on which this paper is based is investigating the reasons that some English local authorities engaged in pilot projects of e-voting and some did not. This paper offers a brief summary of the initial findings of the literature review as it identifies factors which impact upon the decision-making process of English local authorities.
The factors identified include the local authorities’ attitude to e-voting, their consideration of the citizens’ attitude to voting, the risks to the integrity of the ballot and the changing political environment instigated by central government. e-Voting has the potential to enhance participatory democracy but will only be feasible once the factors which inhibit its adoption are identified and addressed. If these issues are not resolved e-voting may be permanently rejected by the elected representatives and the citizens will not be afforded the opportunity to use the new voting methods. The research investigates the factors which influence the decision-making processes of the local authorities and relate these factors to their decisions regarding the 2003 pilot schemes of the new voting methods. These deciding factors are now of major importance since the curtailment of the pilot schemes due to threats to the integrity of the ballot. This qualitative research based on a realist philosophy of social science is deemed appropriate as there is very little information regarding those deciding factors. This research investigates the acceptability of an innovation as it is trialed and is in the pre-diffusion stages, an approach recognized by Rogers as “acceptability research” (Rogers, 2003). The analysis is based on Rogers’ diffusion of innovations theory. Early results of this on-going research suggest that in a voluntary situation where there is an over arching organization (central government) trying to introduce an innovation to an agency organization, Rogers’ diffusion of innovations framework requires modification.
Keywords:
pilot projects, e-voting, local government, central government, diffusion of innovations
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