Users' experiences with e-voting: a comparative case study. (21st December 2009)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Oostveen, Anne-Marie; Van den Besselaar, Peter
• Is Part Of: International journal of electronic governance. Volume 2:Number 4(2009)
• Page Start: 357
• Page End: 377
• Publication Date: 2009-12-21
• Subjects: user experience -- e-voting -- usability -- voter turnout -- digital divide -- electronic voting -- e-democracy -- electronic democracy -- e-governance -- electronic governance; Internet in public administration -- Periodicals; Electronic government information -- Periodicals; Political participation -- Technological innovations -- Periodicals; 352.3802854678
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1742-7509

Abstract

A system for electronic voting (e-voting) was developed and tested in 14 field studies. This enabled us to investigate the actual experiences of users when deploying this type of e-governance technology. Are users satisfied with e-voting technology and its usability? Do social groups have different opinions and use of the technology? Does this relate to a digital divide? Will e-voting technology result in increasing voter turnout? We identified serious risks of adoption of e-voting systems for the democratic process, and the assumption that e-voting will increase overall voter turnout is not supported by our research.