Online voting would increase turnout
Online voting could increase turnout
Londoners would be more likely to vote in the mayoral elections if they could cast their ballot online, according to a new poll.
With turn out critical on May 1, one in four Londoners have admitted they are ‘not very likely' to vote.
But 48% of the 1,138 Londoners surveyed said they would be more likely to vote if they could use the internet to do so.
Under the current system, the capital's residents are required to register for the electoral register during the annual canvass each year and then attend, in person, at a neighbourhood polling station or pre-arrange a postal or proxy vote.
But busy working lives and the hectic social schedules of Londoners plus bad weather and postal delays could lower turnout on the day. In the 2004 Mayoral election turnout fell to 40%.
Dominic Stinton, marketing director for Talk Talk which conducted the survey said: "Technological advances have made people expect ever more convenience, and they clearly want the convenience of voting online.
"Being able to vote online makes democracy more accessible, which would lead to increased numbers of people voting on polling day. The question is surely not whether online voting will come to the UK, but when?"
Americans living in London can vote in their forthcoming presidential election via the internet.
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