Internet Voting and Political Participation: An Empirical Comparison of Technological and Political Factors

One emerging facet of e-government is Internet voting, or i-voting. I-voting refers to the secure transmission of a ballot via the Internet. This phenomenon has the potential to increase citizen participation in the democratic process. However, few studies have identified the unique characteristics that make i-voting an appealing option. In particular, there is a need for research that identifies the impacts of both technological and political factors on intentions to use an Internet voting system. In this study, we propose a model inclusive of technological, situational and political factors. To test the model we administer a survey to a diverse pool of citizens with regards to age, income, and education. Results indicate that relative advantage and trust of the Internet impact intentions to use Internet voting, while party mobilization and political interest impact propensity to vote. Further, it was found that perceived Internet accessibility impacts the perceived convenience of voting online, which in turn impacts the perceived relative advantage of online voting. Implications of these findings for research and practice are discussed. We conclude with recommendations for future research. As local and state governments begin to experiment with internet voting, now is the time to identify the Internet-specific characteristics that will attract non-voters and retain habitual voters.