Mobile voting as an alternative for the disabled voters

Abstract

The aim of this presentation is to highlight the common problems disabled voters have during elections and to emphasize the importance of mobile voting in creating a more inclusive, participatory democracy. Results of a qualitative textual analysis of a web-based forum about the experiences of disabled citizens during the 2009 local government elections are used to identify the legal, physical, and emotional problems associated with participating in elections. In the final section, the results of a questionnaire, which was e-mailed to disabled voters, are presented, and it is argued that establishing a mobile voting system for disabled voters may bypass many of the problems affecting this community and that mobile voting may be more efficient when compared to other solutions. It is often suggested that trust building and extensive public relations activities should be designed to prepare the society for new types of voting, and pilot work is recommended for those who need these innovations the most – disabled voters.