Transition to electronic voting and citizen participation

Abstract

This paper draws attention to the need of a systematic socio-technical approach to introducing electronic voting and presents early results from a pilot project conducted by the Provincia Autonoma di Trento, Italy. Main features of this experience are the constant monitoring of the social impact and the development of a technological solution in accordance to the suggestions provided by the users themselves. We recommend that no sudden switch to a new form of ballot should be imposed on electors but rather that research is to be fostered in order to uncover and preserve the traditional and symbolic connotations embedded in the act of voting.