30 January 2007

The Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) is to test online voting in May.

In total, 13 local authorities are taking part in the pilot scheme, variously featuring e-voting, e-counting and advance voting.

Councils undertaking the scheme include Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council, Sunderland City Council and Swindon Borough Council.

Sheffield City Council will also be taking part, with plans to use remote online voting and telephone voting throughout the week before polling day.

The DCA states: "The purpose of pilot schemes is to gather evidence about the impact of innovations within the electoral process, to help inform public debate and the development of policy on electoral modernisation."

However, the Open Rights Group has criticised the implementation of e-voting, accusing the government of focussing on Big Brother-style jingoism rather than core political interest, reports eGov Monitor.

© Adfero Ltd

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