First, listen to the predictions of Matt Bai, a New York Times journalist on how technology will impact voting and political participation.
Do you agree with him? What predictions would you add? Bai mentions voting online, but what other forms of political participation will technology influence or completely change? How will communication between citizens and leaders change? How do you think social networking plays a role in political participation?
Do you agree with him? What predictions would you add? Bai mentions voting online, but what other forms of political participation will technology influence or completely change? How will communication between citizens and leaders change? How do you think social networking plays a role in political participation?
I completely agree with Matt. I think that we are very close to having internet elections. I also think the simple process will be screwed up (like electronic voting in Ohio) a couple times before it is perfected. I also think that the added convience will increase voter participation by alot. People already spend 700 Billion minutes each month of Facebook. This shift in voters should also change many of campaigner's tactics. Suddenly they must appeal to a younger demographic; one that previously had a lower turnout than older generations.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Coda, that we will definately see internet voting sometime in our lifetimes. Conservatives will continue to argue that it is too high risk, and there will probably be some mess ups at first, but as our generation becomes a louder voice in politics, there will be an evin louder voice for internet elections. The internet is such a big part of what we do that we will be able to expect greater political participation ( even though people without computers are obviously still at the old disadvantage of having to actually go somewhere to vote).
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ReplyDeleteYeah, I agree with Coda, Maggie and Matt in saying that elections will overtime turn over to the internet, and electronic voting.Even though there would be a risk of fraud, so many people buy things online using there credit cards and such, that they trust internet safety to a certain extent. So over time, people will probably find out a way to make it very secure. I think this will really increase voting participation by a lot and would most likely increase the results from voters that usually are the minority in voting participation (such as younger voters). This could be debated for a long time though since conservatives might disagree to this more, as liberals are usually the younger, working class that either cant be bothered or dont have time to wait in line and vote. So when/if voting does go electronic all around, there would probably be an increase in democratic votes. I think they should have it so you can do either by internet or written ballot still because it would be a disadvantage for ppl who dont have internet access, and it could cause a decline in other groups of voters (like older generations) etc.
ReplyDeleteCoda raised the point of issues at the ballot boxes as people adjust to electronic voting (either human error or technical difficulty). While we all seem to be on the same page with our predictions endorsing the inevitability of digital change, these concerns are real.
ReplyDeleteCheck out this short documentary exploring some of the current problems: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Sh20tzRb94
In reply to Mr. Jones' comment...
ReplyDeleteIssues like the ones shown in the video just make me angry. There was clearly very little thought put into the process. Many of the issues are created from using out-dated equiptment that are created using off-the-shelf parts or parts from other computers. I'm sure that they are fine using the optical scanners that will be grading my ACT (and reading the addresses I write on the envelope of snail mail), but really if its going to move to the open world of the internet, we have to learn to fix the security problems on the CONTROLLED MACHINES! This is pathetic.
Disturbing but Great Analogy
http://xkcd.com/463/
I agree with Matt Bai and everybody that the future of voting being online is pretty much inevitable. As long as they don't switch to doing it exclusively on the internet, I think it would increase participation, because even if you don't have a computer at home, you can go to a library (unless it's more inconvenient than just going to the polls). Since voting at home is really private, I think the influence of social networking would be diminished, because you're not talking to people about the candidates waiting in line or right after voting or whatever. It would be interesting to see if there actually would be more Democratic votes, but I don't think it would be a really dramatic increase, since computers are everywhere. The video about fraudulent machines is interesting, but like Coda said, they didn't seem to put a lot of thought into it. I think if they actually were serious about using technology to vote, they could come up with something a lot more secure. Right now it's like they can't decide so they're just using mediocre stuff. But I don't think even the highest level of technology could completely eliminate fraud, since people get so caught up in election madness and stuff.
ReplyDeletei agree with mr. jones. can i have an A now? (for the record, i didnt actually read mr jones's comment)
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with Matt Bai. In the way that technology has changed our lifestyles and global connections, voting online is another thing that’s bound to be influenced by technology. Just think of all the information and things we can access and submit online today: the weather forecast, news, the newspaper, shopping, banking, taxes, registering for tests, online schooling, job searching, even video chatting with your friend in Germany or your cousins in Florida…and the list goes on. The internet has created an easy way for people to get tasks done while sitting at home, researching topics without checking out numerous books, and seeing and talking to a family member without buying a plane ticket. Bai makes a good point that Americans are always striving for that next step, and humanity tends towards political freedom and political liberty. I believe voting participation will increase because of this as well. Because online access is less time consuming and less burdensome, voting will eventually be an online thing. Although fraud is a concern, we have enough technology and security these days to monitor online voting. There’s no doubt technology will influence other forms of political participation (it already has). Online political social networking groups can discuss issues, send messages to campaigners and other group members, campaigners can place “ads” on sites or even set up a facebook account with a list of their views on issues, things they’re doing to change problems, etc. This communication between citizens and leaders will make citizens more knowledgeable about candidates and their views. Having an online voting system may also draw in more youth participation. Youth are much more involved with technology and easy access will bring in a greater participation turnout.
ReplyDeleteI don't think we are very close to internet elections as we want. I believe that if we did change to online voting that more young people would vote, but some people are afraid of a change to technology so it won't happen until people from are generation are in control wnich won't be for about thirty years. Even though there is online voting in some places around the world right now. It is a good idea and more people would vote, but people are afraid of change. Also of those 700 billion minutes on facebook, how many of those are accounted for by people over 30? The people who use facebook probably don't vote and officials are primarily elcted by people over 30, so why make it easier them to vote when they didn't vote you into office.
ReplyDeletebahahaha...sorry this is irrelevant, but nice picture fish :) haha
ReplyDeleteLike everyone else, I agree with Matt Bai (and Coda). In the not so far off future voting will go high tech and be transferred to the internet. In the beginning, people will doubt the system. It may even be tested for several elections before it is put into full use. By this I mean that people would have to still vote in the traditional way, but they would have the choice of also voting online. This way the system would be thoroughly tested and refined before replacing the Australian ballot that is currently used nationwide. People also will be worried about people hacking into the system and changing the results. While this seems like a legitimate worry, it really should not be an issue. This is a concern of national security and I’m sure the government would be all over it. Technology has already influenced the way that we communicate with our government. People used to write letters to their senators, representatives, etc… Now, we just shoot them an email. Much easier, much faster, less money… everyone’s happy. Another new form of communication with our government leaders is through social networking websites, particularly Facebook. Nearly all of our government leaders have a page on this site. Even if it’s not personal, it’s another way to communicate that is available to a huge number of people. There are more than 500 million active users on facebook. The majority of them are part of the young group that generally displays terrible voter turnout on election day. Technology could change that.
ReplyDeleteDammit. I guess I have to actually make an educated comment now... Well here's my best shot. In my humble opinion, until I can telepathically communicate my political preferences to the government from the comfort of my couch, and within the time of the average commercial break, voting is just too much damn work. But in response to whether or not we are going to cast our votes electronically one day, I think we eventually will. As more of the geezers die (im not exactly being PC here) there will be fewer people to advocate against electronic voting because they are 'too old' or 'too retro' or 'too blind' for this 'technological mumbo jumbo'. And frankly, it is human nature to try evolve and make things simpler, and that can include changing the way we vote from having to cast a physical ballot in person at a voting station, to nonchalantly clicking on a picture of a candidate in between youtube videos (although there will have to be limitations and regulations pertaining to how this system will work)
ReplyDeleteAs pretty much everybody else has said.. i agree with Matt Bai. I think that voting going unto the internet is obviously going to happen. Im sure itll have its gliches at first, but they will figure out how to perfect the system. I think that any form of voting has its gliches anyways.. so its definately worth a shot. And plus these days our world is becoming much more technological. We are doing a lot more of our communications through technology, in places like facebook, twitter etc. If voting turns to the interenet i definately think that there would be an increased amount of young people voting which could have a huge impact on elections.
ReplyDeleteohh and ps.. fish.. nice profile picture.. just saying.
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