http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/idblog/2008/12/15/estonia-to-allow-cellular-voting/ Thoughts from the Internet and Democracy Project team at the Berkman Center for Internet and Society Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:33:36 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/idblog/2008/12/15/estonia-to-allow-cellular-voting/comment-page-1/#comment-14473 Internet & Democracy Blog » Alabama Considers Overseas E-Voting Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:45:28 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/idblog/?p=331#comment-14473 [...] alone. Regardless, so long as the system can be reasonably hack-proof — I still worry about Estonia, though Switzerland had some positive test results — this is a positive step toward making [...] [...] alone. Regardless, so long as the system can be reasonably hack-proof — I still worry about Estonia, though Switzerland had some positive test results — this is a positive step toward making [...]

]]> http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/idblog/2008/12/15/estonia-to-allow-cellular-voting/comment-page-1/#comment-4379 michael Sun, 28 Dec 2008 17:11:35 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/idblog/?p=331#comment-4379 something to follow, to see where it leads- I like it! something to follow, to see where it leads- I like it!

]]> http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/idblog/2008/12/15/estonia-to-allow-cellular-voting/comment-page-1/#comment-4185 Bryan Fri, 19 Dec 2008 23:41:30 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/idblog/?p=331#comment-4185 For ease, I am framing my comments in the structure of the American political system. My fears go in the opposite direction of yours. Increasing the ease of voting decreases the necessary representative aspects of republican government. There are purposeful barriers in the American system to prevent the direct whims of the public from influencing policy. Primarily, there is a recognition that the average citizen has neither the time, nor the expertise to make complex policy decisions. Thus, a citizen 'hires' a legislator to represent his ideas and opinions in a smaller legislature. That legislator, because he should (I say should, not does) not engage in another job, has the time and inclination to fully research issues before making policy decisions. Limiting the impact of voting increases the stability and power of a legislative body. On the other hand, providing very cheap and very fast methods of voting makes it more likely that policy decisions be made by instantaneous polls of the country. Looking at the Gallup polls in the lead up to the 2008 Federal election it becomes evident why this is dangerous; public opinion changes much too quickly. This type of polling is a slippery slope to a country being run by Ryan Seacrest urging votes on American Idol. For ease, I am framing my comments in the structure of the American political system. My fears go in the opposite direction of yours. Increasing the ease of voting decreases the necessary representative aspects of republican government. There are purposeful barriers in the American system to prevent the direct whims of the public from influencing policy. Primarily, there is a recognition that the average citizen has neither the time, nor the expertise to make complex policy decisions. Thus, a citizen ‘hires’ a legislator to represent his ideas and opinions in a smaller legislature. That legislator, because he should (I say should, not does) not engage in another job, has the time and inclination to fully research issues before making policy decisions. Limiting the impact of voting increases the stability and power of a legislative body. On the other hand, providing very cheap and very fast methods of voting makes it more likely that policy decisions be made by instantaneous polls of the country. Looking at the Gallup polls in the lead up to the 2008 Federal election it becomes evident why this is dangerous; public opinion changes much too quickly. This type of polling is a slippery slope to a country being run by Ryan Seacrest urging votes on American Idol.

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