Internet voting for open government: what, why, and how to introduce it in European countries

Abstract

Many countries on the European continent have already established solid national procedures ensuring transparency, participation, and accountability. However, these can be further strengthened by applying the open government approach with a special emphasis on innovative and digital technologies. Amongst these processes, internet voting (i-voting) stands out as being capable of empowering people with more feasible direct participation in policy making. This paper refers to the concepts and models of open government and i-voting, provides examples, outlines preconditions, discusses risks, and offers recommendations for introducing i-voting, especially at the national level. It is intended as an inspirational paper for advancing open government and i-voting.