IF WAITING in long queues while being pestered to buy an over-cooked sausage in bread isn’t your ideal Saturday morning, perhaps internet voting might be right up your alley.
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University of New England PhD student Phillip Zada is working on a project that might make this futuristic way of participating in democracy a reality.
Mr Zada, under the guidance of Greg Falzon and Associate Professor Paul Kwan, is undertaking research to evaluate the viability and readiness of using this technology for Australian elections.
“Mobile e-voting will completely transform the Australian voting experience,” Dr Falzon said.
“[It] promises greater efficiency, convenience and flexibility to the voting process. Reduced paper wastage might also see environmental benefits.”
Mr Zada said making use of the technology currently available to improve the voting systems seemed like a no-brainer.
“It’s something the rural people would really benefit from, and even people with young families like me,” he said.
“It can be tough getting little kids into the car for voting.”
While there were benefits posed by the technology, Mr Zada acknowledged there were some traditionalists out there who liked ticking all the boxes with a pencil and buying a fundraising cake at the booths.
“It’s not about replacing the booths, but complementing them,” Mr Zada said.
“It’s used in India, but the best example for Australia is Estonia, they implemented internet enrolment in 2005.
“Australia pioneered and introduced the currently used secret ballot system in 1855, so why are we so behind in keeping up with the rest of the world?”
The research project will be carried out in stages, the first of which involves gauging public opinion.
“We want to get people talking and build a community,” Mr Zada said.
Residents can join the conversation at mobilevoting.com.au and sign up for updates or check out Mr Zada’s Facebook page, Twitter account, Google+ page , or YouTube channel.