The largely unfounded accusations from the Trump camp during the 2020 presidential election caused many to lose faith in the potential for electronic voting to make a meaningful impact on voter turnout.  This is despite voter turnout in the election only being around 62%, with this level significantly lower for under-represented groups.

A new paper from the University of Otago highlights how e-voting could have a particularly large impact on voter turnout among young people.  The participants in the research said that a voting app complete with information about each candidate would significantly increase the likelihood of voting because of the enhanced convenience it would offer.

Voter turnout

The researchers quizzed a bunch of 18 to 24-year-olds on their voting habits, with this group chosen in large part due to their historically poor turnout in elections around the world.  The lack of political engagement from this group does undermine democracy, however, and ensure that they lack effective representation on issues that matter to them.

“Low voter turnout amongst 18 to 24-year-olds can undermine the political process,” the researchers say.  “Lack of information, the feeling that local elections are ‘second order’ elections and the feeling that youths have no actual influence over the political process, ultimately produces these low turn-outs.”

The availability of electronic voting was found to be most effective at increasing political engagement, with respondents divided over the issue of compulsory voting.  They were equally unsure about lowering the voting age to 16, with many revealing that they thought people of that age were too young to truly understand the issues involved.

The respondents also said that they would love to have better information about the candidates and the policy positions they take in order to make a more informed choice.