The UK will hold electronic voting pilots in 13 local authorities during the May 2007 elections. Electoral pilot schemes at the May 2007 local elections in England will continue the programme of electoral modernisation that was started in 2000.
One advantage to the electronic system, according to Bridget Prentice, elections Minister at the Department for Constitutional Affairs, is that it gives voters a wider timescale in which to act, with lines open from 7am on April 26 for four days.
According to a study from Telewest Business, 46 per cent of Brits say that e-voting would make them more likely to turnout. The younger generation is more pro e-voting with 57 per cent of 18-34 year olds saying it would make them more likely to vote — whilst only a third (36 per cent) of over 55’s agreed with them.
Among them, the city of Sheffield has been selected for a second trial of electronic voting and will also test a "vote anywhere" polling booth where citizens can cast votes for candidates in any ward. Voters with access to either the Internet or a telephone will be able to use that service. The "vote anywhere" polling station will be open over the same days. Voters from any ward will be able to have a ballot paper printed for them.
Details of the schemes:
Bedford Borough Council will pilot advance voting during the week before polling day, and will also require all voters to provide their signature before being issued with their ballot papers. Electronic scanning technology will be used to count ballot papers for the elections.
Breckland District Council will use electronic scanning technology to count ballot papers for its elections.
Broxbourne Council will pilot advance voting during the week before polling day, and will also require voters to provide their signature before being issued with their ballot papers at advance voting stations.
Dover District Council will use electronic scanning technology to count ballot papers for its elections, specifically using commercially available scanning hardware.
Gateshead Council will pilot advance voting during the two weeks before polling day, and will also require voters to provide their signature before being issued with their ballot papers at advance voting stations.
Rushmoor Borough Council will pilot remote Internet voting, during the week before polling day and on polling day itself.
Sheffield City Council will pilot remote Internet and telephone voting during the week before polling day.
Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council will pilot remote Internet and telephone voting during the week before polling day.
South Bucks District Council will pilot remote Internet and telephone voting, during the week before polling day and on polling day itself. South Bucks council will also use electronic scanning technology to count ballot papers for its elections, specifically using commercially available scanning hardware.
Stratford-on-Avon District Council and Warwick District Council (joint application) will use electronic scanning technology to count ballot papers for its elections, and will work together to utilise shared counting venues covering the combined area of the two authorities.
Sunderland City Council will pilot advance voting during the two weeks before polling day, and will also require all voters to provide their signature before being issued with their ballot papers.
Swindon Borough Council will pilot remote Internet and telephone voting, during the week before polling day and on polling day itself. Swindon will also provide supervised electronic facilities at five networked locations during the week before polling day, where any Swindon elector will be able to vote in their relevant ward and parish elections (’centralised all-elections’ facilities).
