E-Democracy Postponed: Public Policy Design the Key to UK E-Voting

Policy design is the key to securing the required policy outcomes and this author argues that flaws in the design of the public policy to modernise electoral processes in the UK impact on the expansion of e-democracy as they influence e-voting adoption decisions of local authorities. The UK government proposed to introduce e-voting through the voluntary public policy process as part of the strategy to modernise the electoral process to enhance participation in representative democracy. However, numbers of local authorities willing to trial the new voting methods have decreased. This chapter draws on prior research and interviews with Election Officers to analyse stages in the policy process. The analysis is based on Anderson’s (2002) heuristic model of the policy process to identify flaws impacting on the effectiveness of this policy to promote e-democracy. The conclusion recommends measures to address the policy weaknesses.