Electronic Voting in the United States: At the Leading Edge or Lagging Behind?

Abstract

The first binding Internet election to take place anywhere in the world occurred in the United States during March 2000. Internet voting was offered as one option for casting a ballot in the Arizona Democratic Party primary election. Voters could also cast an early ballot by mail. Voters showing up at a polling location on Election Day could cast a traditional paper ballot or vote using a computer. The future of Internet voting in the United States looked quite bright at that historic moment. Turnout in the Arizona primary election doubled, the election took place without a breach in security, public opinion supported introducing Internet voting into all statewide elections, and young people (who typically vote at very low rates in the United States) expressed unprecedented enthusiasm for voting over the Internet. In the years following that election, momentum for Internet voting, and the United States slowed significantly. The 2002 federal and state elections took place without a trace of consideration for Internet voting, and the United States no longer occupies the ‘leading edge’ in the use of Internet technology for voting. In fact, the United States has fallen behind many European nations to a position more aptly thought of as ‘lagging behind.’