I voted online; is this the future?

[emzie]

The Democrats Abroad Primary was done online this year, along with traditional methods such as traditional polling locations and mail.

And yes it's real Primary. We send 22 delegates. We're more important than Idaho.

When I signed up for this, I had to provide my SSN and other proof I'm a US Citizen, just like I would have to register back in Ohio.

Once a confirmed member, they sent me an email with a ballot number and a personal pin.

Spoiler :

Dear Matthew,

Thank you for choosing to participate in Democrats Abroad's historic online Global Presidential Primary. Here's what you need to know to cast your vote.

HOW
Go to www.DemocratsAbroadPrimary.org/voting/
Your Ballot Number: CAN'T TELL YOU THIS
Your Personal Identification Number (PIN): NOR THIS

Additional information will be requested to authenticate your identity.

WHEN
You can log in and vote anytime between Tuesday, February 5 at GMT+13 and Tuesday, February 12 at GMT-10.


PAPER TRAIL
You will be asked to print a copy of your ballot before you logout. We encourage you to do so.


NOVEMBER BALLOT
This online voting system is available for the Democrats Abroad primary election only. In November, you need to vote the old-fashioned way. Go to www.VoteFromAbroad.org to request a ballot from the state where you last resided in the U.S.


NO DOUBLE VOTING!
The Global Presidential Primary is the full legal equivalent of a state primary election. Democrats Abroad will send 22 delegates to the Democratic National Convention. You may not vote for president in any state primary election - by absentee ballot or in person - or participate in any state caucus. You may not participate in Democrats Abroad's Global Presidential Primary if you have already voted in any state primary or caucus.
Thank you for voting and ensuring that your voice is heard this February.
Christine Schon Marques
International Chair
Democrats Abroad

It took all of 10 minutes and I never had to leave my chair. Assuming security concerns are all overcome, I can't imagine an easier way to vote, and a better way to increase turnout.

 

[The Yankee]

Eventually, but I don't think it will be standard for quite a while. And there could be plenty of growing pains. But this is the best way for Democrats Abroad to get their votes in, so why not?

 

[sysyphus]

Oh great... that'll just inspire more Yanks to move up here. Just what we need...

 

[Ciceronian]

Thanks to online voting, I can see a fully fledged e-democracy becoming possible in the very near future. Being able to vote on every issue individually until as it comes to prominence is an incredibly powerful ability. This would allow us to revert to the virtues of classical Athenian radical democracy, with full voter participation in every single decision. Now that we have large nation states instead of tiny city states (πολει&#962, the internet is the way forward for casting our votes.

 

[Alpine Trooper]

I vote at one of the many Churchs that have closed at the end of each neighbourhood street. It's a somewhat liberating experience to cast a certain vote inside a Church. I don't think online is safe enough yet.

 

[The Yankee]

Oh great... that'll just inspire more Yanks to move up here. Just what we need...

It'll be great! We can tell you incessantly who we will be voting for as we vote! Of course, if you knock out the internet connection, that would not be cool...

 

[emzie]

I vote at one of the many Churchs that have closed at the end of each neighbourhood street. It's a somewhat liberating experience to cast a certain vote inside a Church. I don't think online is safe enough yet.

The closest polling station to me for this primary was in Hamilton.

Which is rather odd considering I'd've thought quite a few Americans would live in Ottawa. Hell Yellowknife got a polling station and we didn't!

 

[Alpine Trooper]

The closest polling station to me for this primary was in Hamilton.

Which is rather odd considering I'd've thought quite a few Americans would live in Ottawa. Hell Yellowknife got a polling station and we didn't!

You cant place a vote at the Embassy?

 

[emzie]

You cant place a vote at the Embassy?

Not for the Primary, no. Primaries have nothing to do with the Federal government, which the embassy is an extension of.

 

[Amin001]

Hmm didnt know you could do that.

 

[downtown]

This forum isn't big enough for two guys named Matt from Ohio.

 

[emzie]

This forum isn't big enough for two guys named Matt from Ohio.

Isn't? Wasn't

Thanks to online voting, I can see a fully fledged e-democracy becoming possible in the very near future. Being able to vote on every issue individually until as it comes to prominence is an incredibly powerful ability. This would allow us to revert to the virtues of classical Athenian radical democracy, with full voter participation in every single decision. Now that we have large nation states instead of tiny city states (πολει&#962, the internet is the way forward for casting our votes.

That sounds like a total nightmare.

 

[Masquerouge]

Thanks to online voting, I can see a fully fledged e-democracy becoming possible in the very near future. Being able to vote on every issue individually until as it comes to prominence is an incredibly powerful ability. This would allow us to revert to the virtues of classical Athenian radical democracy, with full voter participation in every single decision. Now that we have large nation states instead of tiny city states (πολει&#962, the internet is the way forward for casting our votes.

Democracy was indeed meant for city-states of a couple thousand people, not huge nations.

Let's hope we won't have that silly "Greek rich male" restriction

 

[The Yankee]

Even if we could have referenda each and every day, it wouldn't be a good idea to do so, as it would take much more time for people to learn the issues before them and any kind of debate in a pool of millions simply could not be handled in an efficient manner. Eventually, people will band around their own leaders to represent such views and debate them with others and by that point, you have a de-facto representative government anyway.

 

[Irish Caesar]

I would like to have voted online, or at least been able to request my absentee ballot online or over the phone.

It would have made a lot more sense, and I think you'd get better turnout... but then, I'm sure the people who have to count absentee ballots hate them.

 

[GenMarshall]

Oh great... that'll just inspire more Yanks to move up here. Just what we need...

Do you get CAN$20 per US immigrant you get?

 

[woody60707]

This has train wreak written all over it.

How would one do a recount? what about if a sever goes down? or ect ect.

Unless a recored is kept of who voted for who, (what would be illegal) there is no way to check to make someone is messing with the system.

 

[Benefactor]

I cant say that I'm a fan of the lack of paper-trail.
Plus I'm not certain it's secure enough yet.

I just don't really like the idea much at all.

 

[sysyphus]

Do you get CAN$20 per US immigrant you get?

Depends if they're dodging a war or not.

Seriously though, it's good to see that people can do these sorts of things. My wife and I have always thought about living abroad for a while, but we'd definitely return to Canada eventually so it'd be good to have a say in who's minding it while we're gone.

 

[Ciceronian]

That sounds like a total nightmare.

Why? I realise you've advocated a democracy with limited powers to elect a representative government here before, but please take me through your argument again.

Let's hope we won't have that silly "Greek rich male" restriction

Of course, that goes without saying. But wealth ceased to be a determining factor after the Cleisthenic reforms of 508/507 BC.

Even if we could have referenda each and every day, it wouldn't be a good idea to do so, as it would take much more time for people to learn the issues before them and any kind of debate in a pool of millions simply could not be handled in an efficient manner. Eventually, people will band around their own leaders to represent such views and debate them with others and by that point, you have a de-facto representative government anyway.

I think that once people realise the power that lies in their hands in a direct democracy, there will be a huge increase in political interest and number of people voting. Public involvement could also be stimulated in a number of other ways, such as jury duty and random selection for certain political councils (whose task it would be to put forward proposals for voting on).