E-vote project evaluation is ready
Historical archive
Published under: Stoltenberg's 2nd Government
Publisher: Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development
Press release | Date: 15/06/2012
The evaluation of the Internet voting pilot project in ten municipalities in the autumn 2011 elections is now ready. “The reports give us valuable knowledge. They will serve an important role when we assess the future of e-voting in Norway,” says Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Liv Signe Navarsete.
The evaluation of the Internet voting pilot project in ten municipalities in the autumn 2011 elections is now ready. “The reports give us valuable knowledge. They will serve an important role when we assess the future of e-voting in Norway,” says Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Liv Signe Navarsete.
In the evaluation, the external research environments looked at several aspects of e-voting. They discussed whether the pilot project was properly conducted and whether it was in line with international regulations and standards. An overall final report from the evaluation will be presented at an open seminar at the House of Literature on 12 September.
Voters in the pilot municipalities had a high level of confidence in both the conduction of the election in general and the actual e-voting pilot project. 92 per cent of those entitled to vote in the pilot municipalities believe it should be possible to vote via the Internet in Norwegian elections. The fact that so many chose to vote electronically also shows that there was a high level of confidence in the pilot project. 72.4 per cent of those who voted early in the pilot municipalities chose to vote via the Internet instead of by paper ballot. It was not possible to vote via the Internet on the actual day of the election.
A major objective of the pilot project was to increase accessibility for all voters. 95 per cent of those who voted via the Internet thought it was a simple and convenient way to vote. The evaluation shows that people with disabilities want e-elections. Many of them could vote without assistance for the first time.
“We will now study the reports carefully. The Government will report back to the Storting about the pilot project in a proposition in the autumn of 2012. Until then we will assess whether - and if so how - the pilot project is to be followed up,” says Navarsete.
Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development’s media line: 22 24 25 00.