TECHNOLOGY provides countless solutions to business problems, but nothing has been put in place in this country to provide a better alternative to the pencils and ballot papers used at polling stations.
After the polls closed, reports of confusion and anger started to emerge from many polling stations. The difficulties ranged from running out of ballot papers to officers locking the doors at 10pm prompt and turning away those who had patiently queued to exercise their democratic right.
The Electoral Commission review should address the opportunities presented by technology.
Voting electronically could prevent future problems at polling stations, but we are struggling with an outdated Victorian system.
It seems unlikely that the voting problems in the general election actually had an impact on the results, but some observers compared the scenes to those in Florida in 2000, which saw George W Bush controversially elected President.
In the wake of that crisis, electronic voting is being introduced across the United States. In India, the world's largest democracy has been using electronic voting since the general election of 2004.
Proponents argue that electronic voting is very quick for voters, helps to prevent spoiled ballots, and counts votes in an instant. It would also have solved the problem of ballot papers running out.
The Electoral Commission has been recommending that Parliament should look at reforming the electoral system for some time.
Electronic voting is an issue that must be further explored. Since 2000, the British government has recommended that local authorities pilot a range of alternatives to the paper ballot.
In May, 2007, five UK local authorities tried out electronic voting, including votes over the internet that could be registered from anywhere. But, in a report assessing those pilots, the Electoral Commission found that there were issues with security.
A central process must be implemented to ensure that sufficiently secure and transparent e-voting solutions that have been tested and approved can be made available.
As our society becomes more and more dependent on technology, it would make sense for us to capitalise on this technology.
Doing so would also help more people to engage and be active in the political process.
