Seanad debates

Thursday, 22 October 2020

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

 

10:30 am

Photo of Shane CassellsShane Cassells (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

People will immediately raise concerns about security as a knee-jerk reaction as to why it cannot happen, but our entire Revenue system now operates on a secure portal. If we can collect the taxes of the people of this country online through a secure portal, then voting online safely should also be possible.

Last year, I met the Gov2U group, which promotes democracy throughout Europe. Up to 14 countries have some form of online voting. Estonia, a small Baltic nation, was the first to introduce permanent national Internet voting. It has gone from 1.9% of votes cast through online voting to almost 30% in the parliamentary elections there last year. Interestingly, it also keeps the pencil and paper as a voting system for the electorate. If we are looking at electoral reform, it is incumbent on us before any Bill is drafted to have a robust and proper debate that would also consider online voting and its potential, not only in terms of ease of access but also in helping younger people to participate in democracy and voting.

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