The B.C. government has officially requested that the chief electoral officer convene an independent panel to examine the potential for using Internet voting in British Columbia.
A letter has been sent to Keith Archer from Minister of Justice and Attorney General Shirley Bond, requesting that the chief electoral officer appoint an independent panel to review the best practices for Internet voting from other jurisdictions — in both local and provincial contexts — and identify any possible technological or logistical barriers.
The independent panel review will help to start a broader conversation about modernizing B.C.'s electoral process, something Premier Christy Clark pledged when she became premier of the province. Internet voting is a topic of interest for many British Columbians, as well as a number of B.C. municipalities.
“Our province is widely recognized as being technologically progressive and a leader in open government initiatives,” said Bond in a news release. “If the independent panel determines we can maintain the utmost electoral integrity, I'm optimistic Internet voting could increase accessibility for British Columbians to participate in the democratic process."
— Submitted
