Consultation and evaluation practices in the implementation of Internet voting in Canada and Europe / : Pratiques de consultation et d'évaluation dans la mise en oeuvre du vote Internet au Canada et en Europe

"This report examines consultation and evaluation practices associated with the consideration or adoption of Internet voting systems in Canada and Europe. Our findings indicate that consultation efforts are modest and often take place after the decision to proceed with Internet voting has been made. In Europe, consultations have been relatively limited in scope, often occurring with specific groups, including parliamentary or government committees, political parties, specific groups that seek Internet voting for reasons of accessibility, and committees of experts. In Canada, consultation regarding Internet voting has been concentrated in discussions between government officials and city councillors. Efforts to connect with the public typically occur after an Internet voting program has been decided upon and focus mostly on informing citizens about available voting options. In some cases this is combined with outreach communication that seeks to impart the importance of electoral participation. Recent consultation efforts in the City of Edmonton and Province of British Columbia, however, are setting new standards in Canada about what consultation surrounding Internet voting might entail"--