Political+process+voting+and+elections,+lobbying,+open+government+and+free+movement+of+information


 * Lana Bilani / Fletcher Bacon (Fletchers presentation [[file:Political process.pptx]])**

==[|POLITICAL PROCESS] == **Voting and elections** Electronic voting is also known as **e-voting**. **How does e-voting work**  IT systems needed for e-voting:

**Advantages:**
 * Special voting kiosks
 * Punch cards
 * Optical scan systems
 * Private computer networks (Internet)

**Disadvantages:** The elections are very simple. The candidates who receives the greatest amount of e-votes gets elected. **Lobbying** Lobbying means using personal contacts, public pressure, or political action to persuade legislators to vote in a particular manner. This is usually done by e-mail via the internet to let people know/persuade about the votes in order to get as many votes as possible to be elected. Lobbying via the internet is a good way of how to make sure that a lot of people will obtain the information. Moreover this form of lobbying is very cheap and effective because many people nowadays check their e-mail many times per day. **Open government and free movement of information**  Open government contains information that are available to anyone via the internet. Anyone has the same right to access the same information. Open government are used to empower citizens by providing a single, comprehensive, easy-to-use repository of information on individuals, organizations, and corporations related to the government of the United States of America. Average citizens have limited access to important government records, while available information is often illegible. Meanwhile, the government's eagerness and means to oversee a citizen's personal activity is rapidly increasing. Through open governments, anyone can access the desired information. The movement of information in this case is free and unlimited, since anyone can access it. Of course the open governments won't have published all the information on the internet because of privacy and sucurity issues and legislations. **Social & Ethical Issues** **1. Reliability** E-voting and electronic lobbying are very reliable. The information can be send out throughout the world within a couple of minutes and to a great number of people without any costs. **2. Integrity of Data** Data may be incorrectly input or chabged accidentally. **3. Security** Protection of hardware and software needed for lobbying or e-voting will be necessary. This will be made by anti-viruses. **4. Privacy and Anonymity** Anyone who votes can remain anonymous. During lobying the people usually lobby in order to grab peoples' attention, not to be anonymous :) **5. Authenticity**  Every voter will have his/her authentication in order to vote via the internet to prevent people from voting many times in a row. This wouldn't be fair.  **7. Equality of Access**  Anyone who has Internet can use these services.  **9. Globalization and Cultural Diversity**  No matter where a person is, he can vote or lobby from all around the world if connected to the Internet. Lana  [] media type="youtube" key="e4tGWIIWDVk?fs=1" height="385" width="640" How effectivley is Obama using technology ? (Fletcher) media type="youtube" key="l-UcVlwDsGE?fs=1" height="385" width="480"
 * Equality of access-improved accessibility for disabled people
 * speed (time saving)
 * easy to organize and store in an electronic formate
 * the posibility of electronical fraud
 * data can be incorrectly input
 * People are reliable on machines and the Internet