The Internet in the (dis)service of democracy

Internet technology is neither inherently democratic nor tyrannical. By facilitating the exchange of information and ideas between citizens and their governments, the Internet could be used to promote a more informed and participatory electorate. However, a totalitarian government could just as easily develop it to monitor the habits, thoughts, and activities of its citizens more efficiently than ever before. Whether the Internet eventually serves either democratic or antidemocratic purposes will depend upon the institutions and norms that govern and protect Internet users and communities. Frank Michelman’s essay begins to erect the necessary normative framework by posing fundamental questions about voting in general and, more specifically, about public decision making by means of the Internet. He asks why we rely on formal voting to make public choices and whether it would be a good thing to facilitate and supplement majority rule with Internet technology. Internet voting can be defined as making decisions about issues or candidates by means of the computer. At a minimum, it could mean replacing election day paper ballots with touch screens linked to a central computer that would automatically tabulate results. But others have more ambitious visions. Entrepreneurs like Dick Morris believe that the Internet can and should transform democratic practices in important ways. Since Internet voting would be less costly