Effects of the Internet on Participation : Study of a Public Policy Referendum in Brazil

Spada, Paolo ; Mellon, Jonathan ; Peixoto, Tiago ; Sjoberg, Fredrik M.

Taylor and Francis

关键词: digital divide;    i-voting;    e-government;    e-democracy;    participation;   

DOI  :  10.1080/19331681.2016.1162250
RP-ID  :  108320

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

Does online voting mobilize citizens who otherwise would not participate? During the annual participatory budgeting vote in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil—the world's largest—Internet voters were asked whether they would have participated had there not been an online voting option (i-voting). The study documents an 8.2 percent increase in total turnout with the introduction of i-voting. In support of the mobilization hypothesis, unique survey data show that i-voting is mainly used by new participants rather than just for convenience by those who were already mobilized. The study also finds that age, gender, income, education, and social media usage are significant predictors of being online-only voters. However, technology appears more likely to engage people who are younger, male, of higher income and educational attainment, and more frequent social media users.