Sir, – There is a dangerous gulf between the people and their lawmakers in most countries. Going to the polls is a charming but anachronistic conceit. Turnout is rarely higher than 65 per cent and can be as low as 45 per cent.
Digital voting should be introduced, in addition to the option to vote in person at a polling station. Every bank and online business has a secure way of logging in – a ping to your phone, an email, a code that you fill in. The same security would be needed around a voting app. The success of the vaccination rollout effectively used people’s willingness to engage digitally – an example of why voting should go the same way.
The political parties and candidates would need to simplify their message knowing so many votes were going to be cast in clicks. Not a bad thing, in my view. Getting the digital vote out would transform a tired system to something vibrant and relevant in a modern democracy. Young people having a bigger say in their future, by voting on their smartphones, surely we can all vote for that? – Yours, etc,
ALISON HACKETT,
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Dún Laoghaire,
Co Dublin.
