---

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

Answer

Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many people voted by (a) text-mail in the Sheffield area and (b) e-mail, telephone and mobile in St. Albans; and what plans there are to extend e-voting to other parts of the UK. [68118] Mr. Leslie: I have been asked to reply. In the three wards in Sheffield where the electoral pilot scheme was conducted in the May 2002 local election, 1,327 people voted by SMS text message. In addition, 2,833 people used the internet to vote, 61 people used electronic kiosks, 912 people used postal votes and 7,978 voted in conventional polling stations. In the two wards in St. Albans where the electoral pilot scheme took place, 825 people voted using the internet and 744 voted by telephone (landline or mobile). In addition, 377 used postal votes and 1,095 people voted at electronic kiosks in polling stations or a local supermarket. We intend in September to issue a prospectus inviting local authorities to participate in further pilot schemes in the May 2003 elections. Our prospectus will take account of the Electoral Commission's formal evaluation of each of the May 2002 electoral pilot schemes, which will be presented to the Deputy Prime Minister shortly.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

389 c83W; 68118

Session

2001-02

Subjects

Elections Electronic voting Internet Email Local government Pilot schemes Voting methods Sheffield Telephones St Albans

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk