The Internet and Democracy
The Internet can help create a more informed electorate and encourage greater participation in our democratic process.
Nearly 70 years ago, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the first president to take advantage of the radio to connect directly and instantly with millions of American citizens across the country.
In the 1960s, John F. Kennedy was the first president to effectively employ the power of television as a visual communications medium.
Today, candidates and elected officials of every political persuasion are tapping the power of the Internet to interact with citizens in ways that one day may rival the impact of radio and television combined.
| • | In 1999, Steve Forbes became the first presidential candidate to announce his bid for office over the Internet. |
| • | Since last April, more than 200,000 questions and comments have been submitted to Vice President Al Gore’s "Interactive Town Hall," a location on his campaign’s Web site, where he and his staff provide answers on a variety of subjects. |
| • | In the 48 hours after winning the New Hampshire GOP primary earlier this month, Senator John McCain raised more than $1 million in contributions over the Internet. |
| • | George W. Bush was the first presidential candidate to publish a complete list of his campaign contributors online. |
| • | Bill Bradley, like many other candidates, has used the Web to detail his political agenda and substantive policy announcements. |
| • | Jesse Ventura organized a long shot and ultimately successful independent bid for the Minnesota statehouse in 1998, with a campaign that demonstrated the grass- roots power and fundraising capabilities of the Net. |
But it’s not only candidates who are taking advantage of the power of the Web to reach out to citizens. In January, the President’s State of the Union Address and the Republican response were the first to be broadcast live over Microsoft’s Web TV, enabling thousands of viewers to learn more about Administration and GOP policies and initiatives instantly, simply by clicking on an Internet link.
Meanwhile, public agencies are making access to government resources more convenient. Today, in certain jurisdictions, you can download an application for a business license, search for a government job, track the status of a building permit, or file a tax return, all online.
Increasingly, the Internet also is being used as a vehicle for citizens to organize and express their views. When the City of Seattle recently considered a controversial ordinance to prohibit the display of exotic animals in circus performances, thousands of e-mails flew back and forth between voters and their elected officials.
Parents are using the Internet to organize Web sites where information about school meetings can be posted, and where vibrant forums exist to bat around ideas regarding new academic programs, school test results and grading standards.
Meanwhile, political Web "portals" like those hosted by USAdemocracy.com, vote-smart.org, Issues2000.org, grassroots.com, MSN.com and others are providing interested citizens with up-to-the-minute information that is fundamentally changing the way citizens learn about and get involved in important issues.
Technologies are emerging on Web sites like selectsmart.com that match a voter’s views on issues with the positions of candidates. This kind of "comparison shopping" will empower voters by allowing them to obtain substantive and current information about candidates’ positions, and to make informed decisions at election time.
In the near future, the Internet may also serve as a medium for voter registration and online voting. Several test projects to facilitate online voting are in progress. Ensuring equitable access, security, privacy and reliability are concerns that will need to be addressed before voters are able to cast their ballots from the convenience of their home or a nearby public facility.
The neighborhood polling booth won’t go away, but with voter participation at historic lows -- particularly among young people -- online voting offers the potential to encourage easier and greater involvement in our electoral process.
At Microsoft, we’re enthusiastic about the Internet for many reasons, not the least of which is the promise it holds to create a more informed electorate and to encourage the participation of more people -- especially young people -- in our democratic process.
