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John Bercow: Brits should be able to vote for MPs from the comfort of their own home

Jol44Jol44 Posts: 21,048
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BRITS should be able to vote online for their MP to bring Parliament into the 21st century, Commons Speaker John Bercow has said.

He declared that people should be allowed to cast their vote from the comfort of their own homes to save them trekking to the polling station “on a wet Thursday”.


http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/politics/5682957/Bercow-Brits-should-be-able-to-vote-online.html

He's right, I agree with him.

People do their secure banking etc online.

In fact, I'd go as far as to say it would be less open to abuse, than postal voting or just turning up at a station and giving your name.
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    HowardessexHowardessex Posts: 2,072
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    Sounds like a good idea , but probably after scrutiny there will be many flaws .
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    TheTruth1983TheTruth1983 Posts: 13,462
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    We have the technology so we should be using it, I agree.

    There will need to be safe guards to prevent fraud, though.
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    stoatiestoatie Posts: 78,106
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    Given the shocking record of government (both the Coalition AND Labour) on IT projects, I don't think it's anywhere near practical.
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    Ethel_FredEthel_Fred Posts: 34,127
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    No paper trail, too easy to commit fraud.
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    DiscombobulateDiscombobulate Posts: 4,242
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    Jol44 wrote: »

    He's right, I agree with him.


    So I assume you know how much this would cost and you did a cost \ benefit analysis before coming to your conclusion.

    Care to share your figures with us ?
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    Jol44Jol44 Posts: 21,048
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    So I assume you know how much this would cost and you did a cost \ benefit analysis before coming to your conclusion.

    Care to share your figures with us ?

    I assume you do?

    I very much agree with it in principle.
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    DiscombobulateDiscombobulate Posts: 4,242
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    Jol44 wrote: »
    I assume you do?

    After you ............

    EDIT: I see you edited your reply after I had replied. Your edited reply is much better in my opinion
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    TheTruth1983TheTruth1983 Posts: 13,462
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    stoatie wrote: »
    Given the shocking record of government (both the Coalition AND Labour) on IT projects, I don't think it's anywhere near practical.

    Ain't that the truth. I'm not sure I would trust either party with a large scale IT project again.
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    Jol44Jol44 Posts: 21,048
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    After you ............

    After me what? Your not making any sense.

    I fully agree with this in principle, which part of that do you not understand?
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    MartinPMartinP Posts: 31,358
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    Quite a few of the very big technology companies have advised users to change their passwords after their systems have been compromised... I am not sure this is wise.
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    DiscombobulateDiscombobulate Posts: 4,242
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    Jol44 wrote: »
    After me what? Your not making any sense.

    I fully agree with this in principle, which part of that do you not understand?

    Jol, you edited your post. And so I have edited my post in response. OK ?
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    allaortaallaorta Posts: 19,050
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    So would Bercow do away with polling stations if it was raining on a Thursday?
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    Jol44Jol44 Posts: 21,048
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    MartinP wrote: »
    Quite a few of the very big technology companies have advised users to change their passwords after their systems have been compromised... I am not sure this is wise.

    Yet it's seen as safe enough for banking?
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    Ethel_FredEthel_Fred Posts: 34,127
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    Ain't that the truth. I'm not sure I would trust either party with a large scale IT project again.
    With the current system it's virtually impossible to commit widespread fraud. Why change it?
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    [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 0
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    So I assume you know how much this would cost and you did a cost \ benefit analysis before coming to your conclusion.

    Care to share your figures with us ?

    Asking someone for a full cost/benefit analysis in response to them voicing agreement in principle with a proposal for electronic voting from home, comes across as a little unreasonable.
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    allaortaallaorta Posts: 19,050
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    Jol44 wrote: »
    Yet it's seen as safe enough for banking?

    But my bank has changed its online banking system three times and is about to change it again and all for security reasons.
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    LostFoolLostFool Posts: 90,662
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    I'm all for technology but there's something old fashioned and reassuring about walking the local polling station and ticking a box on a piece of paper. It feels like you are doing something significant and important. Pressing a button on a website or texting a number just makes the whole process the same as voting for someone on X Factor.
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    DiscombobulateDiscombobulate Posts: 4,242
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    mithy73 wrote: »
    Asking someone for a full cost/benefit analysis in response to them voicing agreement in principle with a proposal for electronic voting from home, comes across as a little unreasonable.

    I posted that to his original post where he gave unequivocal support not to his edited post where he gave support in principle so it wasn't unreasonable at all I hope you are able to agree
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    BrokenArrowBrokenArrow Posts: 21,665
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    Refresh Refresh refresh...................

    This is how One DIrection win awards.

    Harry Styles for Prime Minister !
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    smudges dadsmudges dad Posts: 36,989
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    Jol44 wrote: »
    BRITS should be able to vote online for their MP to bring Parliament into the 21st century, Commons Speaker John Bercow has said.

    He declared that people should be allowed to cast their vote from the comfort of their own homes to save them trekking to the polling station “on a wet Thursday”.


    http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/politics/5682957/Bercow-Brits-should-be-able-to-vote-online.html

    He's right, I agree with him.

    People do their secure banking etc online.

    In fact, I'd go as far as to say it would be less open to abuse, than postal voting or just turning up at a station and giving your name.
    I saw something from the highland council about registering for online voting today.
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    MartinPMartinP Posts: 31,358
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    Jol44 wrote: »
    Yet it's seen as safe enough for banking?

    How much would it cost government to put in the same level of security that exists for banking across the whole country for a vote every couple of years?
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    Jol44Jol44 Posts: 21,048
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    MartinP wrote: »
    How much would it cost government to put in the same level of security that exists for banking across the whole country for a vote every couple of years?

    What is the cost of democracy? Does it have a price?
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    DiscombobulateDiscombobulate Posts: 4,242
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    Jol44 wrote: »
    What is the cost of democracy? Does it have a price?

    Well if cost is no object why not pay people to vote, that should increase turnout.

    Afterall we only have a £1.4 trillion national debt, nothing to worry about apparently :confused:
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    LostFoolLostFool Posts: 90,662
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    Jol44 wrote: »
    What is the cost of democracy? Does it have a price?

    Look at the US. They have the best democracy money can buy.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-19052054
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    [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 0
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    I posted that to his original post where he gave unequivocal support not to his edited post where he gave support in principle so it wasn't unreasonable at all I hope you are able to agree

    I can't tell if the OP had been edited. It seems a tad* optimistic on the notions that electronic voting would be better than paper voting, and an explanation of grounds for those beliefs might not go amiss; but I don't see the need for a "cost/benefit analysis" (which, to me, means "a rather weighty and formal report") to justify that position. It's not exactly a normal demand to make of someone to support their position, so it was somewhat surprising to see that in your response.

    Anyway, I'm in danger of unintentionally making a bigger deal out of this than it is, so please accept my apologies for the derail.

    * "In space terms, that's about half a million miles."
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