The small town of Andover in North America is a leader in terms of citizen participation in local government. However, town meeting voters still use some form of manual voting in community assemblies.
Aware that modern technology may change that situation, an ad hoc committee of residents has proposed the adoption of electronic voting, bringing new technologies to the Open Town Meeting form of government.
At a cost of about $35,000 a year, electronic voting would allow Town Meeting voters to use a wireless, hand-held device that would give them complete anonymity while voting. The total number of votes would be tallied and displayed on a monitor to be overseen on stage by the moderator or town clerk.
The system is already working in other communities with similar styles of local government. It could go into effect in 2016 if approved this year.
According to Trudie Hale, a local attorney active in community affairs, citizens are mindful of the importance of Town Meeting and many communities are implementing electronic voting including Acton, Arlington, Amherst, Westborough and Wayland. They are the trailblazers.
Adoption of e-voting by these communities has increased citizen participation in local governments.