What is Sociological Aspects

The uptake of Internet voting for local government elections is still in its infancy worldwide. While it holds many potential benefits, there are various factors which can influence its uptake. This chapter explores the sociological factors which affect voter participation in Internet voting. It identifies 5 main influential factors, or groups of factors: trust; apathy; features of the Internet; access; and socio-technical aspects. Each is explored and ways in which each can be addressed in order to ensure optimal participation are discussed. A model conceptualizing the relative influence of these sociological factors is proposed and, finally, suggestions are made for future research.