Wählen im digitalen Zeitalter : Für und Wider von Onlinewahlen
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Abstract
The goal of this study was to give recommendations about the introduction of internet voting in the context of German parliamentary elections. For this reason, arguments were weighted according to empiric evidence found in scientific studies. Internet voting is defined as a form of mobile vote casting by using an electronic, internet capable de-vice whereby the vote is transmitted via the internet. Positive administrative-technical arguments were the minimization of financial costs and human error, a higher speed of vote counting, and reputational gains for Germany as a technology site. Negative argu-ments were technological security concerns. Positive constitutional-electoral arguments were a higher election turnout and a wider participation of underrepresented and disad-vantaged groups. Negative arguments were the loss of elections as a ritual, problems of implementing election principles, and problems with the neutrality of elections. The analysis of empirical literature suggests that neither positive nor negative arguments have the theoretically conceptualized magnitude. Only the problematic technological security of internet voting systems has a strong effect on the current recommendation to not yet implement internet voting for parliamentary elections. Instead, further trials should be undertaken to close research gaps and advance internet voting to a state that makes it applicable in parliamentary elections. Additional recommendations for the practical real-ization and the scientific study of internet voting are proposed.