Why can’t we vote online?

Julia Reszka was voted into the position of activities officer at her student union through an online ballot that saw almost 5,000 people take part.

It was Coventry University’s most successful election, thanks to the electorate able to vote on their phones or tablets placed around three campuses, as well as in person.

The ease of online voting makes sense to Julia and her peers. So why, in 2024, isn’t it possible to cast votes digitally in local and national elections?

“Often when you have in-person voting young people can be lazy,” says Julia, 23.

“I think it would just give a wider public more opportunities to vote.

“Just having that extra step, waiting in line, going there [to the polls] – considering after work if you have commitments or something – then I do think it puts people off.”

With privacy and cyber-security issues at stake, however, the way forward is complex.