Trust in Government or in Technology? What Really Drives Internet Voting.

Area of Science:

• Political Science
• Information Technology
• E-governance

Background:

• Internet voting (i-voting) is a significant technological innovation with potential for democratic processes.
• Citizen adoption of i-voting hinges on trust, but the specific dimensions of trust required remain debated.
• Understanding the role of trust in government versus trust in technology is crucial for i-voting implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the multidimensional trust framework's impact on the likelihood of internet voting.
• To determine whether trust in government or trust in technology is a more significant driver of i-voting adoption.
• To analyze the factors influencing citizens' decisions between online and in-person voting methods.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional analysis was conducted.
• A preregistered online experiment was implemented in Estonia.
• The study examined the correlation between different trust dimensions and i-voting likelihood.

Main Results:

• A robust correlation was found between trust in government and trust in i-voting technology.
• Both trust in government and trust in technology positively influence the intention to use internet voting.
• Trust in technology demonstrated a stronger impact on the choice between online and in-person voting.

Conclusions:

• The study confirms the importance of both trust in government and technology for internet voting.
• Trust in technology is a more critical factor in the decision-making process for choosing i-voting over traditional methods.
• Findings provide valuable insights for the practical implementation of internet voting and technology in democratic systems.