Czech ODS wants to enable people to vote on net in next polls

The ODS reckons with the system of e-voting being introduced in four years. It believes it could be tested in the Senate elections in 2012 already.

The other big party, the Social Democrats (CSSD), supported the possibility of Internet voting today.

If the next general election were held in four years, i.e. 2013, people would be able to "cast their votes" via the Internet at any place in the world.

The system would preserve the principle of secret voting and it would be impossible to misuse it.

Those who are not used to work with the Internet, would be able to come to polling stations, but there they would vote electronically via a computer as well.

Langer said he expects the e-voting to raise people's active participation in elections, to speed up the calculation of votes, to facilitate the paperwork and to save money.

Some media believe the ODS thus wants to attract young voters who could cast their votes for it.

Langer would not specify the costs of the new system's introduction. He said the "undoubtedly high" price would be softened by the project of public administration registries that is being worked on.

"This is a project worth about two billion crowns that could and will be financed from EU funds at about 85 percent," Langer said.

The Interior Ministry, then headed by Langer, launched the preparations of the e-elections system last year already.

The ODS today said it has anchored the plan in its election programme on the proposal of its supporters among voters.

The final decision on the system's introduction will be up to parliament.

"The CSSD will support all methods and instruments to help raise the election turnout, including voting via the Internet. We are ready to cooperate on the level of experts on a safe and financially effective solution," the CSSD said in a press release today.

($1=17.763 crowns)

Author: ČTK
www.ctk.cz