Internet voting isn't a big draw for younger voters, researcher says

A researcher looking at internet voting says older Sudburians were more likely to use the internet to cast a ballot in the last municipal elections.

Sudbury was one of 47 Ontario municipalities to use the internet in the October vote for mayor and council.

The research director at the Centre for E-Democracy in Toronto said the results of  questionnaires show more than half of internet voters in Sudbury in October were older — between 45 and 64 years old.

Only 15 per cent were 34 years old and younger.

Nicole Goodman noted putting the vote on the internet doesn't mean younger people will cast a ballot.

“I don't think that it's younger people aren't getting involved in internet voting, I think that it's younger people are just inclined to participate less and this is something we've known for a very long time.”

As people age and have families, buy homes and pay taxes, they are more likely to vote, Goodman said.

Other information collected by Goodman shows around 25 per cent of voters were college or university graduates.

And, about 25 per cent had incomes of more than $120,000 before taxes.