Online voting in the UK could attract 4.9 million new voters

Research by Broadband Genie suggests that an online voting system could potentially encourage 4.9 million new voters to participate in the upcoming UK General Election. With the general election approaching on 4th July, 15% of eligible voters, approximately 6.8 million people, either do not plan to vote or are unsure about casting their vote. The primary motivation for introducing an online voting system is to address this issue.

A OnePoll survey revealed that 72% of those who are currently unsure or do not intend to vote would be encouraged to do so if an online voting option were available. This could potentially result in 4.9 million additional voters. The data suggests that the age group most receptive to online voting are those between 25-34 years old. While 19% of individuals in this age bracket currently do not plan to vote, a significant 86% indicated they would cast their vote if an online system were provided.

Younger voters, specifically those aged 18-24, also demonstrate a significant change in voting intentions with online access. Presently, 26% of them are either unsure or do not plan to vote, but over half (57%) would be persuaded to vote online. Regional analysis shows that London and the West Midlands have the highest percentages of residents willing to adopt an online voting system, with 87% in favour. Conversely, the East of England, while showing the lowest conversion rate, still sees more than half (52%) willing to vote online.

Comparatively, Estonia is cited as an example where online voting has been successful. During the 2019 Riigikogu elections, 47% of voters used the online system to cast their vote for the national parliament. Broadband Genie posits that online voting in the UK could reduce accessibility barriers, which currently hinder disabled individuals and those registered at incorrect addresses from voting.

Despite these potential benefits, concerns about the security of online voting systems remain significant. Previous reports indicate that the UK has seen a rise in cyber-attacks, with 50% of businesses suffering a security breach in 2024, an 11% increase from 2022. Security experts worry that introducing an online voting system could expose the electoral process to hacking and other forms of cyber manipulation.

If an online voting system were implemented, political parties could experience varying impacts. Labour could expect a potential increase, with 16% of new voters likely to back the party. Plaid Cymru could see a 27% increase in votes, the largest gain among parties.

Alex Tofts, a broadband expert at Broadband Genie, commented on the potential of an online voting system: "Not all parties would welcome an online vote; however, such a system may be an improvement of our current outdated and labour-intensive solution. It could also resolve the issue of the clunky postal vote, remove void ballot papers, and would be a step in the right direction for accessibility."

Tofts also highlighted infrastructure concerns, stating, "If the UK is eager to explore the possibility of an online vote, our broadband infrastructure might not be up to scratch. There are thousands of households which cannot achieve a download speed of 2Mb, and only 5% of eligible customers sign up to a broadband social tariff."