WFMY spoke to Dr. Omar Ali, an historian at UNCG and an independent political analyst, about online voting. While some have raised concerns about the security of virtual polls, the real reason governments have been slow to embrace online voting is political rather than technological, Ali said.

“The technology and security is there (American Express securely transacts billions of dollars online everyday), but the political will isn’t,” he said. “It benefits the major parties to keep voting to a minimum since new voters tend to be more independent (and unpredictable); it’s how the two major parties stay in power.

“Americans are demanding greater inclusion in the process and the technology issue helps to make the point that the parties are blocking greater participation. If we want to change the technology we have to engage the issue of party power.”

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