Examining the Impact of the Internet on the Electoral Process
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Authors
Walther, William Kyle
Issue Date
2001
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
In seemingly every area of society, the Internet has made an impact. The political
world is no exception. Already politicians and other groups use web sites and electronic
mail, among other things, as tools to spread their political ideologies. But the scope of
the Internet's potential impact does not stop here. Writing about the "Information
Revolution," or the growth of the Internet, Dr. Bruce Bimber, professor of Political
Science at the University of California, Santa Clara, says, "This revolution is creating an
environment for politics that is increasingly information-rich and communication-intensive,
and these developments have precipitated much discussion about the
implications of technology for politics" (Bimber 53).
There are two main areas of our electoral process on which the Internet has the
potential to make a profound impact. Because it has the potential to change and to
improve the process by which we obtain information about issues and political
candidates, it can make us better-informed voters. And since technology is allowing us to
do more and more things over the Internet, it is feasible that, someday, more accurate
elections with higher levels of participation conducted over the Internet could be a reality.
Description
iii, 44 p.
Citation
Publisher
Kalamazoo College
License
U.S. copyright laws protect this material. Commercial use or distribution of this material is not permitted without prior written permission of the copyright holder.