Lawmakers usually are against approving anything that could tip the political balance. Sixteen states will need the approval of the Justice Department because they fall under the jurisdiction of the Voting Rights Act, which guarantees voting won't discriminate against minorities. Officials fear online voting would give the haves a political advantage over the have-nots. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill., hopes a federal study will show how to avoid that. Arizona's Democratic Party doesn't face most of these hurdles for its presidential primary March 11.
Party leaders hope to allow Internet voting at some polling places and from home computers.
To vote from home, voters first would have to get a form from the party, sign and return it. They then would be issued a personal ID code for use when voting. A California task force studying Internet voting is concerned that voters' identifications cannot be proved electronically. Voters also must be assured that their votes would remain confidential. That means turning completed ballots into computer codes before they are received, and protecting against third-party intruders.