Skyrocketing Web use, however, could cancel out these effects or spawn unforeseen changes. Regardless of the voting shifts it facilitates, online voting will be part of an Internet democracy that could reinvigorate the political process. Already, more voters have more information about more candidates than ever before, forcing candidates to be more honest and competitive. Internet voting will enhance this accountability process by encouraging a more active democracy. This evolution will only continue if left free from harmful regulations.
Regulators deserve applause for their current approach.
They have to date avoided new regulations intended to influence Internet politics. In November, the Federal Election Commission reversed an earlier decision and announced that unofficial campaign sites will not be considered campaign contributions. This ensured that political dialogue will remain outside the tangled web of campaign regulations. This anti-regulation trend, however, will be tested when Internet voting becomes feasible. The likely result of Internet voting is a shift in voter participation that favors one entrenched interest and threatens another.