Project information
| Status | Finalist |
| URL | Go to website |
| Category | Public Administration |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Operational areas | Urban, Rural |
| Target groups | Youth, Women, Men, Seniors |
| Fixed connection | DSL, IDSN, Cable |
| Wireless connection | WiFi, WiMax, Satellite, 3G |
| Access points | Government office, Business, Home, Library, Cafe, Payphone |
| Interact | Landline Phone, Desktop Computer, Cellphone, Laptop, PDA |
| Software License Types | Proprietary |
Project location
Random images Challenge 2008
Swindon Borough Council Electoral Modernisation Programme
- Brief description
- S.E.M.P is an ongoing strategic electoral modernisation initiative committed to using new technologies in innovative ways to ensure elections are accessible to all, including minority groups, the illiterate and the disabled.
- Vision, Objectives and Goals
- Since 2003 Swindon Borough Council (SBC) has used S.E.M.P to provide a powerful showcase for engagement across the whole Local Authority. The Electoral Modernisation Programme takes policy making to new levels and sets the stage for future knowledge sharing via multi-channel initiatives that aim to:
• Deliver new, interactive communication between citizens and government • Provide extensive online election/policy information • Empower citizens to participate on their own time/terms Most recently, in May 2007 Swindon launched the most extensive civic engagement project in UK history. The project used ICT to enhance participation and transparency through a multi-channel, multi-language, ‘vote anywhere’ election that combined paper ballots with interactive ICT features including online citizen feedback, SMS and e-mail reminders and Internet and telephone voting. Swindon enhanced traditional eVoting by delivering online candidate statements that voters could access whilst casting ballots, a one-stop-shop election portal that enabled voters to locate their polling station online and receive election reminders, supervised eVoting to support voters uncomfortable with technology, and a city-wide WiFi mesh to empower voters to vote anywhere. The project leveraged good practice gained from previous Swindon eVoting pilots to foster greater transparency through an interactive election portal. As a result, in 2007 the project delivered unprecedented levels of take up: 40% of voters chose to use eChannels for civic participation.
In addition, S.E.M.P also showcased innovation and cost efficiencies by permanently wiring polling stations, establishing an IT infrastructure for the future. - How does ICT contribute to the organisational objectives
- As part of their Corporate Plan, Swindon Borough Council is proactive in seeking and identifying quality initiatives to improve service delivery. Toward this end, the Election team has striven to ensure that the targets set for the Directorate of Law and Corporate Governance are met, including the achievement of ISO accreditation and promotion of Community Leadership in service delivery. SBC has been at the forefront of democratic modernisation since the introduction of pilot schemes in 2000, and has successfully delivered more ICT-driven election innovations than any other UK Local Authority. In May 2007, SBC built upon this experience by launching the most extensive civic engagement project in UK history. The project used ICT to transform traditional election services through an innovative multi-channel, multi-language, ‘vote anywhere’ project that combined paper ballots with interactive ICT features, including online citizen feedback, SMS and e-mail reminders and Internet and telephone voting. Key innovations include: online candidate statements that voters could access whilst casting ballots, a one-stop-shop election portal that enabled voters to locate their polling station online and receive election reminders, supervised eVoting to support voters uncomfortable with technology, and a city-wide Wifi mesh which established a permanent city-wide internet infrastructure. In addition, S.E.M.P also operates with a clear focus on the EU’s 2010 Lisbon Agenda’s commitment to engendering IT literacy and skills throughout society by embracing a strong training and outreach component. The provision of supervised eVoting in libraries and Polling Stations empowered citizens who would normally shy away from using new technologies to overcome their fears and increase their skill set. At the same time, extensive consultation with community groups ensured that the hardest to reach groups were actively included at every stage of the project, including design and delivery.
S.E.M.P focuses on the UK’s current drive to use IT to radically redesign services around citizen and business needs and to generate savings and time efficiencies by using digital technology to not only modernise elections but to also actively engage citizens in the policy making process. Online consultations throughout the election encouraged citizens to provide feedback to government. SMS and email reminders provided a cost-efficient means to increase service take up and participation. Use of the Sheffield Call Centre provided a model for ‘shared services’ that will drive efficiencies and help to transform conventional public sector service delivery.
S.E.M.P’s use of multi-channels for voting and delivery of an innovative voter engagement portal helps to promote greater social inclusion by providing greater citizen convenience, access and choice. At the same time, S.E.M.P’s strong stakeholder engagement helps to ensure that every sector of the community benefited from the initiative.
Finally, S.E.M.P’s deployment of a permanent Borough-wide WiMax network sets a strong foundation for further eParticipation initiatives, as encouraged by current UK policy as well as by the EU’s recent ‘The eParticipation Initiative’. - Transferability
- Full replication of the S.E.M.P project must be done with the approval of Central Government and in conjunction with a Local Authority. A partnership structure to deliver the actual project is the best way forward. In S.E.M.P’s case, the partnership consisted of a large Prime Contractor, a company with Elections and Engagement expertise and an Voting Software company. Alternatively, the S.E.M.P project could be recreated in a non-Government context, for example for elections and engagement within membership organisations. A similar partnership would be needed for this. However, governmental involvement would not be needed.
- Project summary
- In May 2007 Swindon Borough Council launched the most extensive civic engagement project in UK history. The project used ICT to transform traditional election services by enhancing participation and transparency through an innovative multi-channel, multi-language, ‘vote anywhere’ election that combined paper ballots with interactive ICT features. These features included online citizen feedback, SMS and e-mail reminders and Internet and telephone voting. Swindon enhanced their previous eVoting initiatives by delivering online candidate statements that voters could access whilst casting ballots, a one-stop-shop election portal that enabled voters to locate their polling station online and receive election reminders, supervised eVoting to support voters uncomfortable with technology, and a city-wide Wifi mesh to empower voters to vote anywhere. The project was successfully delivered on-time and in-budget. Voter surveys demonstrated that those who had used the new service were overwhelmingly satisfied with is and would like to see it replicated in future elections. Key stakeholders, including Central Government, Swindon Borough Council Executives and local Politicians, candidates and parties were positive about the introduction of the project. Future plans for the project include the expansion of the MyElection.co.uk website along with its Election Alarm Clock, alongside a comprehensive voter and citizen engagement campaign. This campaign would encourage the citizens of Swindon to engage with their Local Authority both during elections and between elections. In addition the deployment of a borough-wide Wimax infrastructure to provide connectivity to polling stations, means the infrastructure can be utilised outside of elections by other Council services i.e. eductation. The nature of the shared infrastructure thereby helps to drive cost efficiencies within the Local Authority. Finally, Swindon will be running a series of workshops in 2008 to enable them to share their electoral modernisation experiences with other interested Local Authorities.
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