Cities plan to pioneer voting by text message
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Voters will be able to use mobile phone text messages to back their candidate in May's local elections in an effort to encourage more young people to take part.
Voters will be able to use mobile phone text messages to back their candidate in May's local elections in an effort to encourage more young people to take part.
The scheme, one of a series of trials across England and Wales, that will include postal and digital TV votes, has been inspired in part by votes on television shows such as Pop Idol, which utilise the technology.
Voters in Liverpool and Sheffield will be given pin numbers to use if they want to vote by text message. Other schemes include touch-tone phone votes in Swindon and postal-only votes in Gateshead, north Tyneside, Stevenage and Chorley. The pilots follow a turn-out of less than 60 per cent at last year's general election.
But a commission set up by the Electoral Reform Society warned against rushing into change, to prevent ballot fraud.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments