E-voting possible by 2006

The UK government wants e-voting to replace the traditional ballot box by 2006.

According to a government report, online polling, accompanied by postal votes and voting by telephone, will replace ballot papers and ballot boxes.

The report says action needs to be taken to encourage more people to vote amid fears about political apathy.

The leader of the House of Commons, Robin Cook (pictured), has put the proposals out for consultation. But the government is understood to be keen to press ahead with the plan.

Cash was made available in chancellor Gordon Brown's spending review to develop e-voting with a series of pilot projects over the next three years.

"A programme to achieve successful implementation of e-voting is under way to ensure that robust systems can be in place for an e-enabled general election after 2006," the report says.

People would be able to cast their vote via digital TV, telephones and text messaging.

The report notes that in last May's local elections, turnouts increased in areas where voters were given the chance to vote by post, at the weekend and electronically.

Cook said he hoped the proposals would "invigorate debate" on using technological democracy.