Affiliations: [a] Department of Public Policy, University of Maryland,
Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, USA | [b] Department of Public Administration, University of
Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
Correspondence:
[*]
Corresponding author: Donald F. Norris, Department of Public
Policy, 409 PUP, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 1000 Hilltop Circle,
Baltimore, MD 21250, USA. Tel.: +1 410 455 3201; Fax: +1 410 455 1172; E-mail: norris@umbc.edu
Abstract: Using data from two national surveys conducted in 2006 and 2011, we
empirically examine whether, and the extent to which, grassroots or local
governments in the United States have adopted electronic democracy
(e-democracy). We contrast this empirical reality against the claims made by
e-democracy advocates. The survey results show that few American local
governments have adopted e-democracy, particularly meaningful elements through
which citizens can actively participate in governmental activities, programs
and decision-making. Even fewer local governments plan to do so in the near
future. These empirical results are highly inconsistent with the claims of
e-democracy advocates. Based on the survey results, we conclude that two
important reasons account for the lack of e-democracy at the American
grassroots: lack of funding to support e-democracy applications and lack of
perceived demand for e-democracy. A third important factor may well be the fact
that early predictions were, for various reasons, incorrect. Based on these
findings, we would expect that e-democracy at the American grassroots will not
be substantially different in the foreseeable future than it is now.
Keywords: Electronic democracy, e-democracy, digital democracy, electronic participation, e-participation, electronic government, e-government, local government
