EVERY election in recent years has seen a relentless slump in the number of people who bother to vote and, according to politicians, public apathy is the single biggest crisis facing local democracy. Experts have looked at scores of different schemes in recent years designed to improve turnouts at election times. But, in the most radical move yet, the Government has announced plans to allow people to vote using home computers and the internet. Reporter MICHAEL RIBBECK investigates

TRADITIONAL ballot boxes and polling stations look set to be replaced by the internet and electronic voting if the Government gets its way.

Home Office officials have revealed in recent weeks that there are moves under way to introduce voting on the internet.

Plunging turn-outs at successive elections have set alarm bills ringing in town halls across the country and in Whitehall's corridors of power.

The stark fact is more than three quarters of people eligible to vote in East Lancashire decided to stay at home during this year's elections for the European Parliament.

Every year the number of people bothering to vote in both local and national elections has steadily dwindled.

The situation has got so bad one East Lancashire MP has claimed it has reached crisis point. Nigel Evans, Conservative MP for the Ribble Valley spoke out after the Euro elections.

He said: "We are facing a crisis for democracy. The people have spoken loud and clear by staying away from the polls in such numbers. Voters are not turning out for local elections because they realise councils do not have any real power."

Proposals already on the table include mobile polling stations close to shopping centres and supermarkets, weekend elections and better access for the disabled.

But the idea of voting via the internet came to the surface for the first time this month.

The internet voting system was part of a package of measures unveiled by Blackburn's MP and the current Home Secretary Jack Straw. Voters will log on to a web site and key in a special code before picking their favoured politician. Some critics have expressed doubts about security but the Home Office is determined to press ahead with the ballot box revolution.

George Haworth, the minister responsible for electoral law, said: "Voting practices need to be brought in line with modern lifestyles.

"Voting methods have stood still and no longer reflect the fast changing world in which we live."

Cynics have said councillors and town hall officials are worried by low turn-outs because they are frightened of being put out of business on a permanent basis.

There is also the argument that people are not bothering at election time because there is simply no one worth voting for. Mike Chambers, Hyndburn Council's chief executive and the returning officer for the borough, said: "Every council in the country is worried about falls in the number of voters.

"Local democracy is something that is very valuable but sadly that is no longer the case for a significant number of people.

"When something stops being important to people it tends to fade away and that is the danger we are facing."

But whatever the reasons work on improving election figures has been going on in East Lancashire for more than 12 months.

Every council is setting up its own citizens' panel of more than 1,000 people with the aim of bringing the council closer to the electorate. The citizens' panel will be used as a gauge of public opinion on important issues and policies,

A spokesman for Blackburn with Darwen Council said: "We are taking a close look at all the options on the table. "The fall in voting turnout is something that we aware of and we are keeping a close eye on all the schemes proposed by the Government.

"The council is very keen to embrace new legislation and investigate new ways of voting in line with any Government legislation."

Measures already put into place in Blackburn and Darwen include a survey of college students to see what would encourage them to vote, a redesign of the polling card and better access for the disabled at polling stations

The council is also planning a week of activities to highlight the problem of low turnouts in September.

The local democracy week will run from September 13 to September 18.

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