Online Voting in a First Nation in Canada: Implications for Participation and Governance

Indigenous communities are increasingly adopting technology to create digital opportunities for members and enhance engagement and governance. One recent trend in the adoption of online services is the use of online voting. To date, more than 90 Indigenous communities in Canada and the United States have deployed online voting with many more considering implementation. This article draws upon interviews with local government officials and voter exit surveys as part of community-engaged research with Wasauksing First Nation in Ontario, Canada to explore the specific opportunities and challenges online voting presents for governance and engagement in Indigenous communities and implications for future adoption. Specifically, we examine a 2017 Land Code vote where online voting was introduced to achieve a participation threshold required to pass the framework. Our findings point to online voting as a key tool to modernize Indigenous governance and enhance participatory capacity by making voting more accessible for members. We argue that online voting is an engine that can advance self-determination and support communities seeking an iterative path to self-government.