An overview of recent eInclusion initiatives in Sheffield.

Shaun Topham

Stages in achieving eGovernment

Progress in achieving eGovernment is generally described at several levels of difficulty.

• Achieving simple information availability online.

• Moving on to greater interactivity.

•Transactions

•Being able to offer joined up and personalised services

Potential for smartcards

Smartcards can be utilised at all stages.

• To enhance the ability to personalise information at the first level.

• But vital at higher levels for proving who the citizen is, to prove entitlement them to services online and to allow them to sign documentation and forms.

• Lessons learned in the first stages carry through to later stages.

Surrogate PC or laptop

• Without providing access to all for secure and transitional services, the electronic divide will increase the real economic divide.

• The Capacity of new smartcards exceeds that of early PCs on the market

• Coupled with a public access system, the advantages of the internet can be of benefit to all, including the “unbanked”

SHEFFIELD

E-VOTING

AND E-DEMOCRACY

Setting Processes for Electronic SignatureSetting Processes for Electronic Signature

Background and Context

• Need to address wider e-democracy agenda, to make e-voting a long term success. – Link e-Voting to e-Participation– Tie in to wider commitment to e-

consultation• Services to 50+ - On-line Consultation with

Hansard Society

Project Approach

• 55 Kiosks across the City.

• 107 Online Polling Stations.

• SmartCards.

• Telephone help line.

• Voting Window - 7 Days.

Engaging the Citizen

• Simplicity of Access

• Choice and Convenience

• e-Inclusion and e-Participation

• Using the Media and Other Communication Channels

Channels: Kiosk

Kiosk

Kiosk

Kiosk

The Election

• E-voting was used by 41.8% of voters • Up from 30% in 2002 trials.• 7,600 of the 20,845 e,voters were

surveyed and were very satisfied.• Committed partners ranging from the

BBC and University to major supermarkets and even McDonalds.

• Mock elections in schools

Success Factors/Lessons

• Success Criteria/Goals.– Deliver Technological Success.– Secure Voter Acceptance.– Maintain Voter Turnout.– Increase e-Participation.– Advance Broader E-Democracy Agenda.

Lessons

• E-voting is a popular transactional application.– to bring technology to people.– to re-engage citizens with government.– to deliver participatory e-Democracy.

Catalyst for engaging others in a multi-purpose smartcard deployment.

Social Exclusion and smartcards.

Recent Projects.

There are National Projects in addition to the National Smartcard Project, such as the National Benefits project.

eInnovations DATES-Developing access tokens for eServices

Numerous EU funded projects.

Cabinet Office “Social Exclusion Unit” Survey.

W-SPES

W. SPES. -Widening SPES

New additional partners including Sandwell, Dudley, Walsall and Wolverhampton and with Dundee representing the Scottish National Smartcard Project.

Deploying the 20 or so SPES applications and open source Public Key Infrastructure

Irish Government Study on eInclusion.

• Recommended a specialist Centre for eInclusion be established.

• Sheffield is in the process of establishing such a Centre

• Black Country Knowledge Society to collaborate.

Contact

Setting Processes for Electronic SignatureSetting Processes for Electronic Signature

www.Sheffield.gov.uk

shaun.topham@ukonline.co.uk