Digital Democracy: The Influence of the Internet on Voting Intention

This study examines the effect of Internet on intention to vote. Specifically, we explore how Interactivity and credibility as the characteristics of Internet influence apolitical and political internet users’ intention to vote. We argue apolitical users who have political apathy are affected more by the characteristics on Internet than political users who are interested in politics. We also argue that political groups are not as affected by the characteristics of Internet. Our preliminary study shows that intention to vote of Internet users who have apathy to politics changes after they are exposed to political communications on the Internet. Also the study found evidence that Internet users who perceive Internet as a credible medium have a higher intention to vote than those who believe the Internet is not credible.