Call for electronic voting in 2016

The federal government is facing calls to trial electronic voting at the next election, in the wake of the 2013 West Australian Senate count debacle and a rise in informal votes.

A fresh election is being held this weekend in WA following the disappearance of 1370 ballots in a recount for that state's half-Senate election.

And in 2013 almost six per cent of people voted informal - the highest rate since 1984.

A Department of Communications submission to a parliamentary inquiry into the 2013 election says there is merit in a limited trial of electronic voting systems.

"While there are risks associated with electronic voting ... it is at least consistent with, and probably less than, existing channels," it said.

A trial of electronic voting terminals in the ACT over four elections found counting was more accurate and timely, there were fewer informal votes, and it was easier for blind or limited vision voters and non-English speakers.

In NSW, the iVote system introduced for the 2011 election for blind, illiterate, disabled and remote voters to cast a ballot by phone or the internet using a PIN system found it was "convenient, reliable and secure".

The Australian Electoral Commission trialled computer kiosks for blind voters and defence personnel during the 2007 election at 30 pre-poll stations.

But it was found to be too expensive - as much as $2600 each voter - and difficult to use for blind voters, and the AEC discontinued the trial.

The communications department said in its submission that as the number of people voting electronically rose, it would lead to a lower cost per voter.

The rise in the number of people casting postal votes - which went up by 300,000 between 2010 and 2013 - showed a strong demand for alternative voting options.

It could also prevent informal voting and multiple voting.

In Norway, where internet voting was trialled for the 2013 parliamentary elections, most voters used the government's MiniID digital identity system to register their votes.

Blind Citizens Australia said in its submission it endorsed the NSW iVote system but any national scheme needed to offer two other options: casting a vote over the telephone using automated key prompts or voting over the phone by speaking to an AEC staff member.

"This allows for a vote that is 100 per cent secret, independent and verifiable while still recognising that there may be older Australians or individuals with learning or cognitive difficulties that may find it more useful to speak to someone in real time," the organisation said.

Palmer United Party leader Clive Palmer told the inquiry in his submission that an electronic system would save millions of dollars in wages, rental of premises, general administration expenses, paper and printing costs, and transportation and associated storage costs.