Framework to improve participation in elections through mobile technology: case study Uganda electoral commission

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to investigate challenges and issues regarding citizen participation in the electoral process and the technological requirements needed to be met by Uganda Electoral Commission in order to improve citizens participation in elections. The study investigates existing frameworks, models and best practices to help in designing an m-participation (mobile phone based) framework for Uganda Electoral Commission. The analysis in the thesis is made from a qualitative case study of Uganda Electoral Commission. Research was done between June-September 2020 by collecting data from employees of Uganda Electoral Commission and experts/civil society. Questionnaires, interviews and document review were the main data collection methods. Focus group interview and engagement with the field were incorporated into the data collection and analysis. The design of the questionnaires and interview guides were based on literature from previous similar and/or related studies, all in an endeavor to ensure validity and reliability. Analysis themes are induced from the literature review. These themes guided the analysis of collected data with a concurrent openness to interpretations from the field. There are several factors that affect degree of M-participation such as low awareness of the initiative; geographical and generational digital divides; degree of exposure to media; lack of trust and credibility in the government; passivity, indifference and low interests in politics. This is an important implication based on our study that contributes both to theory on and practice of e/m-participation. This study shows that there is no single participatory technique and ICT tool that can satisfy all four objectives of m-Participation initiatives. The appropriate technique and corresponding ICT tools are contingent upon the objectives sought for the m-Participation initiative. We propose that to improve the probability of success of an m-Participation initiative, it is important to first identify the objective to be served by the initiative, followed by a careful selection of the best matching techniques and ICT tools for the objective