From ‘Love Island’ to Election Day: How Close Is the U.S. to Deciding Elections by Phone?

Five nights a week, millions of Americans vote on Love Island USA with just a few taps on their phones. Yet when Election Day arrives, most still stand in line, mail absentee ballots or travel to polling places. Despite using smartphones to bank, buy homes, file taxes and manage their healthcare, Americans still can't use them to vote. The contrast raises an increasingly common question: If Americans trust their phones with nearly every other aspect of life, how close are we to trusting them with democracy?

While internet voting already exists in limited form for some military, overseas and disabled voters, expanding it to the broader public remains one of election administration's most contentious debates. Supporters argue that allowing eligible voters to cast ballots securely from their phones could remove one of the most persistent barriers to participation. Critics counter that convenience cannot come at the expense of election security, warning that no current internet voting system has yet demonstrated the level of security, transparency and public trust required for democratic elections.

Whether Americans will someday choose presidents the same way they choose reality TV winners remains an open question.

The post From ‘Love Island’ to Election Day: How Close Is the U.S. to Deciding Elections by Phone? appeared first on Ms. Magazine.