• by Jack Loechner , Staff Writer @mp_research, September 10, 2003

Voters Depend on Internet For Political Information

eMarketer reports that The Online Publishers Association (OPA) and the Center for Survey Research & Analysis at the University of Connecticut surveyed adult Internet users about their use of the Internet to keep up with political candidates and found that 68% of voters have used the Net to research a candidate's position. And, more that 1/4 of voters have provided their e-mail addresses to a candidate's Web site in order to receive more information.

Use of Presidential Candidates Web Sites April-May 2003 (% respondents)

	Voters	Non-Voters
Research candidate's position	68%	42%
Provide email address for information	29	11
Download and watch videos	24	14
Join online chat	19	20
Volunteer for campaign	17	6
Donate money	14	2

Source: Online Publishers Association Sept 2003

The report goes on to say that The Center for Survey Research & Analysis surveyed 642 adult Internet users between April and May 2003, defining "voters" as those who had voted in one or both of the 2000 and 2002 national elections, finding that in the 2000 presidential election, 50% of voters went online for candidate information more than a few times per month, 34% less than a few times, and 16% never did. (Source: OPA Sept 2003)

In the beginning of this year, the Council for Excellence in Government and Hart-Teeter found that 23% of US adults have gone online for representatives' voting records and to contact local officials.

US Adult e-Government Usage Feb 2003 (% respondents)

• Look for tourism/recreation information 53%
• Find information about road closures due to weather 28%
• Look for health information from government agency 27%
• Review elected representative's voting records/contact local officials 23%

Source: Council for Excellence in Government/Hart-Teeter April 2003

You can find out more here at eMarketer.