RURAL residents are being urged to provide their thoughts on a proposal that could entirely change the way we vote.

Standing in long queues, making your mark, folding papers and putting it into ballot boxes could all change.

An independent researcher, conducting his Ph.D. through the University of New England, is calling for rural people to contribute to his paper that proposes an online voting system using your smartphone.

Mobile Voting has been launched as a public awareness campaign to identify and address the possibility of implementing an internet e-Voting platform for Australian elections.

It comes after Phillip Zada spent 45 minutes lining up to vote in the 2010 federal election.

"Australia pioneered and introduced the currently used secret ballot system in 1855, so why are we so behind in keeping up with the rest of the world?" Mr Zada said.

Mobile e-voting could promise greater efficiency, convenience and flexibility to the voting process.

Reduced paper wastage might also see environmental benefits with 43 million ballot papers printed and 100,000 pencils used on average in an election.

Online polling would open seven to 10 days before the election as "breathing room" with the option to change preferences as many times as you like.

A paper vote on the day would also override any online vote as a "fail safe" option.

Mr Zada is calling for rural input from locals, suggesting should it go ahead, it could be used as a leverage to expand networks like the NBN across the Riverina.

"I want to ensure that the Australian public has a say when it comes to the future of the Australian election process," he said.

He stressed online polling, similar to the system available for people with a disability or in isolated areas, would not replace the booth, but complement it.

The latest attempt at online voting, NSW iVote, is currently being trialled.

Mr Zada wants to find out what Riverina residents want and need from a mobile voting system.

For more information:

https://mobilevoting.com.au 

https://www.facebook.com/mobilevotingau 

https://twitter.com/MobileVotingAU