JeDEM - eJournal of eDemocracy and Open Government

Pandemic-proof elections: Did COVID-19 increase the use of Internet voting?

Bogdan Romanov — 2025-12-31

COVID-19 forced governments to postpone elections, potentially jeopardizing the functionality of democratic societies by delaying regime legitimization. However, theoretically, Internet voting, as a mode of absentee voting, can easily overcome the pandemic circumstances by reducing the electorate's voting costs, yet the connection was not discovered. Hence, in this research, we decided to shed light on how COVID-19 affected voting costs and Internet voting usage, especially across at-risk groups. As a result, we explored that in the state with homogeneous i-voting diffusion, COVID-19 did not impact paper-voting and i-voting turnout, in general, and amidst the elderly population as well. First of all, these findings illustrate the existence of a saturation point in the technology acceptance rate. Additionally, the article discusses the theoretical-empirical conceptualization of voting costs and the causal mechanism of the pandemic and turnout.

Integrating perceived system quality with the technology acceptance model to analyze the intention to use mobile government applications in Qatar

Rima Charbaji El-Kassem — 2025-12-31

This study examines the factors influencing end users’ intention to use mobile government applications (MGAs) in Qatar through a regression-based path analytic approach. Drawing on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and incorporating System Quality from the DeLone and McLean IS Success Model, the research investigates key determinants of MGA adoption. Data were collected from a quantitative survey administered to 1,872 participants, including 1,025 Qatari nationals and 847 white-collar expatriates. The questionnaire, developed from a comprehensive literature review, was validated using exploratory factor analysis to confirm construct structure and reliability. Composite scores representing each latent construct were then analyzed using regression-based path analysis to estimate associations among variables. The findings reveal that System Quality, Perceived Ease of Use, and Perceived Usefulness significantly influence the intention to use MGAs, while demographic characteristics also show meaningful associations. These results offer valuable insights for policymakers aiming to enhance MGA adoption by improving system quality and strengthening user perceptions of ease of use and usefulness. By integrating TAM with system quality within a regression-based analytic framework, this study contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of digital government adoption in Qatar and offers a rigorous yet practical model for future research and implementation.

Beyond e-government stages: A multi-dimensional study of digital transformation in Ecuador

Fernando Martín-Mayoral — 2025-12-31

Ecuador's digital transformation reflects notable institutional progress, though persistent structural and implementation challenges persist. Using the 2024 UN E-Government Development Index (EGDI) and E-Participation Index (EPI) as benchmarks, this study presents an analysis of the country’s evolution in digital governance, structured around five strategic dimensions: normative foundations, technological capacity, citizen participation, international integration, and implementation capacity. The findings indicate strong performance in the Online Service Index (OSI) and improved EPI scores, suggesting advances in service delivery and civic engagement. Key milestones such as the Organic Law on Personal Data Protection and the establishment of the Superintendence of Personal Data Protection, have strengthened the regulatory framework. However, foundational weaknesses in telecommunications infrastructure (TII) and human capital (HCI) continue to constrain progress. Implementation remains the most pressing challenge, explaining the existence of a persistent "big data gap", a deep structural disconnect between the availability of digital potential and its effective use in practice. Bridging this gap requires stronger implementation capacity, targeted infrastructure investment, and user-centered design to translate digital strategies into inclusive and participatory governance.

Experimenting with algorithmic governance: Artificial intelligence between innovation and democratic responsibility

Daniele Battista — 2025-12-31

This reflection examines the impact of artificial intelligence on governance and political decision-making through an analysis of the emblematic case of the so-called “AI Minister” introduced in Albania. Situating this case within the broader debate on the political, social, and ethical implications of AI, the contribution considers it a turning point in the relationship between technological innovation and democratic institutions. The analysis focuses on how the integration of artificial intelligence systems into governmental structures redefines key concepts such as efficiency, transparency, accountability, and the legitimacy of decision-making power, raising fundamental questions about political representation in the algorithmic era. The reflection highlights several critical issues, including the tension between promises of administrative rationalization and the risk of technocracy, the potential shift of decision-making power toward forms of algorithmic governance, and the implications in terms of control, opacity, and manipulation of political processes. Looking ahead, the contribution offers a critical perspective on the use of AI within democratic institutions, emphasizing the need for ethical, regulatory, and interpretative frameworks capable of balancing technological innovation with the safeguarding of democratic principles. In this sense, the Albanian case is interpreted not as an isolated anomaly, but as a laboratory anticipating the transformations that may shape democratic governance in the near future.