Allowing eligible citizens to register for online voting in the upcoming general election is a good start as Thailand shuffles towards e-government, according to advisors.
The Election Commission made internet voting available for Thais who cannot vote in person on May 14, the first time online registration has been implemented in this way.
From March 25 to April 9, 2,350,969 people nationwide signed up for early voting registration.
Advance voting takes place on May 7, a week before the general election.
Estonia, a small European country with a population of 1.3 million, was the first nation to implement an internet voting (i-voting) system, and has used it since 2005. The system has gained popularity, with more people using it to vote.
In March of this year, Estonia held parliamentary elections and recorded an i-voting high, representing 51% of eligible voters.
Carmen Raal, a digital transformation advisor at the e-Estonia briefing centre, explained to visiting Thai media in April the remaining 49% of eligible voters chose to cast their ballots at polling booths for specific reasons.
Eligible Estonian voters are required to download the i-voting application form. Voters then insert their ID card into a reader to verify their voting and district eligibility.
Once the list of candidates becomes visible, voters can select their choice.
The selection is then displayed again, and upon clicking "vote", a window requiring the voter's Pin-2 code pops up, allowing them to seal the vote with a digital signature.
"This process is more convenient for voters, especially those living in the country or overseas, and can lower operating costs. More importantly, it can improve transparency and solve election fraud," Ms Raal said.
Estonia has developed an e-government infrastructure that has improved state transparency and brought e-governance to the country, she said.
Some 99% of the country's government services are offered through online channels, known as e-Estonia.
According to e-Estonia data, the country offers more than 3,000 e-services, including filing taxes, banking, signing documents, voting in elections, and getting a prescription online.
These transactions require only an ID card, which has been used since 2002, followed by a Digi-ID card in 2010 and Smart ID card in 2017.
Estonians can also use public transport services for free using their ID card.
Entrepreneurs are allowed to register a new business, change data in the business register, file annual reports and check legal records online.
This online process provides more convenience, saves time and costs, and offers higher security, said Ms Raal.
Only marriage and divorce registrations are not allowed to be made online because they are sensitive issues.
She said couples who want to sign either marriage or divorce licences need to do so face-to-face.
