Referendum can be defined as one of the ways of direct voting where voters, residents of the certain area with the right to vote agree on the referendum question which is bound to constitutional and legal provisions, legal acts and issues that are important to society. Referendum is a beneficial tool for ensuring democracy although like any other form of democratic decision-making, it also has its downsides.
By analysing the pertinent documents, reviewing current online tools, case studies and conducting a structured interview, we analyzed the potencial of information technology in the referendum process in the Republic of Slovenia and as well examinated what is required for a successful implementation of digital solutions in this case. The key is a survey of already existing online tools, in which individual tasks of the referendum process are already being digitized, but aren't completely subtituded. Another additional key of the survey is a research of successfull functional practise in Switzerland and Estonia.
Based on the analysis of structured interview prepared with experts in the field of administrative operations, elections and digitalization in public administration, we can point out the main advantage of the referendum process is a good dialogue with the state, while at the same time the importance of ensuring sufficient information security. We noticed that a successful digitization of the referendum process seeks a better awareness and a possibility of educating citizens for the new digitized procedures as well as providing a suitable technological support.
The diploma thesis portrays a description of the situation in the field of the referendum process and based on the analysis of the situation and upcoming assumptions in society changes, it makes suggestions as to what and how it is possible to digitize the referendum process in Slovenia especially activities of its voting system.
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