Cyprus Cities Forum, a newly established event organized by the Cyprus University of Technology, took place in Limassol earlier this year. The forum provided a platform for various esteemed guests to share their thoughts on local governance issues, which have gained significant traction on the national political agenda following recent reforms enacted by the previous government and the House of Representatives.

One of the participants was Nikos Christodoulides, Cyprus’ President, who introduced the idea of non-binding electronic referendums as a potential decision-making tool at the highest level. Although the President's proposal is still in its early stages, the consideration of e-referendums indicates a willingness to explore new technological tools. While this concept may be unfamiliar in the Cypriot context, several other countries have already successfully implemented this advanced institution.

In Europe, Switzerland serves as a well-known example of e-referendums. The country introduced this practice in 2003 and has actively engaged its society in the collective decision-making process at the national, regional, and local levels. Regular e-referendums are conducted, with the most recent one held on June 18th. This particular referendum focused on amending the country's constitution to introduce a minimum corporate tax of 15%, as proposed by the OECD - and the Swiss people voted in favor. 

Moreover, Estonia is renowned for its innovative approach to digital governance, and one notable aspect of this is their implementation of e-referendums. E-referendums, also known as e-voting, allow Estonian citizens to participate in decision-making processes online. This system was introduced in 2005 and has since gained popularity and trust among the population. Through a secure digital identification system, citizens can log in and cast their votes remotely, providing convenience, accessibility, and ensuring privacy. The e-referendum platform is built on robust encryption and verification mechanisms, safeguarding the integrity of the voting process. This digital approach has increased participation rates, streamlined procedures, and enhanced democratic practices in Estonia, making it a pioneering model for e-democracy globally.

Twenty years ago, the idea of citizens having the right to access a digital platform by using their ID or tax details and vote on various issues would have been completely groundless. And yet, as we increasingly notice every day, technology has transformed the means and the ways that we communicate, create, see, feel, and connect. It is therefore not surprising that the electoral processes are being influenced by the tech momentum, leading the citizens to follow more direct ways of taking a stand. Besides that, political and social participation is nowadays being reshaped by social media and other interactive tools or online platforms providing citizens with a real opportunity to participate in public affairs.

Clearly, conducting e-referendums is not a piece of cake. While tech advances and new digital tools pop up every day, cyber security risks should be taken into concern. Besides, recent cyberattacks at the Open University of Cyprus and the Department of Lands and Surveys have raised certain concerns about the cyber defense capability of Cyprus’ institutions. Due to those incidents, public trust declined and in order for the government to restore it, significant measures need to be implemented. Such measures may include a cutting-edge, comprehensive and unified cybersecurity plan for all digital entities managed by the State. Apart from cyber threats, accessibility gaps still pose a burden since a part of the society is still not familiar with the use of digital media. Furthermore, researchers and think tanks often emphasize their number one rule for conducting such referendums, which is to ensure absolute transparency during the voting and the results process.

If President Christodoulides' proposal moves forward and given that appropriate filters and clear and strict transparency terms are applied, e-referendums have the opportunity to be established as a valuable political tool in Cyprus. Under these terms, consulting with the involved authorities -such as the Commissioner for Personal Data Protection, legal authorities and political parties- is essential for the government to address all possible concerns.

That shift will not happen overnight. E-referendums, as part of the digital transformation and e-governance overall, require the creation of a culture that is willing to experiment with new ways of doing things. In addition, the new era calls for all stakeholders, including businesses, government agencies and citizens, to be in a constant collaborative relation in order for common goals to be achieved. Likewise, education should keep up with the rapid tech advances and offer the necessary training in digital literacy for those Cypriot citizens that feel left behind. As always, values are at the core of each brand new policy and tech advancement, so emphasizing accountability will keep the decision making processes on the right track. 

Ultimately, it is undeniable that in the 21st century, modern states possess the means and resources to explore novel avenues for engaging with their citizens. Technology undoubtedly bolsters this potential, and we are merely scratching the surface of what lies ahead.