What is the impact of a largely online campaign for local government where candidates are often self-funded and regularly dependent upon their
own skills in running?
Advanced computer literacy is a privilege enjoyed by most people below the age of 25, however for others there can be challenges that can
frustrate a tech-heavy campaign.
Elected councillors are given a publicly accessible phone number and email address that constituents can use to contact them. Decades ago a councillor’s diligent attendance to these modes of communication may have sufficed, however this election has shown us the importance of a candidate’s engagement with digital platforms such as online surveys, facebook messages and zoom meetings. Political engagement has long shifted from physical attendance and meetings and letters to politicians; it is largely discussed online, and so a candidate who is unable to keep up with these forums will mainly be only hearing from a certain subset of their electorate.
It would be a negative outcome indeed if the difference in computer literacy between candidates prevented people from being elected in local elections. Potentially to preempt and prevent this from happening, all candidates should have access to lessons on running campaigns online in
future.
By ES
The Coburg Meddler 