Pew eGov Report Sheds Light on eParticipation & Use of Online Legislation

22% of U.S. Internet users recently surveyed said they had “[d]ownload[ed] or read the text of any legislation” online in the past 12 months, according to Government Online: The Internet Gives Citizens New Paths to Government Services and Information (27 April 2010), a new report published by the Pew Internet and American Life Project.

The report also provided U.S. demographic data respecting online use of legislation in the preceding 12 months:

• 26% of male Internet users said they had “[d]ownload[ed] or read the text of any legislation” online;
• 18% of female Internet users said they had “[d]ownload[ed] or read the text of any legislation” online;
• 26% of White Internet users said they had “[d]ownload[ed] or read the text of any legislation” online;
• 11% of Black Internet users said they had “[d]ownload[ed] or read the text of any legislation” online;
• 11% of Hispanic Internet users said they had “[d]ownload[ed] or read the text of any legislation” online.

Those with an interest in citizens’ online participation in lawmaking may also wish to take note of the report’s findings respecting citizens’ communication with government online, and participation in online policy discussion: 23% of U.S. Internet users reporting having posted a comment on a government social media site or having “posted comments or interacted with others online around government policies or public issues” in the previous 12 months. Here are details:

• “12% of [I]nternet users joined a group online that tries to influence government policies”;
• 11% of “[I]nternet users … posted comments, queries or other information related to government policies online”;
• “7% of [I]nternet users uploaded videos or photos online related to a government policy or issue”;
• “3% [of Internet users] participated in an online town hall meeting”;
• “2% of all [I]nternet users … commented on the blog of a government official or agency”;
• 1% of all Internet users “posted comments on [a government] agency’s fan page or profile”.

According to the report’s methodology section, the telephone survey of U.S. residents was conducted from 30 November through 27 December 2009, and the data respecting Internet users have a margin of error of plus or minus 3%.

For more information, please see the full report.