The Government are considering what the appropriate next steps are in relation to e-voting, taking account, both of the reports published by the Electoral Commission and the recent consultation on Election day which sought views on other forms of voting.
The Government have no plans to commission further pilots of electronic voting kiosks in polling stations.
The Government have no plans to commission further pilots of electronic counting of ballot papers at this time.
The Government have not yet conducted a full cost-benefit analysis for electronic counting. This is because the evidence base is still being informed by the results of pilots and other elections where e-counting is being used.
However, before any request to pilot received from a local authority is approved by Ministers, the Ministry of Justice carries out a value for money assessment, which includes an assessment of the expected costs and benefits. In addition, all pilots are evaluated by the Electoral Commission, which also considers value for money and whether realisation of expected benefits has been achieved, in its reports.
The Greater London assembly, as the body responsible for the conduct of the 2008 London Mayoral and London Assembly elections, are currently conducting a cost/benefit assessment of the use of e-counting at the 2008 election.