Title: E-participation in electoral campaigns: the Brazilian experience

Authors: Francisco Brandao Jr., Carlos Marcos Batista

Addresses: Instituto de Ciencia Politica, Universidade de Brasilia, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, Asa Norte, Brasilia – DF, Caixa Postal 4359, CEP 70910-900, Brazil. ' Instituto de Ciencia Politica, Universidade de Brasilia, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, Asa Norte, Brasilia – DF, Caixa Postal 4359, CEP 70910-900, Brazil

Abstract: This paper focuses on voters| participation in the 2006 Brazilian election campaign, when the internet played an important role in the results. The research observes who participated and why, in an analysis of e-mails sent to presidential candidates and debates among militants and supporters in virtual communities. The analysis focuses not only on the supply of political information, but also on the users| demands, in a profile in which variables lead to politicians| and voters| access to the internet – gender, age, partisanship, education degree, profession. The motivations for participation are described by political and social factors, and also by media events.

Keywords: e-democracy; e-participation; elections; internet; web technology; web 2.0; campaign strategy; Brazil; electronic democracy; electronic participation; online participation; election campaigns; political information; user demands; motivation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEG.2009.030525

International Journal of Electronic Governance, 2009 Vol.2 No.4, pp.328 - 343

Published online: 20 Dec 2009 *

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