Former UK digital champion Martha Lane Fox believes voting should be 'mandatory' and 'online'
Martha Lane Fox, a former digital champion for the UK government has said the public should be forced to vote in general elections, with the process moved online to make it easier.
The Guardian reported that Lane Fox made the comments at the Radio Festival in Salford on Monday afternoon.
The founder of travel site lastminute.com, said: “I recoil when I hear the political disenchantment statistics reeled out, no-one votes and political disenchantment which is of course true and right.
"But the young people I meet particularly are incredibly political with a big capital P and just don’t want to engage in the normal channels.I would argue immediately that voting should be mandatory and it should be online."
She added: "Of course we can cover for all the fraud and I don’t think it makes the procedure any less robust, in fact quite the opposite.”
During the speech the Lane Fox also targeted the right to be forgotten rule, adding that upon turning 18, adults should be capable of erasing their past from the web.
Martha Lane Fox assumed the role of digital champion in 2010 and stepped down in 2013 - with the position remaining vacant. Last year she told the Drum that the UK needs more IT-trained professionals to help boost the economy.
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lastminute.com is an online travel and leisure retailer. The company was founded by Martha Lane Fox and Brent Hoberman in 1998.
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