This morning I heard Good Morning America Anchor, Diane Sawyer, make a comment that young people want online voting simply because it is convenient (implying that this is all they really care about), and that online voting will never happen. I disagree. OK, it was sort of an off-hand remark she probably didn't expect to be taken seriously, but it got me thinking.

Online voting is not just a matter of convenience, but one of relevance. Young people (and some of us older folks) live out their lives online. They shop, listen to music, watch videos, date, socialize, organize and advocate, do school work, attend classes, bank, and get their news, all on line. This is the world they grew up in and live in, so why wouldn’t they expect to be able to also vote online – not because it is convenient, but because it brings in an important civic function into the same arena in which they conduct most major transactions in their lives.

Online voting is also a matter of access. It would open up more efficient ways to provide bi-lingual or multi-lingual ballots and to utilize assistive technology for individuals with disabilities, such as screen readers for the visually impaired.

The fact is online voting is already happening (albeit in a limited way). This year overseas Americans got the opportunity to vote online in the Democrats Abroad Primary. While I do believe it will be sometime before we see wide-spread online voting in our elections, it is not a subject to be taken lightly as simply a matter of convenience.