Critical Factors in an Electronic Democracy: a Study of Municipal Managers

Abstract

Amid the growing research of e‑Government, prominent e‑democracy practices have been regulated to sporadic, largely populated municipalities, throughout the world. This article examines the various factors that support and deter the practices of an electronic democracy. Factors which potentially challenge and support the progress of online democratic practices are explored. These factors include budgetary constraints, form of government, and ideological perspectives of municipal managers. Chief administrative officers were surveyed on their views of e‑ Government, with specific focus on the function of e‑democracy. The data reviews online practices of municipalities in New Jersey, and through ordinal regression it becomes evident what are some critical factors for the future potential of an e‑democratic society.