Digital democracy: E-petitions

The growing popularity of e-petitions is a good example of the use of digital methods of participation.

E-petitions are a relatively easy way for people to request that their concerns are heard by Government and Parliament. E-petitions enable members of the public to petition the House of Commons and press for action from the government.

E-petitions have to ask for a specific action from the government or the House of Commons and should be about something which the Government or the House of Commons is responsible for.

The Petitions Committee of the House of Commons take the threshold of 100,000 signatures as a starting point when it considers which petitions should be debated in the chamber.

As of August 2017 there have been 56 e-petitions debated in the Commons on diverse topics such as:

• Putting a maximum of £1200 on car insurance for 18-25 year olds
• Make it illegal for a company to require women to wear high heels at work
• Preventing President Trump from making a state visit to Britain
• Closing all retail outlets on Boxing Day
• Giving status to Police Dogs and Horses as 'Police Officers'
• Making the production, sale and use of cannabis legal

It is unclear how much influence the use of e-petitions has on government policy, though several campaigns have received such strong support (fuelled by effective social media) that they have attracted significant media attention.

The ease with which UK citizens can engage in setting up and supporting e-petitions is an undoubted strength of the e-petition system.