Open Government Policy Making by Popular Voting: Comparing Canada and New Zealand

Authors

  • Dmytro Khutkyy University of Tartu
  • Logan Carmichael University of Tartu

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20899/jpna.sk21ph17

Keywords:

open government, policy making, voting, Canada, New Zealand

Abstract

The connection between open government policy and popular voting is understudied, yet it can reveal interesting patterns of policymaking that blend agenda setting, policy formulation, and decision-making in semiformalized fluid forms. This inquiry investigates the link between policy voting and open government by comparing the case studies of cocreating open government partnership national action plans in Canada and New Zealand. It examines the role of voting within the policy cycle of open government as a system of governance comprised of transparency, participation, accountability, and civic education. It further employs an exploratory mixed-methods approach of analyzing applied reports, official documents, social media campaigns, and expert interviews. It was found that not the voting format but the government’s approach to interaction with stakeholders is associated with the diverging patterns of open government in the two countries.

Author Biographies

  • Dmytro Khutkyy, University of Tartu

    Dmytro Khutkyy is the Research Fellow in Digital Governance at the Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies and ECePS ERA Chair in e-Governance and Digital Public Services at the University of Tartu in Estonia. His research focuses on digital democracy and open government.

  • Logan Carmichael, University of Tartu

    Logan Carmichael is the Junior Research Fellow in E-Governance at the Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies and ECePS ERA Chair in e-Governance and Digital Public Services University of Tartu in Estonia. Her research interests include e-governance and cybersecurity.

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Published

2024-08-21

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 1 (2024)

Section

New Voices Section

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