E-gov efforts could raise public trust, poll shows

Americans believe e-government initiatives could lead to greater government accountability, according to a study released Thursday by the Council for Excellence in Government.

The study, conducted by pollsters Peter Hart and Robert Teeter, polled 1,003 citizens, 150 public servants and 155 members of the business and non-profit communities. Of the citizens polled, 200 considered themselves frequent Internet users. The polling was conducted between Aug. 14 and Aug. 16, 2000. Funding for the project came from KPMG LLP and Imagitas Inc.

In addition to greater accountability, Hart said, two other main benefits of e-gov, as seen by the American public, are ease of access to government services and efficiency. But while the public is extremely receptive to e-gov, citizens want agencies to take a prudent approach, especially when it comes to security and privacy.

"The era of dot.gov has arrived," said Patricia McGinnis, the Council for Excellence in Government's president and CEO. "The American people have a very positive view of e-gov and its potential. Even the skeptics are bullish on e-gov."

In the study, 44 percent of Americans held that government was ineffective. Even so, 51 percent of this group felt e-gov will have a positive effect on government. This led Hart to suggest e-gov could "raise the public confidence in government."

Government officials are the e-gov drivers. "Government officials are very excited about e-gov," Hart said. More than 90 percent of public servants were at least somewhat familiar with the e-gov concept. The same group was the most optimistic about e-gov's prospects: 92 percent believed e-gov will have a positive effect on government. Fifty-six percent of the general public and 76 percent of businesses and non-profits were also optimistic.

"Internet usage is exploding in America," Hart said. "An important finding is that e-gov is not something off in the future, it is happening today."