Helping to Bridge the Digital Divide with Free Software and Services

The growing importance of digital media in citizens’ participation in government is a major issue in obtaining government services, elections and campaigning in the 21st century. In order to participate in the consumption and creation of online media, citizens must have access to, and knowledge of, appropriate technology resources. There exists a gap between those who have access to technology and those who do not A gap commonly referred to as the digital divide. While there are many different aspects to the digital divide one of them is access to the software necessary to participate in digital media. A potential solution to the software component of the digital divide is the use of open source software and free online services. Implementing these solutions can play a part in narrowing the digital divide and producing better informed citizens more capable of participating in the modern electoral process.