Information Technology and its Capabilities to Implement Direct Democracy

Democracy is considered as a form of political system to run a country which may be implemented in two general Direct Democracy where people govern their fate directly and Indirect Democracy where people decide over their affairs through a representative. Although for many reasons، direct democracy has been forgotten throughout the history، still many believe that considering the capabilities of information technology and its becoming universal، direct democracy may be revived. Through descriptive-analytical method and collecting various opinions، the present study attempts to investigate capabilities of the information technology to implement direct democracy، requirements and prerequisites to its realization as well as its application areas. Findings of this study indicate that having conditions and prerequisites realized in social، legal، security، administrative and technical aspects، the information technology can promise to implement direct democracy once again. Among areas where such important issue may be realized، we can point to direct involvement of citizens in the areas of direct lawmaking، supervising the good implementation of affairs، electing enforcement officials and agents.