(For posts relating to drafting our charter amendment(s). Familiarity with some of the laws available via the right sidebar, like the city’s charter and the state Municipal Home Rule Law, is helpful, but all input is welcome.)

I’ve been meaning to put together a bibliography for those interested.  In the meantime, here’s a new book about online deliberation, available for free as a pdf, that Tiago Peixoto tipped us off to via his participatory budgeting facebook group.

Though insufficient in several ways for democratic lawmaking, it’s interesting to see how Wikipedia is dealing with some of the problems that come with greater relevance.

This World e-Democracy Forum article gives a great brief update of how the trailblazing Estonians are using internet voting.

In fact, several countries around the world (and the Democratic Party in the U.S. more than once) have used internet voting successfully and securely.  Obviously proprietary black box electronic voting machines are a bad idea, but so is the current bill being considered by Congress that would ultimately require all votes in federal elections to be made on paper ballots.  What are we, in the 19th century?  Internet voting can be transparent and verifiable.  I suspect it’s some of the doors it opens up that really troubles the political class in this country.

Titled Augmented Participation, this October’s conference promises to cover some very relevant ground. (And its right here in town!)

Also: check out this local open government Meetup group.

The Center for Governmental Studies has a few suggestions in the 2nd edition of their report, Democracy by Initiative: Shaping California’ Fourth Branch of Government.  Most are pretty obvious and some unique to the California context, but its worth a look.  Note their consideration, albeit somewhat limited, of online possibilities, including signature gathering.

Even if you, like me, can’t make it to Brussels on March 4th, there are some interesting projects being showcased, some of which are new to me, at this conference organized by the European Commission.  The conference, including a 2pm(that’s 8am here in New York) possibly interesting panel on

how ICTs can enable legislators and decision-makers to better consult and inform constituency, improve legislation, enhance transparency, and “translate” complex law texts into every day language for citizens

will be streamed live, but several of the exhibiting projects’ sites are worth a look.