The rise of the Internet has excited many politicians and political analysts about the potential for on-line polling, in particular, and electronic democracy, in general. This essay explores the obstacles that limit the selection of a representative on-line sample. It further considers the implications that solutions to these obstacles may have on the possibility of an electronic democracy. Severe limitations to on-line sampling are revealed. Fixes to these problems may undermine the democratic principles that form the foundations of our political system.
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