Online Government: File & Document Delivery

It would seem that moving needed sources of information, and securely delivering files and documents online is actually catching on, at least for Americans.

In fact, 61 percent of adults looked for information or made transactions on a government Web site in the last year, while almost a third employed social media like social networking sites, blogs, text messaging, e-mail or online video to get government info.

Additionaly, of internet users, more than 80 percent engaged in at least one transaction on a government site last year, with almost 40 percent making five or more transactions — like researching government data, renewing licenses and paying fines.

Traditional complaints about bureaucratic inefficiency seem allayed online: 79 percent of all users were able to achieve most or all of what they wanted to accomplish on the last government site they visited.

Whites were more likely to be politically active online, for instance, by joining groups that seek to influence politics or posting comments about policy issues, African-Americans and Hispanics tended to have more favorable views about the necessity of government outreach through social media.

From the Pew report:

As government agencies at all levels bring their services online, Americans are turning in large numbers to government websites to access information and services. Fully 82% of internet users (representing 61% of all American adults) looked for information or completed a transaction on a government website in the twelve months preceding this survey. Some of the specific government website activities in which Americans take part include:

• 48% of internet users have looked for information about a public policy or issue online with their local, state or federal government
• 46% have looked up what services a government agency provides
• 41% have downloaded government forms
• 35% have researched official government documents or statistics
• 33% have renewed a driver’s license or auto registration
• 30% have gotten recreational or tourist information from a government agency
• 25% have gotten advice or information from a government agency about a health or safety issue
• 23% have gotten information about or applied for government benefits
• 19% have gotten information about how to apply for a government job
• 15% have paid a fine, such as a parking ticket
• 11% have applied for a recreational license, such as a fishing or hunting license