WASHINGTON - Internet users are increasingly turning to e-government to carry out their business with government. New research by the Pew Internet & American Life Project shows that 97 million adult Americans, or 77 percent of Internet users, took advantage of e-government in 2003, whether that meant going to government Web sites or e-mailing government officials. This represented a growth of 50 percent from 2002.
The new Pew Internet Project report, called "How Americans Get in Touch With Government," surveyed Americans on how they deal with government, what methods they use, and how e-government compares with traditional methods such as the telephone or letters as a tool for citizens engaging public agencies. The findings show the benefits and limits of e-government.