WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 20 - Cisco Systems Inc., the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet, today co-sponsors an Internet Voting symposium with the Brookings Institution to explore how E-Democracy will reshape politics and elections.

With primary election voters in Alaska and Arizona preparing to cast ballots over the Internet in the coming weeks, some scholars and experts predict that E-Democracy and Internet voting will have a broad impact on the political process, influencing voter turnout, alerting campaign strategy and empowering voters.

Cisco Systems CEO John Chambers will join Gov. Gray Davis of California, Gov. George Pataki of New York and Brookings Institution scholar Thomas Mann, among others, to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing Internet Voting. Brookings President Michael Armacost will open the symposium.

The symposium will be broadcast live on the Internet and can be accessed at www.brookings.edu or www.cisco.com.

"The Internet waits for no one -- no country, company or individual," Chambers said. "The Internet has redefined traditional business models and is now beginning to reshape the political process. Our country is moving towards an E-Democracy in which technology empowers citizens to participate in the decisions that shape their future. I believe that the politicians who learn to harness the power of the Internet will emerge as our next generation of leaders."

Other participants in today's symposium include Jim Adler, founder and President of VoteHere.Net; Anthony Corrado, professor of government at Colby College; Carolyn Jefferson-Jenkins, President of the League of Women Voters; David Mason, Commissioner, Federal Election Commission; and Ann McGeehan, Texas State Director of Elections.