Taken Question at Daily Press Briefing, Office of the Spokesman, Washington, DC
Question: Comment on the requirement that DV applicants submit applications electronically, in light of the fact that Internet access is limited in many parts of the world. Is there is a wide enough representation of citizens from eligible countries applying considering the electronic submission requirement?
Answer: The Department of State implemented the electronic registration system for the Diversity Visa Lottery to improve efficiency and make the process less prone to fraud and less vulnerable to use by persons who may pose a threat to the security interests of the United States.
The electronic submission requirement has not affected the representation of citizens from eligible countries. Since implementation of the electronic registration system in 2005, applications for the DV Lottery have increased every year. Applications for the 2009 DV Lottery are 45 percent higher than for 2008 DV Lottery.
