Accenture Launches eDemocracy Services Business.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 30, 2003

Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has launched a new business called Accenture eDemocracy Services that is focused on delivering comprehensive services to election agencies around the world.

Accenture eDemocracy Services will provide strategy and planning, program management, election systems management, voter registration systems development, and transformational outsourcing services and solutions.

"We created our elections practice in response to the market need that emerged following the 2000 elections, and we continue to see tremendous global business opportunities in the election industry," said Steven J. Rohleder, group chief executive of Accenture's Government operating group. "Formalizing this practice as a business is consistent with our strategy to expand our services into key areas of government where we have the experience and capabilities to deliver high-value solutions that meet the needs of our clients."

Meg T. McLaughlin, an Accenture partner with 20 years of experience at the company, has been named chief executive of Accenture eDemocracy Services. McLaughlin is the global managing partner of Accenture's elections practice that serves as the foundation for creating Accenture eDemocracy Services.

"Accenture eDemocracy Services will build on a proven track record of delivering strategy and planning, voter registration, and voting and election management services to state and national governments," said McLaughlin. "Our clients will reap the benefits of working with a single solutions provider that has the experience and expertise to help manage, build and deploy election solutions, reduce time to deployment and mitigate the risks associated with this key public service."

Accenture will combine its elections experience with the newly acquired public-sector assets of election.com to deliver end-to-end systems. Previously a strategic alliance partner with Accenture, election.com has implemented its election systems management software in more than 170 U.S. counties and several U.S. states, as well as implemented successful multi-channel voting pilots U.K. local authorities. Election.com also helped deliver the first legally binding public Internet elections in France specifically for French expatriates.

In the United States, Accenture developed Florida's Central Voter Database (CVD), which was used during the 2002 mid-term elections. The CVD serves as a repository of all State of Florida voter registration information and provides local county election officials with the information to determine a voter's eligibility.

In the United Kingdom, Accenture eDemocracy Services will continue to work with Local Authorities to deliver leading edge election solutions, building on election.com's participation in successful election modernization pilots in May 2002 and 2003. The pilots were part of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's commitment to make it easier and more convenient for citizens to engage with government. Key elements of the program included Internet, phone and public access kiosk voting; smart card deployment for voter authentication; and real-time, online voter registration rolls.

In France, Accenture eDemocracy Services will continue to develop Internet voting capabilities for public and private elections and compete to help the French Ministry of the Interior equip polling places with e-voting technology.

About Accenture

Accenture is the world's leading management consulting and technology services company. Committed to delivering innovation, Accenture collaborates with its clients to help them realize their visions and create tangible value. With deep industry expertise, broad global resources and proven experience in consulting and outsourcing, Accenture can mobilize the right people, skills, alliances and technologies. With more than 75,000 people in 47 countries, the company generated net revenues of $11.6 billion for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2002. Its home page is www.accenture.com.