The grueling recounts amid the presidential election have experts wondering whether Internet technology could improve the accuracy of ballot counting in public and corporate voting.

They won’t need to wonder for long. Some smaller-scale Internet-based elections have already occurred. Among the early lessons: Internet voting has as many pitfalls as conventional voting, and as with online commerce, public acceptance may be slow.

Internet voting could find a place in the private sector. In recent months, unions, associations and organizations such as the Sierra Club have held online elections for officers. Some publicly traded companies that want more shareholder input might also turn to Internet voting if federal regulators allow it.

Internet voting can cut costs on mailing and processing of paper ballots. Online voting can also reduce the risk of human error or errors from electromechanical voting equipment, supporters say.