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Research was conducted to investigate electorate motivations for using political computer bulletin board systems (BBSs) and the satisfactions obtained from use. Results from a telephone survey of 117 political BBS users indicated that surveillance and curiosity were the most commonly mentioned motivations for political BBS use. Overall political BBS use was motivated equally by surveillance, personal identity, and diversion motives. The BBS was evaluated most highly for satisfying surveillance needs.Political communication is becoming "high-tech." New media technologies (e.g., cable, satellite) are being adopted cautiously by political strategists as supplementary tools for persuading the electorate. Yet, as with the traditional media, the new media are used by the audience as well as by the politician. One such new medium jointly serving politician and electorate is the computer bulletin board system (BBS). A BBS allows the user to tap into a central computer via a personal computer and telephone line. The user may then leave messages, read messages left by others, and respond to others' messages. Although many BBSs are nonspecific in content, they may be established specifically for political communication purposes. The present research investigates both electorate motivations for using one such political BBS, and satisfactions obtained from use. Political Bulletin BoardsWhile the use of computer technology in political campaigns has become widespread (Rogers, 1983; Tobe, 1984), the use of computer BBSs