Ballot convenience: Internet voting for municipal elections

NRU
March 15, 2017
By Leah Wong

In preparation for the 2018 election, municipal governments across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Region are updating their voting methods to join the digital age. Newmarket is on track to follow the lead of Ajax and hold its first electronic election, forgoing the paper ballot for internet and telephone voting.

Last week Newmarket committee of the whole endorsed the use of internet and telephone voting in the 2018 municipal election, with a by-law heading to council on March 27. Residents will be able to cast a ballot remotely by phone or online up to three weeks before Election Day or go to a polling station to vote electronically on specified dates.

“I like to simplify things as much as possible ... I’m encouraged and feel confident that the experience shared by the Town of Ajax is very positive,” Ward 5 councillor Bob Kwapis told committee. “I like the fact that access to voting from youth, snowbirds, business people and travellers will be available anywhere at any time.”

Kwapis added that as internet browsers can increase font sizes and translate languages, online voting is more accessible for residents with disabilities or those whose mother tongue is other than English.

Staff had previously recommended that the town implement a gradual transition in its voting methods by allowing internet voting and paper ballots in the 2018 election. However, councillors were concerned about the additional costs of using both methods and asked for staff to further study Ajax’s experience of running an electronic-only election in 2014.

Newmarket staff estimates it will cost $274,000 to run an electronic-only election, less than the $320,000 budgeted for each election. Using both methods would cost about $40,000 more than electronic only.

In a presentation to committee, Ajax legislative and information services director Nicole Wellsbury said the town chose to implement internet voting to improve convenience and accessibility for residents.

“Our community has long been plagued by low turnout, in the low 20s,” said Wellsbury. “I think it is due in large part to the commuter population that is going to downtown [Toronto] for work. They find it difficult to find time to vote in the more traditional model.”

The internet-only model was well received in Ajax, with a survey showing that 97 per cent of residents were satisfied with the new process.

Under Bill 181 Municipal Elections Modernization Act 2016 that received royal assent in June 2016, municipalities have until May 1 to adopt a by-law for an alternative voting method. Pickering has also approved the introduction of internet and telephone voting, pending the city retaining a service provider. Markham and Burlington previously allowed residents to vote online during advanced polling.