Making it easy

County officials aim for 60 per cent participation in October vote

You don’t want to vote at the poll in your ward? That’s okay. You can vote at any of 10 polls around the County. You don’t wish to leave your home to vote? No problem. Internet voting is back and has been extended to include election day. These and other changes were unveiled at a council committee meeting last week, in anticipation of the municipal election October 27.

Advance polls are also being expanded from two to four locations. Each change means higher costs to the municipality, but will likely be viewed as a worthwhile expense if it leads to greater voter participation. In the 2010 election, just over 47 per cent of eligible voters cast a ballot—in line with the 46.7 per cent average turnout reported of 187 municipalities in Ontario.

“We have set a target of 60 per cent target this year,” said County Clerk Kim White.

To make these enhancements, the County is adopting a “live” voters’ list— rather than traditional paper lists, the new system is online and managed in a single database. So if you live in Ameliasburgh but want to vote in Picton— the returning officer at that poll will simply look up the name of the voter on his or her computer, and print out a ballot. That will be counted toward the individual’s ward tally, even miles away.

And once and individual has voted— either online, at the advance poll or at election day polls—they instantly become ineligible to vote again. No more stroking names off lists and cross checking reams of paper. A check mark and it is done.

“The whole purpose [of the enhancements] is to ensure that any eligible elector is able to vote at the time and place that works for them,” explained Clerk White.

Most councillors welcomed the improvements, but there were some questions.

Councillor Barry Turpin noted that the one of the biggest grievances in the past had been folks showing up at the poll and their names weren’t on the voter’s list.

White explained that MPAC (municipal property assessment corporation), from whose database the voters’ list is drawn, has made significant improvements to its processes and procedures. Voters will soon be able to go online or call to verify they are on the list—likely within a month or two.

Voters will also be able to be added to the voters’ list at each poll with appropriate identification.

With the voter’s list online, Hillier councillor Alec Lunn wanted to know what would happen in the event of a power outage. White explained that each poll would indeed have a paper version of the list as well as other procedures— for just such an eventuality.

What about property owners who may live in one ward, but have most of their holdings in another ward?

“In which ward will they vote?” asked Hallowell councillor Keith MacDonald.

White explained that the elector would vote in the ward of his or her primary residence— typically as indicated on their driver’s license.

What about folks whose primary residence is outside the County, but own property in different wards in this municipality?

White said these folks were eligible to vote in the County and could choose which ward they wanted to vote in—but only one.

Councillor Janice Maynard questioned the advisability of opening Internet voting too soon. She observed that in the last election, several candidates didn’t decide to enter the race until the deadline (nomination day—September 12 this year).

“I found that when I was canvassing door to door, many had already voted,” said Maynard. “Since Internet voting is extended through election day this year, shouldn’t we tighten up the start date—closer to election day?”

But White resisted the suggestion, saying it ran counter to the goal of openness and accessibility to all voters.

“I will continue to strive to keep it wider,” said White.

She noted in the last election the average cost of each Internet vote was about $17. She hopes to lower this average cost through increased number of votes cast in this way.

Finance chief Susan Turnbull applauded the changes.

“We expect greater interest and participation,” said Turnbull. “On the whole, these changes represent a great advancement.”

Most around the horseshoe agreed—the changes passed with broad support.