Paperless election a possibility for Woolwich, Wellesley

The paper ballot could be a thing of the past in Wellesley and Woolwich townships if councillors vote Tuesday to replace the traditional ballot with online and telephone voting.

Wellesley councillors voted unanimously during an April 11 committee meeting to adopt the new voting method, as recommended by staff, but still need to make a final decision.

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"I just believe that we're ready for it out here," Mayor Joe Nowaktold CBC. "It certainly seems to be the direction most municipalities are taking ... and I think why not just move forward with it right now?"

The benefit of improving that turnout is what council was looking at and what council thought would make the whole process worth while.- Joe Nowak

Nowak said the main reason for moving to an online and telephone voting system would be to increase voter participation.

According to a staff reportonly 29.77 per cent of eligible voters in Wellesley voted in the 2014 election,2.66 percentage points below the regional average.

"The benefit of improving that turnout is what council was looking at and what council thought would make the whole process worthwhile," he said.

Could save money

Replacing paper ballots with internet and telephone voting could also have positive financial implications for the townships.

Staff estimate it will cost the township $38,000 to run the October, 2018 municipal election the traditional waybut only $26,600 to run it using internet and telephone voting.

The greatest savings would be made on wages, as the township would have to hire fewer temporary staff to run the election.

Partnership possibility

Nearby,Woolwich councillors also debated the adoption of online and telephone voting during an April 11 meetingand decided to defer a final decision until Tuesday.

If Wellesley and Woolwich both vote in favor of a paperless 2018 election, it is possible the two townships will share resources to further reduce costs.

Nowak said that although a joint agreement is possible, the details would still need to be worked out between the two township clerks.

May 1st deadline

All Ontario municipalities must make a decision on whether they will implement any new oralternative methods of voting online, telephone or even traditional mail before May 1.

• The City of Waterloo decided in November, 2016 that it would not permit online voting in its election.
• The issue was not raised this year in the City of Kitchener, so status quo traditional systems will be used.
• In Cambridge, city councillors voted 6 to 3 in favor of including online and telephone voting during the advanced polling period and on election day.
• In Guelph, city councillors debated the issue during a committee meeting on April 3, where they voted 7 to 3 in favor of a motion that would eliminate online voting from the 2018 election. That vote will be reviewed at a council meeting Monday evening, when councillors will make their final decision on whether online voting will be continued. It was permitted in the previouselection.