Internet voting coming to next municipal election

Sudburians will be able to cast a ballot with a mouse click in the next municipal election.

City council voted Tuesday night to try out internet voting for advance polls in 2014. Eligible voters would receive a personal identification number and use it to vote on a city website in the weeks leading up to voting day.

City councillor Joe Cimino said he likes the idea, but is worried about voter information remaining private.

"I don't care how secure something is, it's not 100 per cent secure," he said.

"And I don't think anyone can guarantee that."

Increased voter turnout

Cimino said he is also worried that someone could vote multiple times by "collecting votes" from uninterested citizens.

Staff repeatedly assured concerned councillors that voter information will be as secure online as it is on paper.

The search for a company to run the internet voting site in 2014 is set to begin and could cost taxpayers as much as $300,000, staff said.

Many other Ontario cities have already tried internet voting out and have seen an increase in voter turnout as a result.

City councillor Frances Caldarelli said she hopes Greater Sudbury will have the same outcome.

"I do see this as possibly a way to really increase the number of young adults that are voting," she said.

Sudbury city staff reported online voting also makes voting easier for disabled people, as well as Sudburians who are out of the city for school or a vacation.