For the 2022 municipal election, Chatham-Kent will be sticking with the same voting methods that it used in the previous two municipal elections.
On Monday night, council accepted the staff recommendations to offer residents a combined method of internet voting and paper ballots in next year's municipal election.
The staff report was accepted as is and was not brought to the floor for any further discussion.
Chatham-Kent residents will soon find out how they'll be able to vote during the next municipal election.
In a report coming to council on Monday night, staff is recommending that voting for the 2022 municipal election be a combined method of internet voting and paper ballots for advance polls and the use of just paper ballots on election day.
The recommendations for 2022 are the same methods that were used in the last two Chatham-Kent elections, with internet voting done for advance polls only and paper ballots used on election day at polling locations throughout the municipality using optic scan tabulating equipment.
"By allowing for two options, it allows voters to select the method they are most comfortable with," stated the report.
Earlier this year, the municipality conducted a survey through Let’s Talk Chatham-Kent to find out what voting methods residents preferred. Other options included mail-in ballots or voting by phone. Approximately 600 responses were received through the online platform.
According to the report, paper ballots at a polling station with tabulator and internet voting were the highest voting methods preferred for the 2022 municipal election with 366 and 387 votes respectively, followed by 171 for mail-in ballots and 54 for a phone option.
A majority of survey participants also indicated that paper ballots were the method that they had the best understanding of how to use.
When asked if they had security concerns with any of the voting methods, participants expressed the most concern with the phone-in option. Some individuals also had concerns about the security of internet voting.
"Another common question regarding internet voting is the potential for Voter Notification Cards and PIN numbers to be used by strangers or other family members within the household and allowing an individual to place multiple votes," stated the report. "Voting twice is a criminal offence and offenders may be prosecuted. The courts take election offences seriously. This has not been a prevalent matter in Chatham-Kent elections."
According to staff, internet voting comes with many pros including giving residents the convenience to vote from any location at any time of day, while also addressing accessibility issues.
"It should be noted that a more efficient way to hold the municipal election is utilizing internet voting only," read the report. "This would eliminate costs for tabulators, building rentals, and many of the election staff required on election day and during advance polls. This would result in savings of approximately $100,000. However, for all the reasons mentioned above, administration is recommending the combined approach."
According to the report, election-related costs for the 2018 municipal election totalled $382,792.
The municipal election day in Ontario is set for October 24, 2022.