An alternative to poll voting in next year’s municipal elections is being contemplated by Wellington North councillors.
The issue was raised by CAO Mike Givens at a township administrative and finance committee meeting on Oct. 28.
With all members of council present at the committee meeting, Givens asked them to consider a mail-in voting option to substitute poll voting that has been done in the township since amalgamation.
“We’re at the point where we have to discuss the election,” Givens told councillors, referring to a pending year-end decision on how the Oct. 27, 2014 municipal election will be conducted.
“Those are decisions we have to make quite quickly.”
Mayor Ray Tout rejected changing the way voting is done in the township.
“I think by having the old time ballot box it brings the residents of Wellington North out,” he said. “With mail some voters send their vote in late and it doesn’t get in. The ballot comes through too late to be counted.”
Councillor Sherry Burke agreed.
“It’s a social event,” she said of local polling stations where ballots are cast and residents meet.
Councillor Andy Lennox said council should consider a mail-in ballot and consider the cost of it opposed to having polling stations.
“I’m open to looking at alternatives,” he said. “I think we should take a serious look at the cost.”
Givens said that in the last municipal election, turnout in the township was “the highest in the county” even though no percentage of voter turnout in the last election was released. In 2010, 3,740 ballots were cast in a township of 11,500 people.
Councillor Dan Yake also suggested looking at the mail-in alternative.
“I don’t think there’s any harm looking at alternatives,” he said. “With polling stations we had a good turnout in the last election.”
“It would be better if we had more information,” Lennox said.
Givens was instructed to prepare a report on voting alternatives.
