Town to offer online voting in next municipal election

The next municipal election is about a year and a half away, but the Town of Fort Erie is already starting preparations by opening up the idea of internet voting.

A recommendation was approved at Monday’s council-in-committee meeting to allow the typical in-person ballot format, but that online voting be offered as an additional, alternative method.

Ward 2 Councillor Nick Dubanow asked how long online voting would be open when election season arrives next year.

“I’ve seen some municipalities keep it open from a certain day all the way to election day,” said clerk Ashlea Carter, adding the town expects to be “flexible and open” in the process.

Phone voting was also discussed at the meeting, but that can be a slow process, and in places like Grimsby it accounted for only three per cent of the vote in 2022.

“I don’t see it very commonly used, currently,” she added.

Mayor Wayne Redekop said it’s discouraging that a survey taken online about alternative voting methods only garnered participation from 132 people out of a population of about 36,000.

He supported moving ahead with an alternative method, but said the town should also invest in education about the election, getting people out to vote.

“We want to get more people engaged,” he said.

The staff report approved Monday reads that information letters would be mailed to eligible voters, as well as instructions on how to vote with an electronic device.

Ward 6 Councillor Ann-Marie Noyes said online voting could be helpful for people who are travelling or are unable to get to a physical polling station due to health reasons.

The report on Monday’s agenda was approved unanimously.

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