Wood Buffalo will use online and telephone voting in next year’s municipal election.
Council unanimously approved the idea last night.
Returning officer Darlene Soucy explains how it’ll work.
“Once an elector is registered, they will be given credentials, a unique identifier as well as a password, you know, lots of security that will be around it, and have the opportunity to use their internet connection or a telephone to cast their ballot.”
The pilot project will be done in cooperation with the City of Grande Prairie.
Mayor Melissa Blake says it’s a unique solution for a unique area.
“I think voter turnout right across our nation is dismal at best, in this region its particularly challenged. I recognize that people have incredibly busy lifestyles and sometimes it gets difficult or it slips there mind that they can vote.”
She says she hopes the new option will help boost turnout.
“Sometimes is just darn inconvenient, and what we’re hoping is by introducing internet and telephone and offering people an additional layer of participation opportunity that we can see an uptake in voter turnout this year.”
The system will still require photo ID to be registered, but it can be sent electronically.
November 28th, 2012
