Security of online voting was the main concern for Coquitlam city council as it voted this week to ask the provincial government to look at putting a program in place within the next three years.
On Monday, council voted 7-1 in favour of Coun. Linda Reimer's motion to ask the province to have in place by the 2014 municipal elections an electronic voting system, which would allow voters to cast ballots from their home computers. Her motion also calls for discussion at this year's Union of BC Municipalities' convention.
Reimer's aim is to increase voter turnout, which typically hovers around 20% for general elections in Coquitlam and much less for byelections (only 7.6% of eligible voters participated in the 2010 council byelection to replace Fin Donnelly).
"We have to do everything that we can, I think, as a council to fully engage our community and to make sure they find ease in voting so the next generation realizes it's something they ought to be doing as well," Mayor Richard Stewart said, noting he believes his children will likely vote using handheld devices.
But Canadian cities that currently have online voting, including several in Ontario and Nova Scotia, haven't seen a surge in people choosing their candidates, Coun. Barrie Lynch argued, referring to a CBC-TV debate.
The issues around security will be resolved, Coun. Neal Nicholson said, noting, "We're able to securely bank. You can securely execute land registry transactions in this province. There's a number of things you can do online."
Nicholson also said he had contacted an elected official from Guelph, Ont., where the council there is also studying online voting for its municipality. The councillor noted Guelph spends $6 per vote on marketing. "There's an actual budget to get out the vote," Nicholson said. "I think that's something we perhaps ought to be thinking about."
City clerk Jay Gilbert said the city was in a regional campaign two years ago to urge Metro Vancouver voters to take part in the democratic process. Still, "the result is 21%" for Coquitlam, he said.
Coun. Lou Sekora voted against the motion, calling it "premature" given security concerns.
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