Bylaws to improve how County votes

Council is expected to approve bylaws to allow internet voting, the use of scanner tabultors and to reduce voting times at nursing homes for October’s municipal election.

The committee of the whole earlier this month recommended the changes with an eye to increasing voter turnout which was 47.3 per cent in 2010.

If approved, for the first time, voters will be able to cast ballots at any polling location. They will also be allowed to vote online, or at advance polls in four locations.

Internet voting was first used in 2010 but was stopped five days before the election to prepare and print voters’ lists as internet access was not available at all polling locations.

Plans this year will include internet voting from early October until 8 p.m. on election night, Oct. 27.

Proxy voting provisions will apply only when the elector appointed as proxy attends at a voting place.

Council is also expected to approve the use of optical scanning vote tabulators during the election.

A bylaw will also reduce voting times to one hour at five County nursing homes.
In Picton, Kenwood residents will vote from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and in Hallowell, voting will be from 1-2 p.m. at West Lake Nursing Home, from 2:45 to 3:45 p.m. at Hallowell House and from 4-5 p.m. at McFarland County Home.