Councillors here want to maintain a personal touch when it comes to making the final count in this fall’s municipal election.
Even though council is endorsing a mail-in vote, that choice was not unanimous.
And as council was set to pass its bylaw for a mail-in vote for the coming municipal election, questions remained on the final details.
Deputy-mayor Judy Dirksen wanted to know if the initial draft of the bylaw would lock council into using optical scanners to count the ballots.
Clerk-administrator Marsha Paley said that by June 1, a bylaw must be in place. She said the bylaw provides the option of either the scanning device or people to count the ballots.
“But to let council know, it leaves it up to the clerk to make the decision,” Paley said.
Dirksen asked once more the cost of the tabulators. Currently, Paley said, the cost would be $10,500.
As of the meeting, she had not had a chance to work out the costs of having 48 ballot counters such as in 2006, in addition to the costs of advertising for the positions and training that number of people.
Dirksen asked if that could be based using the 2006 costs. Paley said it would cost a bit more.
However, one other item Paley found is the 2006 numbers did not include the mailing costs of the ballots.
Those costs were about $3.60 per person for voter kits to be sent and mailed back in.
Dirksen went on record as opposing spending $10,000 on optical vote scanning tabulators. “I just think it is a cost that is pretty high – to find out two hours sooner, the results of the election. I feel that our community feels that – compared to going to the polling stations, which there are still people who hold to that method.”
Dirksen added, “But to be fair, there are many people who appreciate the mail-in vote option. Certainly there is a feeling out there that this is being taken out of the community’s hands more and more.”
She said there are people who really enjoy doing the ballot counting and the process.
Plus, candidates have the option of scrutineers to oversee the counts.
“For what it’s worth that’s my statement on the optical scanners,” Dirksen said.
Councillor David Turton expressed similar sentiments.
Dirksen said the obvious question is that if the bylaw must be in place by June 1, how can council deal with it. Paley said the bylaw could be passed as is, with the statement of preference that it did not want the optical scanner.
“Then I will make sure there is no optical scanner … even though that is my recommendation to do so.”
She said the other option would be to amend the bylaw to remove references to the optical scanner.
Councillor Rick Hembly said comments he had received were that people enjoyed going to the community centre to vote at the polling stations to take part in the voting process.
Dirksen explained the bylaw is about the mail-in vote and the scanners.
“I have a problem with the mail-in and the scanners,” Hembly said. “That is what people are asking me about. No one has called to say ‘Oh, I love the mail-in vote or the phone vote.’ I’ve never had that,” Hembly said.
Paley said one of the reasons behind the mail-in vote proposal was the turnout from the 2006 municipal election. The return was 54%. Comparably, Paley said the last time Minto used a traditional vote, the turnout was 19%.
“We get a lot more democracy and a lot more votes when there is the mail-in vote.”
As for the counting of the ballots, Paley said she would go along with council’s preference, “even though, there are issues with objectivity, accuracy, reliability and time.”
Mayor David Anderson said there are people who are used to the way things have been for a long time. He agreed the personal count gives people more a feeling of being involved.
“I know it’s more work, but I think at this time this might be the way to go.”
Council’s decision was to stick with the vote by mail, but have personal ballot counting.
