For all those who worry about the security of the phone and internet voting system adopted by the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury, town staff have reassuring words.
Staff do not handle or see the electronic ballots; everything is sealed and tested before the system goes live and, said clerk and chief election official Rebecca Murphy.
The system “is used in thousands of municipalities and worldwide. They have security protocols in place,” she said.
And people without a computer or touch-tone phone, or who feel uncomfortable with voting online or by phone, or those who want assistance or have accessibility issues will not be disenfranchised. The Town of BWG is planning to set up Voter Help Centres, where voters can go to ensure they are registered on the voters’ list and get assistance casting their ballots.
Murphy spoke at a Voter Information Night, held at the Bradford West Gwillimbury Public Library last week, to answer questions and to explain the process of voting online and by phone during the municipal election period, Oct. 12-22.
Voting starts with a voter letter
The town’s Deputy Clerk Tara Reynolds, assisted by Elections Assistant Anne Kantharajah, went through the process. Voters will receive a voter letter early in October containing their voter ID and a unique PIN number. The letter will also provide a web address for online voting and a toll-free phone number for those who prefer to use their phones.
How to vote online
On the website, voters can choose their language (English or French), change the text size, and change the screen view, from black on white, to white on black.
It’s a simple click to begin the voting process. Voters are asked to enter the last eight digits of their Voter ID and the PIN number from the voter letter, plus date of birth. A captcha box — scrambled mix of slightly distorted letters and numbers that the user is asked to duplicate, for security purposes — allows access to the next step, the declaration and oath.
Voters must certify they are over the age of 18, a Canadian citizen, and the owner or tenant of land within the municipality.
Once the preliminaries are over, the voter will be invited to mark their online ballot in the various races — mayor, deputy mayor, ward councillor, and school board trustee. Clicking on the box will create a checkmark, and clicking again will make the check disappear to allow for a change of choice.
“At the end, there is a review ballot screen,” said Reynolds, giving voters another chance to ensure they have made the selections they wanted, and a reminder if any of the contests have been left blank. “You do have the opportunity to go back. It’s very easy to use.”
Once through the process, the message will come up: “Thank you for voting.”
How to vote by telephone
To vote by telephone, Reynolds said, the resident will need a touchtone, cellular or smartphone. “It actually doesn’t work on rotary dial phones.”
Voters are asked to call the toll-free number found in the voter letter, enter the last eight digits of their Voter ID, their PIN number and date of birth, and then will be given verbal instructions on how to vote by telephone — pressing one to vote for candidate A, two to vote for candidate B, etc. Pressing the pound or hashtag key accepts the choice, read back by an electronic voice. Pressing the star key allows a change.
Again, at the end, there is the message: “You have successfully cast your ballot. Thank you for voting.”
Need help voting? Check out Voter Help Centres
For those without a computer or touch-tone or smartphone, who want assistance, have accessibility issues or simply prefer to vote in a public place, Voter Help Centres will be set up at both the Zima Room of the BWG Public Library, 425 Holland St. W., and at the town’s Administration Centre at 100 Dissette St.
The Administration Centre is a small location, offering a single voter kiosk with computer, and a phone line. It will be open:
- Oct. 15-19, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Oct. 22 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
At the larger Zima Room, there will be six computer voter kiosks, each with a large computer monitor with a touch screen. A registration desk where residents can ensure that they are on the voters’ list, and “lots of election officials to greet you at the door and assist you,” said Reynolds.
The Voter Help Centre at the library will be open:
- Oct. 13 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Oct. 15-19 from 4-8 p.m.
- Oct. 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Oct. 22 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The Town of BWG has also arranged for mobile voting stations to visit locations that include Bradford Valley Specialty Care centre, 100 Miller Park, 200 Holland Crt,, and the LeBlanc Rest Home, bringing voting to those with mobility issues.
With so many options, a longer voting period, and the ability to vote from home, the Town of BWG is hoping for a bigger voter turnout in the 2018 municipal election than in previous years.
What about fraud concerns?
There were questions for the election officials on Wednesday night, including a query about voter fraud. What, asked Ward 5 municipal election candidate Munawar Chudary, is to stop someone from simply taking the voter letters, and casting ballots for other members of their household?
“Unfortunately, voter fraud exists in any system. Anyone who wanted to do an illegal act, there are ways” and consequences, for theft of mail and voter fraud,” Murphy said.
“They have to open someone else’s mail. They have to fraudulently swear an oath. It’s an offence under the Municipal Election Act. The police will be called in.”
Anyone who doesn’t receive their voter letter in early October is advised to contact the town to receive a new letter and PIN number and disable the old one. Identification showing the resident’s address is needed.
For more information, contact the Town of BWG at 905-775-5366, ext. VOTE (8683), or email [email protected]. To check the voters’ list, go to townofbwg.com/election.
