Scugog taking a modern hybrid approach to 2022 election

DAN CEARNS, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, for The Standard

SCUGOG: The Township of Scugog has decided to take a modern approach to the 2022 municipal election. At a meeting on Monday, June 21st, councillors voted to choose a “hybrid solution, including internet voting and paper ballots, using vote tabulation equipment” as the voting method for the next municipal election.

“While Vote-By-Mail has proven to be a successful method of election for the Township of Scugog since 2000, there is still a need for the Township to continue to modernize and use new technology [which] benefits residents. To continue modernization efforts, the Township should strongly consider offering some form of online voting. Specifically, in combination with another method,” read a report from clerk Becky Jamieson.

The report added, township staff have looked at both a hybrid of internet and vote by mail voting and internet and in-person voting.

“While both hybrid models could work, the costs related to a hybrid model of internet voting and vote-by-mail are greater. In addition, this type of hybrid model can be quite confusing to residents and will require additional staffing resources to manage,” Ms. Jamieson’s report read. “A hybrid option of internet voting and in-person voting has been effectively used by other Ontario municipalities: including Aurora, Burlington, Kingston, and Thunder Bay. Pickering has committed to a hybrid internet and in-person voting [model] for the 2022 election as well. It is easier to manage, from an administrative perspective, [so] the costs are less than other hybrid options. An internet and in-person voting hybrid approach will provide the convenience of internet voting for those who wish to vote electronically but will also provide for the more traditional in-person voting, using paper ballots and vote tabulators to compile the voting results. Should some electors prefer this option.”

Ward 2 Councillor Janna Guido questioned if this change would mean the Township will get the results quicker than they did in the 2018 election. The results were not announced in that election until a little past 11:30 p.m. due to technical issues. “We have spoken to the vendor, and many of the issues [which] occurred in 2018 have been addressed. Through internet voting, along with using tabulators for those who choose to do the traditional in-person voting, the results will come in much quicker, and we’ll be able to have those out to the public in a very timely manner,” Ms. Jamieson responded.