The town of Port Hawkesbury is looking to implement online voting in the upcoming municipal election in October.
At June’s regular council meeting Tuesday, councillors approved the first reading of their electronic and telephone voting by-law.
It sets aside eight advance polling days for online and phone voting, one paper advanced poll, and allows electronic voting and paper ballots on the election date.
Afterward, Mayor Brenda Chisholm-Beaton said it’s an important option for residents given the COVID-19 pandemic.
“They can still participate… and vote from home so that they are not putting themselves, potentially, in contact with other voters or with election workers to be able to cast a paper vote,” she said. “We can realize a democratic process while keeping safety very much, and foremost, in our minds.”
Chisholm-Beaton said there will be an extra cost; this election will be $24,000, $6000 more than the expected $18,000.
She says it’s necessary to protect the health and safety of voters.
