Municipal elections in Guysborough could be different in October.
Officials with the Municipality of the District of Guysborough approved first reading of a bylaw to introduce phone and electronic voting during June’s regular municipal council Wednesday afternoon.
After, Vernon Pitts, Guysborough’s warden, told The Hawk it will be a change for some residents.
“The e-voting might scare some of them off, but you can do it over the phone,” he said. “It’s a great option- I think a lot of our residents will use that, as long as you have your identification number.”
In-person voting will still be available, but that will also be different.
There won’t be the traditional paper ballots; instead, kiosks with touch pads will be set up at polling stations with staff members on hand to help voters if needed.
Pitts said he expects voter participation to improve substantially as a result of the changes.
He said the voters’ list won’t be updated before the election due to COVID-19 restrictions.
“We have major concern in regards to numerations- we have to go on numerations from a number of years ago,” he said. “Those, at the best of times, were not really up to date, so I don’t know what we’re going to be facing this time.”
Pitts said they’ve been told anyone will be able to vote with the proper identification.
Second and final reading is expected to take place at July’s regular council meeting.
Municipal elections are scheduled to be held across the province Oct. 17.
