THUNDER BAY — The response to new electronic voting options for the 2018 municipal election surpassed the hopes and expectations of Thunder Bay City Clerk John Hannam.
For the first time, city voters received the choice of casting their ballots online or over the phone, as alternatives to travelling to a polling station on election day.
Of the approximately 41,000 ballots that were filled out, 63 per cent were done so electronically, the overwhelming majority being online.
Going into the election, Hannam said he hoped to see electronic voting hit at least the 50 per cent mark.
Voter participation also improved somewhat over the 2014 election.
Out of approximately 81,000 eligible voters, 51 per cent exercised their right, compared with 46 per cent in the previous municipal election.
