Municipal council in Greenstone have voted to switch to a new internet and telephone voting system for this year's municipal elections.
Greenstone's decision comes the same week that Thunder Bay city council voted down a proposal to use the new system citing concerns over security.
The decision by Greenstone council was unanimously in favour of the bylaw to authorize voting by telephone and the Internet for the municipal election in October. The municipality has hired Nova Scotia-based Intelivote Systems to provide the new service. Greenstone Mayor Michael Power said the municipality originally contacted three different companies and Intelivote was the only one to respond.
Power said the new system will cost Greenstone approximately $40,000, which is cheaper than the previous mail-in system used in 2006. According to the mayor, the new system will provide election results within fifteen minutes of polls closing, a seven-day advance polling period, and make it easier for non-resident property owners to vote. Power added most importantly, it should increase voter turn-out.
Right now, the number of qualified electors in the Municipality of Greenstone is 5,025. Municipal elections across the province are set for Oct. 25.
