Time is Now to Put Online Voting in Place

THUNDER BAY – Election results in Shuniah demonstrate that online voting works. The turnout was up, setting a new record, and the results were out within thirty minutes of the polls closing. In Thunder Bay voter turnout was slightly down in the 2014 Election, voters in many cases were frustrated by long lines and left polling stations, and the full results were almost three hours late getting to voters.

Coupled with a crash of the server that was to share election results, and election night in Thunder Bay was frustrating for many.

The move into the future, online voting should be implemented by the City of Thunder Bay. The possibility has been discussed by many in the city, and the proposal has come before City Council only to be voted down.

In a world where people bank online, and trade stocks online, the concept of voting online is not a huge stretch. It is an idea that it is time to implement.

There may be concerns with online voting, but the fact is it works.

The frustration of election night were Thunder Bay was one of the last jurisdictions to report on the major races is one that our community can not afford.

There are other opportunities and advantages to a solid online voting system. Once in place it could be used for assisting City Council in important decisions as an instant straw poll.

Thunder Bay has been doing many things to improve voter turnout and participation in our civic election. The system proved less than stellar on Monday.

Moving into the future is something our city must get very good at doing. The time is now.

James Murray