Airdrie city council has approved an online voting system for the upcoming election in October. After the city’s success using an online census in 2010, manager of legislative services for Airdrie, Sharon Polyck, introduced the proposal for online voting last month in hopes the system would provide Airdronians with an alternative voting option. “It provides that convenience to residents and I think with the way things are going here with technology it’s important to our residents,” she said. Edmonton, Strathcona County and St. Albert were all part of the same pilot program as Airdrie, although Airdrie officials decided not to participate in the testing phase. Edmonton’s city council on Wednesday voted against using the online voting system this fall due to concerns such as hacking and voter fraud. But security was not as big an issue for Airdrie officials.
Mayor Peter Brown said that initially some aldermen had the same concerns, but Polyck’s presentation assuaged those worries and the council ultimately decided the risk was worth the reward.
“I was out to support it without even thinking about it to be honest,” Brown said. “It’s kind of the way of the future.”
According to Polyck, the process for online voting will be similar to showing up at the polls to vote.
Residents will still have to register to vote by scanning a valid form of photo identification and entering a unique email address and password.
Full Article: Airdrie council OK’s online voting system.