2024: The FAR, Federal Acquisition Regulations - Part 27
Town of Collingwood Election Voting Method Slideshow
1. Alternative
Voting Methods
Traditional Paper Ballot (hand count)
and Polling Stations
Traditional Paper Ballot (tabulator
count) and Polling Stations
Vote by Mail (tabulator count)
Internet Voting
Touch Screen Voting
Telephone Voting
Combination of any of the above
3. Paper Ballots (Hand Count)
Voters receive a voter card informing them of polling stations
and identification requirements.
Voting takes place at advance polling station(s), and at
polling stations on election day.
Voters mark their ballot by hand and drop it into a secure
ballot box manned by staff and/or volunteers.
Upon the close of polls, all ballot boxes are securely brought
to a central location and ballots counted by volunteers
and/or staff.
How it Works
4. Paper Ballots (Hand Count)
Pros
• Familiar to voters
• Voter verification through the use of photo ID
• No risk of technology related delays
Cons
• Expensive due to extensive staffing required for polls and counting
• Potentially disenfranchises non-resident electors
• Accessibility alternative required
• Hand counting of votes can be time consuming
• Difficult to maintain COVID-19 protocols (if still an issue)
Approximate Cost: $3.50 per elector ($70,000 - $77,000)
• Could increase significantly if insufficient election volunteers are
recruited, would require secondment of Town staff or temporary hires
6. Paper Ballots (Tabulator Count)
Voters receive a voter card informing them of polling
stations and identification requirements.
Voting takes place at advance polling station(s), and at
polling stations on election day.
Voters mark their ballot by hand and insert it into a tabulator
that records their vote on an internal memory card.
Upon the close of polls, all memory cards are securely
brought to a central location and collated to determine
election results.
How it Works
7. Pros
• Familiar to residents
• Voter verification through the use of photo ID
• Fast and reliable results following close of polls
Cons
• Expensive due to extensive staffing required
• Potentially disenfranchises non-resident electors
• Accessibility alternative required
• Difficult to maintain COVID-19 protocols (if still an issue)
Approximate Cost: $5.00 per elector ($100,000-$110,000)
• Could increase significantly if insufficient election volunteers
Paper Ballots (Tabulator Count)
9. Vote by Mail (Tabulator Count)
How it Works
A paper ballot and secrecy envelope is mailed directly to each registered
elector along with instructions on how to vote, a prepaid return envelope
and a voter declaration to be signed.
Voters return their ballot by mail or drop off in person at a polling site by
the close of polls on election night.
When a ballot kit is received, the secrecy envelope containing the ballot
is placed in a sealed ballot box until election day, and the voter
declaration is separated and used to mark the voter as having voted on
the voters list.
On election day, sealed ballots are opened and run through a tabulator
to be counted.
Upon the close of polls, all memory cards from the count tabulators are
collated to determine election results.
10. Pros
• Accessible and familiar to residents
• Convenient to electors – vote anywhere at any time
• Cheaper than traditional paper ballots
• Fast and reliable results following close of polls
• Little difficulty in maintaining COVID-19 protocols
Cons
• May inadvertently omit electors during mailout
• Accessibility alternative required
• No controls preventing inadvertently spoiled ballots
• No elector verification beyond oath of elector, although instances of
fraud are limited
Approximate Cost: $4.67 per elector ($93,500 - $102,740)
• 2014 election conducted at cost of $80,068.66 for 17,995 registered
electors
Vote by Mail (Tabulator Count)
11. Internet Voting
How it Works
Each elector is mailed a personal voter notification letter containing voting
instructions as well as: A voter ID number; A unique voter PIN; the URL
used to vote.
At any point during the voting period, voters can log into the system over
the internet using their voter ID, voter PIN and a security question
(generally date of birth), and complete the voter declaration.
Voters then select their preferred candidates (if any) from each of the races,
confirm their final ballot prior to submission, and if satisfied submit their
ballot.
The voters name is struck from the voters list as voted.
Results are stored on remote servers and only made accessible after the
voting period has closed.
At close of voting, a results button is selected with result provided
immediately.
13. Internet Voting
How it Works
Each elector is mailed a personal voter notification letter containing voting
instructions as well as: A voter ID number; A unique voter PIN; the URL
used to vote.
At any point during the voting period, voters can log into the system over
the internet using their voter ID, voter PIN and a security question
(generally date of birth), and complete the voter declaration.
Voters then select their preferred candidates (if any) from each of the races,
confirm their final ballot prior to submission, and if satisfied submit their
ballot.
The voters name is struck from the voters list as voted.
Results are stored on remote servers and only made accessible after the
voting period has closed.
At close of voting, a results button is selected with result provided
immediately.
Approximate Cost: $3.12 per elector
14. Internet Voting
Pros
• Accessible and convenient to electors – vote anywhere at any time
• Strong level of accessibility and compliance with AODA standards
• Voter verification through one or two step authentication process
• No possibility of inadvertently spoiling ballots
• Fast and reliable results following close of polls
• Little difficulty in maintaining COVID-19 protocols
Cons
• Certain electors may lack access to necessary technology
• No voter ID verification, although instances of fraud are limited
Approximate Cost: $3.12 per elector ($62,320 - $68,552)
• 2018 election conducted at cost of $57,118.57 for 18,780 electors
16. Touch Screen Voting
How it Works
Voters receive a voter card informing them of polling stations and
identification requirements.
Elections take place at advance polling station(s), and at polling stations
on election day.
Voters use a touch screen system to select their preferred candidates (if
any) from each of the races and confirm their final ballot.
A paper ballot is printed then run through an electronic tabulator to be
counted.
Upon the close of polls, all memory cards are securely brought to a
17. Touch Screen Voting
How it Works
Voters receive a voter card informing them of polling stations and
identification requirements.
Elections take place at advance polling station(s), and at polling stations
on election day.
Voters use a touch screen system to select their preferred candidates (if
any) from each of the races and confirm their final ballot.
A paper ballot is printed then run through an electronic tabulator to be
counted.
Upon the close of polls, all memory cards are securely brought to a
18. Touch Screen Voting
Pros
• Voter verification through the use of photo ID
• No possibility of inadvertently spoiling ballots
• Eliminates need for pre-printed ballots
• Fast and reliable results following close of polls
Cons
• Expensive due to rental/purchase of touch screen voting kiosks
• Potentially disenfranchises non-resident electors
• Difficult to maintain COVID-19 protocols (if still an issue)
Approximate Cost: $5.75 per elector ($115,000 - $126,500)
20. Telephone Voting -- (NOT RECOMMENDED)
How it Works
Each elector is mailed a personal voter notification letter containing
voting instructions as well as: A voter ID number; A unique voter PIN; the
telephone number used to vote.
At any point during the voting period, voters can log into the system over
the telephone using their voter ID, voter PIN and a security question
(generally date of birth), and complete the voter declaration.
The voter then chooses their preferred candidates (if any) from each of
the races through audio prompts and keypad selections and confirm
their final ballot prior to submission.
The voters name is struck from the voters list as voted.
Results are stored on remote servers and only made accessible after
the voting period has closed.
Results are tabulated immediately following close of the election.
21. Pros
• Accessible and convenient to electors – vote anywhere at any time
• Strong level of accessibility and compliance with AODA standards
• No possibility of inadvertently spoiling ballots
• Fast and reliable results following close of polls
• Little difficulty in maintaining COVID-19 protocols
Cons
• Slow and cumbersome if there are a large numbers of candidates on
the ballot
• Timeouts and dropped calls were a frequent complaint during 2018
Municipal Election
• No voter ID verification, although instances of fraud are limited
• Not recommended by Staff
Approximate Cost: $3.12 per elector ($62,320 - $68,552)
Telephone Voting -- (NOT RECOMMENDED)