Summary of alternative voting methods for the 2022 Municipal and School Board Elections in the Town of Collingwood

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

2. Paper Ballots (Hand Count)

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

5. Paper Ballots (Tabulator Count)

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)

8. Vote by Mail (Tabulator Count)
How it Works

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.

12. Internet Voting

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

15. Touch Screen Voting

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)

19. Telephone Voting -- (NOT RECOMMENDED)

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)