Internet voting being considered by Oshawa in time for 2026 election

Oshawa will look to hire an internet voting system vendor in time for the 2026 municipal election if a motion winding its way through committee is approved by council.

The city polled residents, using Environics Research and a feedback form (online and in-person), in June to “explore the possibility” of offering internet voting for the next municipal and school board elections and to hear opinions on the subject.

Oshawa also polled residents in late 2022 on how voting went for the previous municipal election and discovered online voting to be one of biggest issues among residents.

The city did add a vote-by-mail option in 2022 as a result of the pandemic, though just 161 voters used the option.

The hope is internet voting can improve the plummeting participation rate at municipal elections, with just 18.4 per cent of eligible voters turning out to the polls in 2022 – the lowest ever for a municipal election and down from 24.1 per cent (2018), 26.4 per cent (2014) and 29.9 per cent (2020).

The last time voter turnout topped the one-third mark was 1994 when 33.5 per cent of eligible voters in Oshawa cast their ballot. The highest-ever turnout was 64 years ago when 51.7 per cent of voters turned up on election day in 1960.

Internet voting, which uses a two-factor security protocol to ensure safety, allows residents to vote from anywhere, including their home, work, a public library, etc. and at any time of day during the designated voting period using a computer or personal device.

An online system was successfully used in Clarington in 2022, as well as the Northwest Territories in 2019. Brock Township is also considering an online voting system.

The issue will be before the Corporate and Finance Services Committee Monday, with staff recommending endorsing internet voting for advance polls and on election day for the municipal and school board elections and that a Request for Proposal be issued to hire a vendor capable of handling the job.

A further staff report on the ‘penetration test and security analysis’ concerning the “method of voting and any use of vote counting equipment” would follow.