KEARNEY – Despite a mail-in vote during the last municipal election, Kearney is going back to the traditional paper ballot method.
In a report by clerk Yvonne Aubichon, council was presented with three options of voting which included the mail-in vote, email/telephone voting and the traditional paper ballot/ballot box.
The report included a breakdown of the estimated costs for the various methods. Vote by mail would come at a cost of about $24,200, internet and telephone voting was $17,500 and the traditional ballot method of voting could cost about $11,550.
“Surrounding area municipalities appear to choose between traditional paper ballot and the vote-by-mail system,” stated the report.
Zummach expressed concerns over the security of both of the newer methods of voting adding that he would like, not only the traditional method, but to see Kearney gravitate to a system like that implemented by the Federal Government where photo identification is needed to vote.
The method of choice was put to three separate votes at the March 3 council meeting. Vote by mail and internet/telephone voting were both defeated by a five to two vote with only councillors Paul Tomlinson and Louise Wadsworth defending the mail and technology-based systems.
“It’s apparent from the votes on the last resolution that council doesn’t seem to be respecting the wishes of the voters,” said Tomlinson.
Councillor Charlie Zummach stated that he had spoken to 35 to 40 people who would disagree.
“Everyone of them want the traditional method of voting,” he said. “I think that is respecting the wishes of the residents.”
However, Zummach stated he didn’t know how many of those constituents were seasonal as opposed to permanent residents of the Town of Kearney.
“The last person I spoke to this morning was a seasonal resident and they wanted to go back to the old way of voting,” said councillor Bob Tilley.
“When people are voting it is important to properly apply the democratic process. One of the concerns that has been raised to me is that folks who don’t come to town and vote remotely are receiving information remotely,” said Mayor Jeff Johnston. “We have to ensure that the voters are informed.”
Johnston says seasonal residents, if they support the democratic process will travel to vote in the election or at one of the town’s advanced polls, adding that it puts controls in place.
“Vacant property owners are not involved with the community as much as cottagers or permanent residents,” he said. “Hunt camps or other properties where you have 12 or more owners that means 12 or more votes and that means the quality of the votes. Do they support the democratic process and their right to vote enough to come up?”
Council met the third resolution, in favour of the traditional method of voting, with a five to two vote. In this vote Tomlinson and Wadsworth voted against. The motion was carried.