Before I ran for Council, I worked with seniors who had collected more than 2,000 signatures in opposition to electronic voting. I presented Council with information from the federal Special Committee on Electoral Reform, this committee heard expert witness testimony and determined that electronic online voting should not be implemented, primarily due to concerns about security, proof of identity and secrecy of vote. This was in 2016, before ai had entered into our mainstream global culture.

Kingsville went forward with an online election, run by a foreign owned corporation and the outcome was dismal, with delayed results, vendor communication failure, mailing errors and skepticism regarding the integrity of the election. Several candidates called for an audit, which without paper ballots, was not an option.  

That experience reinforced for me that elections must be secure and trusted and that convenience should never come at the expense of confidence in our voting system, and so I continued advocating for a return to in-person voting. 

And finally, this year, we have it. Kingsville is returning to in-person voting with paper ballots. In-person voting does not mean less accessibility, residents who are unable to leave their homes can use the Town’s Vote at Home program, and our long term care facilities will each have their own voting stations.

Kingsville has 3 advance voting dates and on election day, October 26, you can vote at any of Kingsville’s four voting locations. 

I’m proud to have been part of this journey, and I’m glad we’re finally here. Please be sure to exercise your right to vote this October.