City of Kingston to go over measures regarding online voting in municipal elections

Council voted to defer after hearing concerns from a delegation from Queen's University.

The City of Kingston are going over the procedures regarding online voting.

City Council voted at last Tuesday's meeting to defer a decision on whether to use online voting for the upcoming 2026 municipal election.

Cllr. Brandon Tozzo, who moved a motion to defer, says there have been concerns raised about the security of internet voting.

A delegation from Queen's University was at the meeting to talk about the reliability and threats posed with online voting. Michael Murphy from the Centre for International and Defense Policy suggests there are not only security risks involved but online voting does not lead to higher voter turnout.

Tozzo says there hasn't been any issues with internet voting since it was adopted for the 2014 municipal election.

He says the report from staff will hopefully calm some nerves.

On the subject getting more people to vote, Tozzo says it is usually a hotly-contested position or a referendum issue that drives people to head to the ballot box.

Tozzo says it is important for Council to do their due diligence and by having staff look into the measures that are currently in place gives the voter reassurances that the election on Oct. 26 will be fair.

Story by Ken Hashizume