There will be an option to vote by paper ballot in the City of Belleville in the next municipal election.
On Monday, council approved a motion to continue with internet and telephone voting in the 2026 municipal and school board elections but also to offer paper ballots at Voter Assistance Centres prior to Vote Day.
In the 2022 election there were no paper ballots though there were voter assistance centres open on election day where people could go to get help to vote.
Mayor Neil Ellis said it was major complaint he heard while campaigning in 2022 and at that time he said if he were elected mayor he would bring back a method of paper ballots.
Some councillors said telephone and internet voting proved difficult for many members of the community, particularly older voters while others are distrustful of such a system.
Councillor Chris Malette said he could not support the motion suggesting that it was insulting to insinuate that older voters could not vote electronically.
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“I think the day of paper ballots and the expense and the confusion, or just the clunky, old method that it is, has long passed.”
Mayor Ellis said it is not only senior citizens he has heard from.
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“It’s not so much seniors, it’s everybody. There are people of every age that do not want to vote on the computer. And, if you can find me somebody, I can find you two more that won’t want to do it.”
Voter turnout in the 2022 election was 39.6%, down about three per cent from 2018 though that was still higher than the provincial average.
The resolution was passed in a recorded vote of 6-3 with councillors Malette, Seu and Brown voting against.
Election-related costs for the administration of the 2022 municipal and school board election totalled $199,000.
The staff report suggests offering paper ballots during advance voting will add at least $50,000 to the cost to run the election.
