Election Procedures
The following are procedures established by the Clerk, per the Municipal Elections Act, to be used for the 2026 Municipal Election during which the Municipality of Marmora and Lake will be using Internet and Telephone Voting.
-
Authority
On March 18, 2025, the Council of the Corporation of the Municipality of Marmora and Lake adopted Bylaw 2025-21, authorizing the use of an alternative voting method (Internet and Telephone Voting) for the 2026 (and subsequent) Municipal Elections.
Section 42(3) of the Municipal Elections Act (the Act) states that:
(3) The Clerk shall,
(a) establish procedures and forms for the use of,
(i) any voting and vote-counting equipment authorized by by-law, and
(ii) any alternative voting method authorized by by-law; and
(b) provide a copy of the procedures and forms to each Candidate.Subsection 11(2) of the Act states that the Clerk of a local municipality is responsible for conducting elections within that municipality, which includes:
a) Preparing for the election;
b) Preparing for and conducting a recount in the election;
c) Maintaining peace and order in connection with the election; and
d) In a regular election, preparing and submitting the report described in subsection 12.1 (2) (a plan regarding the identification, removal and prevention of barriers that affect electors and candidates with disabilities).Section 12(1) of the Act states:
A Clerk who is responsible for conducting an election may provide for any matter or procedure that,
a) Is not otherwise provided for in an Act or regulation; and
b) In the Clerk’s opinion, is necessary or desirable for conducting the election.The power conferred by Section 12(1) includes the power to establish forms, including forms of oaths and statutory declarations, and the power to require their use. It also includes the power to require a person, as a condition of doing anything under the Act, or having an Election Official do anything under the Act, to furnish proof that is satisfactory to the Election Official of the person’s identity or qualifications, including citizenship or residency, or of any other matter.
Section 13 of the Act states:
(1) Any notice or other information that this Act requires the Clerk to give shall be given in a form and manner and at a time that the Clerk considers adequate to give reasonable notice or to convey the information, as the case may be.
Subsection 42(4)2 of the Act states, in relation to the procedures and forms established by the Clerk, that:
The procedures and forms, if they are consistent with the principles of this Act, prevail over anything in this Act and the regulations made under it.
Subsection 42(5) states, when a bylaw authorizing the use of an alternative voting method is in effect, Section 44 (voting proxies) applies only if the bylaw so specifies. Bylaw 2025-21 states that proxy voting provisions are not applicable for the Municipal Elections conducted in accordance with said bylaw.
Section 53 of the Act provides that the Clerk may declare an emergency if they are of the opinion that circumstances have arisen that are likely to prevent the election being conducted in accordance with the Act and provides the authority to the Clerk to make arrangements that they consider advisable for the conduct of the election. Any arrangements made by the Clerk, if they are consistent with the principles of the Act, prevail over anything in the Act and the regulations made under it.
Amendments To Procedures
The Clerk may, at any time, up to and including Voting Day, amend the procedures. Any amendments made shall be listed below, including the date on which the amendment was made. Such amendments shall be provided to all Candidates.
Forms
In addition to any prescribed forms, the Clerk, pursuant to Sections 12(1) and 12(2) of the Municipal Elections Act, shall determine and establish any forms for the 2026 Municipal Election, deemed desirable for conducting the election.
Therefore, as Clerk of the Municipality of Marmora and Lake, and Returning Officer for the 2026 Municipal and School Board Elections, I do hereby certify and approve the procedures for conducting the 2026 Municipal and School Board Elections.
Kristen McConnell
Municipal Clerk/Returning OfficerMay 29, 2026
-
Act mean the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, S.O., 1996, c. 32, as amended.
Ballot means either an image on a computer screen of a Ballot card containing spaces in which an Elector marks their vote, or an audio ballot when voting by telephone.
Candidate means a person who has been nominated under Section 33 of the Act.
Certified Candidate means a Candidate whose nomination has been certified by the Municipal Clerk under Section 35 of the Act.
Clerk means the Municipal Clerk of the Municipality of Marmora and Lake, acting as Returning Officer, who is responsible for conducting this election under the authority of the Act.
Election Day means the final day on which the vote is to be taken in an election and shall be until 8:00 p.m. on that day. Election Day in a regular election is the fourth Monday in October – October 26, 2026. (Also referred to as “Voting Day.”)
Election Official means an individual appointed, in writing, by the Clerk to assist with the administration, management, security and control of the Election.
Elector means a person who is entitled to be an Elector at an election held in the local municipality if, on Election Day, they meet the qualifications outlined in Section 17(2) and 17(3) of the Act.
Friend means a person who has been requested by an Elector to assist them in the voting process in accordance with the Act.
Internet Voting System means an alternative voting method authorized by Bylaw 2025-21 whereby Electors shall be entitled to vote over the internet using a secure voting system to cast their vote.
Municipal Office means the municipal building located at 12 Bursthall Street, Marmora, Ontario. (Also referred to as “Town Hall.”)
Neuvote Systems Inc. means the Voting Service Provider for the Municipality of Marmora and Lake’s 2026 Municipal Election voting methods, being Internet and Telephone Voting.
Personal Identification Number (PIN) means a unique multiple digit number assigned by the Voting Service Provider to each Elector to provide security for access to the voting system.
Preliminary List of Electors means a list of eligible Electors for the Municipality of Marmora and Lake, compiled by the Chief Electoral Officer (Elections Ontario) as required under Section 19 of the Act.
Proof of Identification means acceptable forms of ID that will validate an Elector’s name and qualifying address as prescribed in O.Reg 304/13.
Scrutineer means an individual, appointed in writing by a Certified Candidate, using the Form prescribed by the Clerk, to represent them during the voting process.
Town Hall means the municipal building located at 12 Bursthall Street, Marmora, Ontario (also referred to as the Municipal Office).
Voter Help Centre (VHC) means a designated physical location provided by the Municipality of Marmora and Lake, to be open on specified dates and times, as established by the Clerk, to assist Electors with the voting process or other general election inquiries, including revisions. The Voter Help Centre is located at the Municipal Office and shall include the physical building and the entire property on which the VHC is situated, and shall be treated as such place identified in accordance with Section 48 of the Act.
Voters’ List means the Preliminary List of Electors, as corrected by the Clerk, under the provisions of Section 22 of the Act.
Voting Day means the same as “Election Day.”
Voter Information Letter (VIL) means a letter in a sealed envelope containing a Personal Identification Number (PIN) for each person on the Voters’ List (or who has completed an application, duly approved by an Election Official, for inclusion on the Voters’ List), a telephone access number and internet address for voting, the Voter Help Centre address and times for assistance, and may include a list of Certified Candidates for office. These envelopes shall be mailed individually, or hand delivered, as required, to every person on the Voters’ List.
Voting Kiosk means a physical internet-enabled device at the Voter Help Centre which permits Electors to cast a Ballot on the Internet Voting System during the Voting Period.
Voting Period means the defined period of time that Electors may cast their vote, using the approved voting methods for the 2026 Election. The Voting Period shall commence at 10:00 a.m. on October 19, 2026, and end at 8:00 p.m. on October 26, 2026.
-
The Clerk of the Municipality of Marmora and lake shall notify Electors of the following election information through the use of advertisements:
That municipal and school board elections are being held for the Municipality of Marmora and Lake and that the Municipality has adopted an alternative voting method (and the manner in which Electors may use the alternative voting method), being Telephone/Internet Voting;
The office(s) of the council and/or school boards;
The date(s), time(s) and location(s) for the holding of the vote including the Voting Period, and the methods of voting for each;
Who is eligible to vote in the municipal and school board elections; and
The date(s), hours of operation and location of the Voter Help Centre, how persons can check to see if their name is on the Voters’ List, and the procedures by which their name can be added, or information corrected, on the Voters’ List.
At the Clerk’s discretion, notices will be published in the local newspapers and/or posted on the Municipality’s website, shared on social media, via direct mail-outs, or any other communication method the Clerk considers appropriate. All notices shall be made available in English only. All notices shall be issued in accordance with the Act and may include such items as:
Notice of Election Information;
Notice of Nomination;
Notice of Revision of Voters’ List; and
Certified Election Results.
The Clerk reserves the right to publish additional advertisements and notices as deemed appropriate.
Where possible, cooperative advertising may take place – costs to be approved and shared by the participating municipalities.
Each person on the Voters’ List shall be provided a Voter Information Letter (VIL) containing:
Their Personal Identification Number (PIN), the telephone number to call to cast a vote, and the designated internet address (URL) to access to cast a vote using the internet;
Instructions on how to vote;
Dates and hours of the Voting Period; and
The location of the Voter Help Centre.
All Voter Information Letters shall be made available in English only.
-
The Clerk shall require all Election Officials and/or other persons working in connection with the municipal election to swear or affirm an oath of secrecy in accordance with Section 49 of the Municipal Elections Act.
No person shall interfere, or attempt to interfere, with an Elector while in the process of accessing the Internet/Telephone Voting service unless expressly requested and authorized by an Elector seeking assistance.
Any individual requested by an Elector to assist them in voting is required to maintain the secrecy of the vote(s) cast by the Elector and shall vote according to the instructions and wishes of the Elector.
No person shall obtain or attempt to obtain information about how an Elector intends to vote or has voted.
No person shall communicate any information that might have been inadvertently obtained about how an Elector intends to vote or has voted.
No Elector shall reveal how they intend to vote except when obtaining assistance in voting from either a friend or an Election Official.
All Electors voting at the Voter Help Centre may vote with the assistance of a friend; however, the friend shall be required to take the appropriate oath, administered by an Election Official, prior to providing assistance.
No Elector shall take a photograph or video recording, during or after the voting process, of their marked Ballot, to post or reveal how they voted.
No Certified Candidate, or person working for a Certified Candidate, shall assist an Elector in the voting process at the Elector’s home, at any campaign event, at any campaign office, or at any other location/event during the Voting Period. Candidates shall refer the Elector to the Clerk’s Office, or the Voter Help Centre, should they require any assistance with the voting process.
All complaints regarding any and/or all breaches of secrecy shall be investigated by the proper authorities and shall be prosecuted according to the provisions of “Corrupt Practices and Other Offences – Penalties and Enforcement” under Sections 89 and 90 of the Act.
-
The Clerk may appoint, in writing, Election Officials, as required, to assist in the administration, management, security and control of the Election, and may delegate to an Election Official any of the Clerk’s powers and duties related to the Election under the Act.
The Clerk shall establish the roles and responsibilities of Election Officials, as well as the number of Election Officials required to organize and operate a Voter Help Centre, or Special Voting Location for the Election.
As part of the appointment of an Election Official, each individual shall be required to take an Oath of Secrecy, related to their election duties and responsibilities, and each Election Official shall be required to sign a declaration attesting to the same.
-
The Preliminary List of Electors shall be provided by the Chief Electoral Officer (Elections Ontario) in an electronic format. The List shall be reviewed by the Clerk, obvious errors shall be corrected, as permitted under Section 22 of the Act, and the List shall be approved for use as the Voters’ List on or before September 1, 2026.
The Voters’ List shall contain the name and address of each person who is entitled to be an Elector in the Municipality of Marmora and Lake, as well as additional information needed by the Clerk to determine the offices each Elector is entitled to vote for. The Clerk shall, to the best of their ability and legislative authority, ensure that an Elector’s name appears on the Voters’ List for the Municipality only once.
In accordance with Section 23 of the Act, and if the Candidate has submitted a written request to receive the Voters’ List on the Form established by the Clerk, access to the List shall be provided to Candidates by way of an online Candidate Portal. Any other parties under the Act who are entitled to receive a copy of the List shall receive it by way of a secure, electronic file as determined by the Clerk, and only if the List is requested in writing by such parties.
All Certified Candidates shall be entitled to receive only the portion of the Voters’ List they are entitled to. Candidates must ensure that any copies of the List are securely destroyed at the conclusion of the Election and are not used for any other purpose than the 2026 Municipal Election in accordance with the Act.
In accordance with Section 27 of the Act, Certified Candidates may access the Candidate Portal to view the interim list of changes to the Voters’ List. Candidates may also view the name of each person who has voted during the Voting Period, in accordance with Section 43 of the Act, by way of the Candidate Portal. This capability cannot provide Candidates, their designate(s), or Election Staff with information on how an Elector has voted; only whether the Elector has voted in the Election. Candidate Portal access to the Voter’s List will expire on October 26, 2026, at 7:55 p.m.
The Voters’ List may be amended by Electors who submit the prescribed Application to Amend Voters’ List Form from September 1, 2026, up to the close of voting on Voting Day, October 26, 2026. Such applications may be facilitated using an online portal approved by the Clerk, or in-person at specific locations established by the Clerk, including the Municipal Office/Voter Help Centre.
A person filing an Application to Amend the Voters’ List shall be required to furnish Proof of Identification in accordance with Ontario Regulation 304/13. When using the online portal, the applicant’s ID shall be uploaded electronically as part of their application and will be reviewed by an Election Official who must be satisfied with the identification prior to adding or amending the Elector’s information on the Voters’ List.
The Voters’ List can only be used for election purposes and shall not be placed or posted in a public area. The Voters’ List will be maintained electronically to reflect any amendments and Electors shall be struck from the Voters’ List at such time that they vote using the Internet/Telephone Voting System. All updates to the electronic Voters’ List will be in real time.
-
The Act provides that a person who contravenes any provision of the Act, a regulation under the Act, or a bylaw passed by a municipality under the Act, is guilty of an offence. Although the Municipality will be using an alternative voting method, being Internet and Telephone Voting, the principles and the integrity of the election process shall remain and are enforceable.
An individual who is convicted of an offence under the Act is liable to the following penalties in addition to any other penalty provided for in the Act:
For any offence, a fine of not more than $25,000;
For any offence other than a corrupt practice, the penalties described in Sections 88.23(2) and 88.27(1);
For an offence under Section 90, imprisonment for a term of not more than 6 months;
For any offence that the judge finds the individual committed knowingly, imprisonment for a term of not more than 6 months.
A corporation or trade union that is convicted of an offence under the Act is liable to a fine of not more than $50,000 in addition to any other penalty provided for in the Act.
The Criminal Code of Canada outlines offences pertaining to mail theft and states that a person who commits such an offence is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than 10 years, or is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.
The 2026 Marmora and Lake Municipal Election will rely on the delivery of VILs to Electors in order to allow those Electors to exercise their right to vote, and any instance or substantiated account of mail tampering will be taken seriously and reported to the appropriate authorities.
-
Scrutineers may be appointed, in writing, by the Candidate, on the Form prescribed by the Clerk, and as provided for in Section 16 of the Act. Either one appointed Scrutineer or the appointing Candidate will be entitled to attend each of the following:
The Municipal Office, located at 12 Bursthall Street, Marmora, on Monday, October 19, 2026, between 9:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., prior to the activation of the Internet/Telephone Voting System for the purpose of viewing a list of the Certified Candidates’ names and confirmation of zero totals;
The Voter Help Centre, during the hours of operation, to observe the voting process; and
The Voter Help Centre, to observe the opening of voting, the voting process, and the close of voting.
At the close of voting, no more than one appointed Scrutineer or the appointing Candidate may be present at the Voter Help Centre.
Scrutineers or Candidates who do not follow the instructions of the Election Official(s), or who attempt to interfere, influence and/or determine how an Elector is voting, will be requested to leave the Voter Help Centre. If a Scrutineer/Candidate is asked to leave, the Scrutineer’s appointment will be revoked, and the Scrutineer/Candidate will not be permitted to re-enter the Centre during the voting period.
At the close of voting, the use of mobile communication devices or recording devices shall not be permitted within the Voter Help Centre by any Candidate or Scrutineer in attendance, until after the Clerk has posted the results of the election.
-
Prior to the activation of the Voting System on Monday, October 19, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., Neuvote Systems Inc. shall allow access by the Clerk, the System’s Auditor, and other authorized Election Official(s), as determined by the Clerk, to the Internet Voting System by secure ID and password, for the purpose of viewing a list of all of the Certified Candidates’ names, including the sum total of votes cast, to ensure that all totals for all selections indicate zero (0). The system will not be activated until it has been confirmed that all counts associated with each of the possible selections indicate a zero total.
Candidates, or their Scrutineer, may be present from 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on October 19, 2026, to verify and ensure that the total votes cast are at “0” and those Candidates or Scrutineers present shall be requested to sign a document that attests to this fact. Only the Candidate, or their Scrutineer, may be present at the opening of the Voting Period, not both at the same time.
-
Service Provider
The service provider for Internet and Telephone Voting, is Neuvote Systems Inc.
System Integrity
The integrity of the voting process shall be the responsibility of the Clerk and shall be preserved by:
Ensuring that every Elector on the Voters’ List is provided with a Voter Information Letter (VIL) which contains the Voter’s Personal Identification Number (PIN), as well as the designated internet URL address to access the Internet Voting System and designated telephone number to access the Telephone Voting System;
Ensuring that no one except authorized Election Officials and election service providers have access to a comprehensive list of Personal Identification Numbers that match each Elector’s name and address;
Providing opportunities for Electors to be added to the Voters’ List, or to make amendments to the List, up until the close of voting on Voting Day;
Establishing proper procedures to ensure that no person is added to the Voters’ List or issued a PIN unless an Election Official is completely satisfied of their identity and qualification as an Elector in the Municipality of Marmora and Lake;
Appointing an Auditor to test the Voting System and providing same with read-only access to the Voting System;
Reviewing the reports, logs and auditable verifiable records generated by the Voting System prior to, during and after the Election; and
Ensuring every Elector who casts a successful vote is provided a verifiable receipt to confirm that their vote was cast successfully.
Voting Process
The Municipality of Marmora and Lake will provide the option for Internet and Telephone Voting throughout the Voting Period and on Voting Day. A Voter Help Centre (VHC) will be available from October 19th through October 23rd. The VHC will have an online Voting Kiosk available for Voters to vote by internet. On October 26th, Voting Day, Voters will have the option to vote by Internet or Telephone, or by using an online Voting Kiosk at the VHC located at the Municipal Office (upstairs/Council Chambers), 12 Bursthall Street, Marmora.
The Voting System provided by Neuvote Systems Inc. shall allow Electors to vote using a telephone or the internet. Electors shall be required to access a designated internet address or phone a designated number in order to cast their Ballot online or by telephone.
Every Elector shall be limited to only one vote via one of the available methods. Electors will verify and cast their vote through the use of a PIN identified in the VIL. Every elector shall be required to provide their date of birth along with their PIN. Once the Elector PIN has been used with the Internet/Telephone Voting system to cast a vote, it cannot be used for voting again.
Using the Internet/Telephone Voting system, following the Elector’s selection for all offices on a single composite Ballot, the Voting System shall identify the Elector’s choices and provide the Elector with the option of changing or confirming their vote selections prior to submission. The system requires all Electors to review all available selections prior to making their selections.
The Internet/Telephone Voting System shall enable Electors to under-vote a contest or contests, or decline from voting the Ballot in its entirety, if they wish to do so.
For the purposes of reporting declined Ballots in accordance with Section 55(4.1) 2. of the Act, an under-voted Ballot shall be considered an abstention from voting for one or more races on the Ballot or voting for fewer Candidates than is permitted within a single race, whereas a declined Ballot shall be considered a deliberate choice by the Elector to decline the entire Ballot by not selecting any Candidates and casting the Ballot. A declined Ballot shall not include votes cast for any race. A declined Ballot is separate and distinct from an under-voted Ballot, which may or may not include votes for all races, one race, or some races on the Ballot.
The Internet/Telephone Voting System shall not permit an Elector to over-vote, or to spoil a Ballot.
If an Elector is interrupted before casting their vote, they may re-commence voting later using the same method or the other method. Once an Elector has cast their vote, that Elector will not be granted access to Internet/Telephone Voting again. If an Elector terminated the voting session using the Internet/Telephone Voting system, they can visit the VHC and cast a vote in-person using a Voting Kiosk. An Elector is only struck off the Voters’ List once a Ballot has been officially cast.
Voting will commence on Monday, October 19, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. and close on Monday, October 26, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. Notwithstanding the closure of remote voting at 8:00 p.m. on Voting Day, persons present at the VHC at 8:00 p.m. will continue to be allowed to access the Internet Voting System and complete the voting process. Persons who have gained access to the Voting System through their own device prior to 8:00 p.m. on Voting Day will be permitted to complete the voting process, provided that they do so by 8:03 p.m.
Prior to the activation of the system by Neuvote Systems Inc. on Monday, October 19, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., Neuvote Systems Inc. shall allow access by the Clerk, the System’s Auditor, and other authorized Election Official(s), as determined by the Clerk, to the Voting System by secure ID and password, for the purposes of viewing a list of all the Certified Candidates’ names on the Ballot, including the sum total of votes cast to zero (0).
Candidates, or their Scrutineer, may be present at the Municipal Office from 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on Monday, October 19, 2026, to verify and ensure that all Candidates’ names are listed and the total votes cast are at zero.
Where an Elector has more than one qualifying address in the municipal boundaries of Marmora and Lake, the Elector may vote only once and the qualifying address to determine eligibility for voting shall be at the place of residence of the Elector, as defined under the Act. Should an Elector receive more than one VIL, the Elector may only vote once and must return the other VIL to the Clerk’s Office. All Electors who vote more than once in the Municipality of Marmora and Lake Election, or who improperly use the VIL, are in violation of the Act and therefore subject to the penalty provisions under the Act.
Where an Elector has tried to use their PIN and it appears that it has already been used, the Elector can attend the VHC, with Proof of Identification, and have an authorized Election Official, or the Clerk, confirm whether the Elector’s PIN has been used by an unauthorized individual. Prior to the issuance of a new VIL and PIN, the Elector shall be required to complete the Form prescribed by the Clerk and satisfactorily answer all questions posed by the Election Official, or Clerk. If the Clerk or Election Official believes that all questions have been answered truthfully and satisfactorily, they may provide the Elector with a new PIN in accordance with the Municipality’s established practice.
The Elector will be added to the Voters’ List and a note will be entered on the Voters’ List to indicate that the Elector’s PIN was already used and that the Elector has completed the required oath and declaration to receive a new VIL, allowing the Elector to cast their Ballot with their new PIN. The original Ballot that was cast by the unauthorized individual will remain in the Internet Voting System, as Ballots are disassociated from their PINs once they are cast and cannot be retrieved.
Where an Elector’s PIN is assigned an incorrect school board, the Elector can attend the VHC to have their information updated on the Voters’ List by completing an Application to Amend the Voters’ List. The Elector must apply to have their information updated on the Voters’ List before casting their Ballot. If the Elector has already cast their Ballot and exhausted their PIN, they cannot make any further changes to their eligibility or re-cast any part of their Ballot.
New PIN(s) shall not be given out by anyone other than an Election Official who has been appointed, in writing, by the Clerk to do so. A VIL containing the PIN shall not be given to any person at the VHC, unless the Election Official is satisfied of the Elector’s identity and the Elector has completed the prescribed Form(s).
Electors may vote by using the designated internet address (URL) provided in the VIL with a viable internet connection, by calling the designated number provided in the VIL, or by attending the VHC during the dates and times and at the locations established by the Clerk. Electors may attend either by themselves or with a Friend, who may assist the Elector in voting after taking the appropriate oath(s). In the absence of a Friend, Electors may request the assistance of an Election Official, who may provide assistance only after the appropriate oath has been taken.
Auditor
Prior to the start of the Voting Period, the Internet Voting System shall be tested by the Auditor and any other Election Officials appointed by the Clerk. All Logic & Accuracy testing shall be documented and retained until the destruction of Election Records occurs in accordance with Section 88 of the Act and/or the Municipality’s Records Retention Policy.
The tests shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
Voting System refuses Ballots before the start of the Voting Period;
Voting System is ‘zeroed out’ at the start of the Voting Period;
Voting System presents Electors with the correct Ballot based on their elector information;
Voting System does not allow over-votes on any Ballot;
Voting System acknowledges under-voted Ballots and prompts Electors if they wish to complete all contests on their Ballot;
Voting System ‘times out’ after a period of Voter inactivity;
Voting System refuses Ballots after the end of the Voting Period, except from specifically authorized Voting Kiosks;
The Voting System is sealed by the Clerk and cannot be unsealed until the end of the Election;
Voting System accepts Ballots from un-used eligible PINs;
Voting System refuses Ballots from used PINs;
For Telephone Voting specifically, the wording and clarity of the recordings and the input timing is accurate;
Voting System accepts Ballots from PINs that previously ‘timed out’ or were abandoned before being submitted; and
Voting System accurately counts votes for all Candidates in each contest.
The testing shall include at least one “mock election” using the names of all Certified Candidates. The Clerk will verify the results of the mock election using a pre-determined test file.
Testing will also ensure that the Internet Voting System accepts Ballots from specifically authorized Voting Kiosk Machines to be used at the Voter Help Centre.
All Voting Kiosk Machines and associated information technology infrastructure used at the VHC will be tested for internet access, network security, proper configuration, and device security.
A third party will perform an independent vulnerability test of the Municipality’s Internet Voting System to identify any security deficiencies which will be mitigated in coordination with Neuvote Systems Inc. to ensure the deficiencies are addressed. Such testing may be carried out through a collaboration of other municipalities using Neuvote Systems Inc.
-
If any circumstances arise that are likely to prevent the election from being conducted in accordance with the Act, the Clerk has the discretion to declare an emergency and make any arrangements they deem necessary to conduct the election.
In the event of an emergency, the Clerk shall advertise and post notices that the Election has been delayed or extended, as the case may be, utilizing any or all of the following media as the Clerk deems necessary: website, social media, and radio, if possible.
In the event of an emergency, and a decision by the Clerk, Neuvote Systems Inc., under direction from the Clerk, may be directed to stop the Voting System from accepting calls via telephone and connections from the internet. Alternatively, Neuvote Systems Inc. may also be directed to extend the Voting Period depending on the nature of such emergency.
Given the options available to Electors to vote from any personal device with an internet/phone connection, any event that results in the Voter Help Centre (VHC) becoming unavailable for use during the Voting Period (e.g. power failure, flooding, etc.) shall not be sufficient to cause the Clerk to declare an emergency, delay the vote, open a new VHC, or extend the Voting Period, unless otherwise determined by the Clerk.
In the event the Clerk is unable to be present to conduct these Procedures at any point during the Voting Period, there shall be a suitable qualified person appointed or available to attend to election details.
If deemed necessary, the Clerk may require public health screening of individuals entering the VHC, the use of personal protective equipment, social distancing, and/or regular sanitization of surfaces at the VHC, as needed.
Notwithstanding any provisions in this section, the Clerk shall have authority to implement any contingency necessary even if a formal emergency has not been declared.
-
Pursuant to Sections 56(1), 57(1) and 58(1) of the Act, a recount is required when:
Two or more candidates receive the same number of votes and cannot both or all be declared elected to the office;
By resolution of Council made within thirty (30) days after the Clerk’s declaration of the results, for all or specified candidates for an office on Council;
By order of the Superior Court of Justice.
Pursuant to Section 60(1) of the Act, a recount shall be conducted in the same manner as the original count, whether manually or by vote-counting equipment, unless otherwise ordered by a judge.
Pursuant to Section 62(3) of the Act, if the recount indicates a tie vote, the Clerk shall choose the successful Candidate, or Candidates, by lot.
The Clerk shall attend the recount and bring all documents that, in the opinion of the Clerk, are relevant to the recount.
Recounts for ballots cast using Internet/Telephone Voting will be conducted in coordination with Neuvote Systems Inc.
A recount shall not be conducted in any other manner or using any other Procedure unless otherwise ordered and specified by a judge.
In accordance with Section 61(1) of the Act, Certified Candidates for the office in which the recount is taking place, and one Scrutineer for each Candidate, may be present at the recount.