Nearly half of the eligible voters in Shuniah don't live in the municipality.
Other residents may have mobility issues.
So, for the first time ever the municipality is having a paperless election. From Oct. 17 at 8 a.m. until Oct. 27 at 8 p.m., voters can cast their ballot online or by telephone.
"It doesn't matter where they are they will be able to vote. We have people voting from Dubai. We have people on cruise ships, which will be voting. We have people in Europe and all through the states who will be able to vote in this election for the first time,"
clerk and returning officer Nadene Hunley-Johansen said.
In the next few days voters should be receiving their cards with unique PIN numbers. They can then head to the website or call the toll-free number, neither have been released yet for security reasons, and follow the instructions. Hunley-Johansen said her office has gone through the system and it is extremely easy to use.
Just in case people are having trouble, or they don't have access to a phone or a computer, Shuinah is setting up assistance centres. Hunley-Johansen said they don't anticipate a lot of people will need the help but there centres are there if needed.
As for security concerns, an independent auditor will be monitoring the system before, during and after the election to make sure everything is legitimate. The auditor will also be testing the system to try and breach it.
"We have protocols in place that the auditor will be using," Hunley-Johansen said.
Nearly instant results are also a plus to the new system. If all goes according to plan, once the system locks down at 8 p.m. official numbers could be out as early as ten minutes later.
"We'll be the envy of many clerks across Ontario," she said.
The electronic system is around $2.90 per voter compared to the $2.20 Shuniah spent through paper ballots.
With nearly a quarter of municipalities across the province adopting an electronic system, Hunley-Johansen thinks other places in the region will likely adopt it in the near future.
