Woodstock city council to consider change in voting procedures

Pondering possible plebiscite to deal with possible voting system change

By Mark Schadenberg

Has modern technology gone too far?

There is a possibility that the next Woodstock municipal election could include voting via internet, telephone or email.

I never liked the idea of voting at an advance poll unless you could actually prove you were going to be away during the actual election date. I certainly also disagree with a system that permits someone to send through the mail their votes sometimes two or three weeks before the ‘real’ ballot day.

In both cases, I believe there is a possibility a major shift could occur in who are the best people for the post. Perhaps one topic or controversy in particular moves to the forefront and you decide that your preference is now a different candidate, but you’ve already submitted your panel of picks.

In Woodstock, we elect one mayor, two city-and-county combined councillors, and three city-only council members. An issue from the overall Oxford County viewpoint could erupt two days before ballot suffrage day, and you would be unable to change your selection – nullify your previous position.

There are always many topics of debate – taxes, waste and water management, residential development, municipal facilities, parks and recreation, transportation, roads and buses, zonings, and possible modifications to the so-called ‘official plan’.

I think the solution is simple. More polling stations (not fewer) and the encouragement to create a system where someone places an ‘x’ in the boxes of a ballot in person – in a neighbourhood school gym or community centre.

My ideas are not exactly related to a proposal current city council members may consider, but what is the point of having personal identification with pictures, if I can dial a 10-digit number and press another series of numbers to pick my politicians?

A Woodstock city hall employee – deputy city clerk Amy Humphries -- has penned a report with many suggestions for possible modifications to ponder by council to an overhaul of the local voting system for 2014.

Should we organize a local plebiscite with old fashioned ballot boxes to determine whether the ballot box era is over?

Here’s a link to The Woodstock Sentinel-Review story.

    

http://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/2013/07/09/new-voting-options-presented-to-woodstock-city-council-for-2014-election

Mark Schadenberg, Sales Representative

Royal LePage Triland Realty

757 Dundas St, Woodstock

www.wesellwoodstock.com

(519) 537-1553, cell or text

Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com

Twitter: markroyallepage

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