New system provider for phone/internet voting

WILLIAMSBURG – Voters in South Dundas will continue to let their fingers do the talking in the October 2010 municipal election, but the company tabulating and providing the results will change.

At the January 19 meeting, South Dundas council approved Intelivote Systems Inc., as provider of electronic/phone service alternative voting method for the coming election.

This alternative voting method has been used in South Dundas for the last two municipal elections. These elections had voter turnouts well above average, with nearly 60 percent of eligible voters casting a ballot either by phone or by internet.

“We have used CanVote Inc. for the past two elections and were very satisfied with the service,” said South Dundas clerk Brenda Brunt in her report to council. She recommended the lowest cost alternative.

“Intelivote Systems was used by various municipalities in Ontario in the 2006 election and there references were positive,” added Brunt.

CanVote’s bid to provide the service to South Dundas was just over $30,500, but the minimum payment owed by the township in the case that all positions are acclaimed is $15,000.

Council voted to accept the Intlivote bid in the amount of $27,000. The minimum payment owed by the township in the case that all positions are acclaimed is $4,500.