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Automated vote counting in Kimberley

Automated vote counting machines will be in use for the November 15 election

For the first time, the City of Kimberley will be using an automated vote counting system for the election procedure. Voters will vote by completing ovals in the space provided on the paper ballot opposite the name of a candidate that they wish to vote for:

  • One (1) name for Mayor
  • Six (6) names for Councillors
  • Three (3) names for School Trustees

Marking the Ballot

For both Advance and General Voting, electors upon registration, will be informed on how to mark the automated ballot and how to insert the ballot in the automated vote counting unit. As part of registration the elector will be asked to make a declaration and sign the registered voters list. A ballot will be issued as well as a privacy sleeve for the ballot and the voter will be instructed to fill in the ovals behind a voting booth and proceed to the automated voting machine. An election official will be at the machine at all times to provide assistance.

Do NOT vote for more candidates than are to be elected. Fill in the oval beside the name completely and do NOT use an ‘X’ or any other symbol.

Assistance

If assistance is required, the election officials will arrange for this assistance. If an elector decides to make changes to his/her ballot, he or she can ask an election official for a new ballot. The secrecy of the old ballot will be maintained but it will not be counted.

Curbside Voting

If an elector is unable to access the voting place the election officials will provide curbside voting. The election official will take the ballot back into the voting place and insert the ballot in the voting machine, ensuring that the secrecy of the ballot is maintained at all times.

Casting Your Vote

The ballots are inserted into the machine face down, within a secrecy sleeve if you prefer. If the elector has voted for too many candidates or too few candidates, the machine will display that information. The elector can then have the ballot returned and the elector can privately revise and then recast the ballot. The election official at the machine will help.  If the voter does not wish to vote for the full number of candidates the machine can be instructed to accept the under-voted ballot and those votes will be counted.

Full details on the Election process can be viewed as part of the General Election and Other Voting Bylaw No. 2499, 2014(link is external)

You can also watch a short video illustrating the automated voting machine by clicking here(link is external).

Demonstrations

The Chief Election Officer will demonstrate how the automated voting machine works for those that are interested.  Demonstrations are scheduled for Monday, November 3rd, 2014 at 3:00 p.m. and Monday, November 10th at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall.