West Lincoln to try online advance voting for the first time

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Published September 27, 2022 at 11:24 am

Voters can use a computer at West Lincoln Town Hall (318 Canborough St, Smithville) to cast their online advance votes for the upcoming October 24 municipal election.

West Lincoln residents who want to vote in the October 24 municipal election won’t even have to leave the house.

In fact, they can cast their votes now if they wish.

For the first time ever, West Lincoln can cast their vote online and the advance polls opened yesterday (September 26) and will run through until October 17, a week before election day.

The one caveat is that voters will have to follow the online voting instructions that are sent to their homes on their voter cards in the mail.

Residents without a laptop or smart phone can use a computer in the township office at 318 Canborough St in Smithville.

The idea of online vote was approved back in April at an administration, finance and fire committee meeting by a 6-1 vote. The idea behind the online voting was to “increase participation among the youth, elderly and those with compromised immune systems or disabilities.”

The only person who voted against it was current mayor Dave Bylsma, who said he didn’t feel it was cost-effective.

He suggested the pen-and-paper voting system had always been effective enough in the past for the township of 15,000 people.

Bylsma, who has gained some notoriety for being vocally anti-vaxx and pro-freedom truckers, is being challenged for the mayor’s chair by Ward 3 councillor Cheryl Ganann.

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