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Leamington first in Ontario to use only internet voting By Sheila McBrayne It’s been an idea of Leamington’s Municipal Clerk Brian Sweet for several years, but this year he’s getting the chance to execute it – a municipal election done completely through internet voting. Like Olympic events, municipal elections only come around every four years, and Sweet is confident that this is the year to execute this procedure. “We looked at this in the last election, but I don’t think the technology was there yet… I think this is the right time. I think it’s going to work very well,” said Sweet. Leamington Council approved the hiring of SCYTL Canada Inc. to set up the internet voting for Leamington. No other municipality in Ontario has done a total internet election. In 2010, 44 of Ontario’s 444 municipalities used some sort of internet voting component in their elections. Internet voting has been used in conjunction with polls, mailin and telephone voting. “We’ve put a lot of research into this and we think it’s the most cost effective and more accessible way to vote,” said Sweet. Sweet, along with municipal clerks from Chatham-Kent and other Essex County municipalities, all worked together to research the four companies who provide the electronic voting program. The clerks divided up the 44 municipalities who used electronic voting in some form in 2010 and contacted them for feedback and input. Sweet also talked to the clerk in Halifax, Nova Scotia who used the same company for an internet vote (in conjunction with polls) in 2010. “She said everything went great and she highly recommended it,” said Sweet. For the skeptics who ask about hackers and how can voters be sure their vote remains secret ballot, Sweet assures them that security should not be an issue. “There are safeguards in place. Some municipalities have been doing this (internet voting) for the past three elections. Some small glitches have been addressed and fixed. Of course, there are no guarantees, but it would be exceptionally difficult for a security breach,” said Sweet. For residents who do not have access to a computer, there will be voting information centres set up at the Leamington Municipal office and at the Kinsmen Recreation Complex. “It’s still very early. Council still has to decide how long the voting period will be - probably 10 or 12 days - with Election Day (Oct. 27) being the final day,” he said. Sweet is optimistic that internet voting may increase voter turnout. Sweet has been Leamington’s clerk through nine elections. The first five elections used the traditional polling stations and had a voter turnout percentage in the low 30s. When the muncipality replaced polls with mail-in ballots in the last four elections, voter turnout increased to about 50%. “I don’t know how big of a jump we may see or if we’ll see any increase or if we’ll achieve the same... It’s all about accessibility and this is more accessible for most,” said Sweet. “We’ll be doing a lot more advertising and informing residents as we go,” said Sweet.
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This house on Robson Road and other streets were buried in snow drifts last week. Leamington’s snow removal operators worked around the clock to ensure roads were cleared. Mayor John Paterson and all Council commended Rob Sharon, Director of Community Services, and all those involved on a job well done. Crews worked 16-hour shifts, 24 hours a day at the height of the storm to keep roads cleared. (SUN Photo)
Missing Leamington man recouperating from frostbite Truck found buried in snowbank When 70-year-old John Friesen left his house on Monday, January 6 for his usual 4 p.m. drive, he had no idea that the next 24 hours would become the wildest ride of his life. With blizzard-like conditions coming off Lake Erie – high winds, very poor visibility and -250 temperatures, Friesen, in his white GMC pickup, had on his Crocs and a light jacket for his drive. “His wife contacted police at about 8:30 p.m. that night when he didn’t return from his drive,” said OPP Constable Stephanie Moniz, Community Services/Media Relations Officer, Essex County OPP Detachment. “Police looked through the night, which was the night of the storm, with no luck,” she said. On Tuesday morning, January 8, OPP called in the assistance of Leamington road crews who were out plowing area roads. OPP Sgt. Shawn Diewold did a ‘ride along’ with snowplow operator Kevin Derbyshire with help from Dominic Najim, who was driving a frontend loader. By clearing roads and snow banks, the team scoured the area. Derbyshire spotted what looked like a red taillight on East Beach Road. When Najim dug it out, it was the white pickup they were looking for and Mr. Friesen was found alive inside the cab. Despite not being properly dressed for the weather – Crocs and a light jacket – Mr. Friesen was found to be dehydrated, disoriented and frostbitten, but alive. EMS took Friesen to Leamington District Memorial Hospital where staff was waiting to treat his low body temperature and frostbite. “It’s a miracle, really. He definitely has an angel watching over him,” said Moniz. Friesen was treated for frostbite to his fingers and toes, but is otherwise in good condition, according to OPP. “It all worked out well… It really turned out the best that it could have, under the conditions,” she added.
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