Alberta municipalities pushing back on provincial ban of electronic tabulators [Video]

Alberta municipalities are looking for the provincial government to reconsider its decision to ban electronic vote tabulators in next year’s municipal elections.

A resolution to be presented to delegates at the Alberta Municipalities conference in Red Deer this week calls for the province to allow for the tabulators “to ensure accurate, cost-effective and timely results for Albertan voters.”

The motion to advocate the province to reconsider its decision comes from the City of St. Albert, and is seconded by the Town of Rocky Mountain House.

Cathy Heron, the mayor of St. Albert, told QR Calgary’s Shaye Ganam she doubts the exclusion of electronic vote counters would improve the local election process.

“The tabulators were brought in to improve the process and to get more accurate results,” Heron said. “Now, human error has been introduced back in.”

The removal of electronic tabulators was part of Bill 20, a lengthy list of amendments to the province’s Local Authorities Election Act, tabled in April.

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