New Voting Processes for the October 19, 2024 provincial election.
New voting technology will be in place to streamline the voting process in the upcoming October 19, 2024 BC Provincial Election.
Instead of using paper lists, networked laptops will check voters in and cross them off the list, making the process faster and reducing line-ups. This also allows voters to cast their ballots at any voting location.
Paper ballots will still be used, but electronic tabulators will count them. These machines are designed to be secure, accurate, and efficient, enabling quick reporting of results on election night.
Nearly all ballots will be counted by the end of the night, including absentee and mail-in votes, which previously took two weeks to process. The networked system allows almost real-time integrity checks to ensure votes are valid.
The new system also improves voting for those outside their home district and for voters with disabilities.
If you’re voting outside your district, a ballot with the candidates from your home district will be printed for you, and it will be counted immediately. Previously, these ballots were held for final counting.
For voters with disabilities, an Accessible Voting System will be available in all district electoral offices after September 28. This system allows voters to independently mark their ballot using audio prompts, hand-held selectors, or other assistive devices.
Electronic Tabulators
According to information on the Elections BC website, electronic tabulators will play a key role in this election, providing several benefits:
Voters can vote at any location.
Results will be reported faster.
Almost all ballots will be counted on election night.
The system improves accessibility for voters with disabilities.
Tabulators notify voters if their ballot is unreadable, giving them a chance to correct it.
Elections BC says the machines are not connected to the internet, reducing the risk of hacking, and they are rigorously tested before and after use, with oversight by candidate and party representatives.
According to the website the tabulators are not voting machines. They only count paper ballots. Paper ballots remain the most secure method of voting, as they can't be hacked.
All ballots are retained for audits or recounts if necessary.
For more information about the new system you can check out the Elections BC website.
New Voting Process BC Election
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