M I N U T E S

SPECIAL GENERAL COMMITTEE

 

Finance & Administrative Issues                                                Community Services Issues

Chair:              Mayor Frank Scarpitti                                                                            Chair:              Councillor Alex Chiu

Vice Chair:      Councillor Carolina Moretti                                                                   Vice Chair:      Councillor Howard Shore

 

Environment & Sustainability Issues                                          Building, Parks, & Construction Issues

Chair:              Councillor Valerie Burke                                                                         Chair:              Councillor Logan Kanapathi

Vice Chair:      Regional Councillor Joe Li                                                                      Vice Chair:      Councillor Colin Campbell

 

                                                                                                                       

                Alternate formats are available upon request.

 

 

Attendance

 

Mayor Frank Scarpitti Deputy Mayor Jack Heath Regional Councillor Gord Landon Regional Councillor Joe Li Councillor Valerie Burke Councillor. Howard Shore Councillor Don Hamilton Councillor Carolina Moretti Councillor Colin Campbell Councillor Alan Ho Councillor Logan Kanapathi Councillor Alex Chiu   Regrets Regional Councillor Jim Jones

Andy Taylor, Chief Administrative Officer Catherine Conrad, City Solicitor Trinela Cane, Commissioner of Corporate Services Martha Pettit, Deputy Clerk Nasir Kenea, Chief Information Officer Stephen Huycke, Acting Deputy Clerk Teodor Tecsa, Manager Applications & GIS Alida Tari, Council/Committee Coordinator

 

The General Committee convened at the hour of 1:09 p.m. with Councillor Alex Chiu in the Chair.  Councillor Carolina Moretti assumed the Chair at 1:11 p.m.  Mayor Frank Scarpitti assumed the Chair at 1:35 p.m.

 

 

 

DISCLOSURE OF INTEREST

 

None disclosed.

1.         MARKHAM VOTES 2014
            INTERNET VOTING PROGRAM (9.0)

            Presentation

 

Stephen Huycke, Acting Deputy Clerk delivered a PowerPoint presentation regarding the Internet Program for the 2014 Municipal Elections.

 

The Committee discussed the following:

·        On-line voting statistics

·        The accuracy of the voters list

·        Better communication relative to the type of identification required to be added to the voters list

·        The potential to expand the on-line voting up to and including voting day

·        Need to investigate how to engage new voters

·        Telephone versus Internet Voting – same security

·        The ability to cast your vote with a smartphone

·        City’s protocol for individuals that have registered for internet voting and misplaced their password

·        Would like to see the statistics of early voting prior to 2003 (prior to Internet Voting) to compare whether the turnout went up or down

·        Identification requirements by the City

·        Potential to hold Workshops in highschools relative to Municipal Election

·        Possibility to generate reports of on-line voters according to subdivisions

·        Importance of voter audit trail for on-line and in person ballots

·        Legislation with respect to the availability of the voters list - can the voters list be available sooner?

·        Issues in the 2010 Election related to the Optical Scan Vote Tabulators

·        Look at entire design to ensure that the ballots are more user friendly (include more  between the candidates and using a larger font size)

·        Investigate possibility of having the internet voting and registration deadlines consistent

·        Investigate potential of the polling stations with higher voter turnout having more than one tabulator machine to avoid long lines

 

It was suggested that if any Members of Council have ideas for staff to consider regarding the 2014 Municipal Elections to e-mail Stephen Huycke and copy Members of Council.

 

Moved by Councillor Howard Shore

Seconded by Councillor Alex Chiu

 

1)         That the presentation entitled "Markham Votes 2014- Internet Voting Program" be        received; and,

 

2)         That Council authorizes the use of Internet Voting for the Early Voting Period for the      2014 Municipal Elections; and,

 

3)         That Council authorizes the use of Optical Scan Vote Tabulators and Vote Recorders for          the 2014 Municipal Elections; and further,

 

4)         That staff be authorized to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

CARRIED

 

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

There was no new business.

 

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

Moved by Councillor Alex Chiu

Seconded by Councillor Logan Kanapathi

 

That the Special General Committee meeting adjourn at 3:07 p.m.

CARRIED