Voters at the polling station in the gym of Our Lady of Perpetual Help School on Garfield Ave. saw their votes rapidly counted Thursday morning. Two grumbles about a preference for “paper ballots” were heard but in fact the marking of ballots remains as old-fashioned as time. An ink marker is provided to make an X on the traditional alphabetical list printed on white paper. A cardboard envelope permits confidentiality as the voter hands the ballot over to the counting machine operator. The machine latches into the ballet and pulls it into the counter. The printed portion is face down so no one can see how the vote was cast.
SOME TECHNICAL ISSUES
A report from Elections Ontario at midday revealed what were called technical issues at a handful of locations. According to a spokesperson, 99.57 percent of technology-enabled polls are up and running. It’s not known how many polls are represented by three percent. The process in such cases can fall back on hand counting if necessary. The CBC said there were reports of electronic vote tabulators not working, errors in electronic databases, internet connectivity outages, and staff who were not well versed in the new machines giving long explanations on how to use ballots. It said reports of such slowdowns were received from Toronto, Ottawa, London and Tillsonburg. CBC
