Campaign
PAPER BALLOT - ELIMINATING PAPER MAY ALSO LEAVE SOME VOTERS BEHIND
6 of 18 Series - ONTARIO MUST RESTORE THE PAPER BALLOT CHOICE, BEFORE THE 2026 MUNICIPAL ELECTION
Cybersecurity is not the only problem.
Research based on Ontario municipal elections has also examined what happens when municipalities eliminate paper ballots.
One peer-reviewed study found that digital access and digital literacy strongly affected voting-method choice and warned that removing paper ballots could disadvantage electors on the wrong side of the digital divide.
That matters to seniors.
It matters to rural residents.
It matters to people without reliable internet.
It matters to people uncomfortable entering personal credentials into an online election system.
And it matters to voters who simply believe something as important as choosing their government should leave a tangible record.
"If physical, auditable paper ballots are considered appropriate for choosing Canada's Parliament and Ontario's Legislature, why should municipal voters not be entitled to the same tangible, independently recountable record?"
Sources:
The 18-Part Paper Ballot Poster Series
Steve Lesperance
Candidate for Councillor - Ward 8
City of Kawartha Lakes
Steve's Tax Promise
Not just stop tax hikes. Let’s lower taxes.
Not just stopping tax hikes — working to lower the tax burden on residents.
Any tax reduction requires Council support, budget review, and responsible financial decisions.
Read the Tax Promise