June 1 to 4, 2014 Edmonton, Alberta. Conference factoids This year’s theme was Creating Possibilities: Igniting Transformative Solutions There were six

Insights from the Institute of Public Administration of Canada’s 66th Annual Conference

June 1 to 4, 2014Edmonton, Alberta

Conference factoids

This year’s theme was Creating Possibilities: Igniting Transformative Solutions

There were six sub-themes:Aboriginal Communities in CanadaLeveraging Diversity to Drive Healthy SolutionsThe 21rst Century CityEnvironmental Renewal and Environmental

WrathSecurity and Community ResilienceSocial Entrepreneurship to Societal Benefit

Conference factoids

I volunteered as a member of the Twitter Team, a group of people who tweeted updates from each session

There were a large number of off-site tours that people could attend, including a tour of Housing First facilities, the North Saskatchewan River Valley Walk, and the City of Edmonton’s Waste Management Centre

Area of Focus: Internet Voting

Laura Kennedy, the City of Edmonton’s Director of

Elections and Census, discussed the City’s 2012 test of internet voting

Brigitte Sobush, the Deputy City Clerk of Sudbury, and Keith Archer, Chief Electoral Officer of Elections BC, shared their own impressions about Internet voting

In Winnipeg, there is currently no Internet voting, though the City says they are using online tools

Sudbury

City tried different techniques of voter engagement for 2014 municipal and school board election

Included advance Internet vote (from home, work, university, or vacation) by computer, smart phone or tablet

Used similar security protocols to online banking and business transactions

Voters with disabilities could use their own adaptive software

Source: Brigitte Sobush (Deputy City Clerk, City of Greater Sudbury), Internet Voting: Yea or Nay? Presentation, Institute of Public Administration of Canada 66th Annual Conference, Edmonton, Alberta, June 3, 2014.

Sudbury: How It Works

Election day is October 27, 2014People can participate in an advance Internet vote from 8 a.m.

on October 14, 2014 to October 24, 2014Traditional paper ballot voting (advance) on a Saturday

(October 18, 2014) at five locations in greater Sudbury They could also vote during the advance voting period on the

Election Bus, a mobile voting location that made the rounds throughout the City of Greater Sudbury, including malls and high schools


Sudbury Election Bus



Voters have the choice of voting at any location on Election Day.How is this possible?Use of electronic voters listQuick voter registration using bar code scannersBallot on demand printingUnique types of voter engagement, like campus voter

registration and directing people to voterlookup.ca, where you can make sure you’re registered to vote




British Columbia

In 2011, Vancouver requested permission to use Internet Voting (which the government did not support)

In 2012, the Minister of Justice invited the Chief Electoral Officer to put together a panel

The panel reviewed literature, case studies, interviewed experts, interviewed vendors, consulted with the public and drafted recommendations, before issuing a final report

The panel looked at Internet voting from a remote site, as opposed to a kiosk

Source: Keith Archer (Chief Electoral Officer, Elections British Columbia), Internet Voting: Yea or Nay? Presentation, Institute of Public Administration of Canada 66th Annual Conference, Edmonton, Alberta, June 3, 2014.

British Columbia: Advantages?

Increase Voter turnout? Common rationale is that it will increase turnout,

especially youth, but data did not support thisIncrease Accessibility?There is the use of mail-in ballots in British Columbia,

but it accounts for less than 1% of votersBC has generous voting accessibility practicesImprove speed and accuracy of results?Current model shows high level of accuracy


British Columbia: Advantages?Cost savings?Most jurisdictions using Internet voting do it as an

additional channel, pilots can be costlyReduce voter errors when casting ballot?British Columbia has less than 1 per cent of ballots

rejected, with some likely intentionally spoiledRequires fewer resources of parties and candidates?Current model is labour intensive, but Internet voting

requires scrutineers and auditors, as wellGreener option? More current practice?


British Columbia: Challenges?Security?Phishing, not in control of election administration,

there could be remote intrusion or denial of service at election server

Compromised election results?Limited vendors, so security breach can spreadPossible hacker outside jurisdiction Authentication and ballot anonymity?Issue of authentication credential for internet votingPublic trust, cost, and secrecy of the ballot?


British Columbia: Conclusions

Most significant benefit of Internet voting is enhanced accessibility, but there are challenges with security, authentication, transparency, and ability to audit Internet voting systems

Internet voting doesn’t guarantee higher turnout or an increased youth vote

Public education about Internet voting is keyPanel recommended NOT to implement universal

Internet voting, and when introduced, to take a province-wide approach. Also recommended a technical committee help any jurisdictions implement its use.Source: Keith Archer (Chief Electoral Officer, Elections British Columbia), Internet Voting: Yea or Nay? Presentation, Institute of Public Administration of Canada 66th Annual Conference, Edmonton, Alberta, June 3, 2014.

Thank you

What a wonderful learning experience!

Documents

June 1 to 4, 2014 Edmonton, Alberta. Conference factoids This year’s theme was Creating Possibilities: Igniting Transformative Solutions There were six