No online voting in Hamilton's next municipal elections, says council, despite staff's recommendation

After lively discussion from Hamilton city councillors on Wednesday about the pros and cons of online voting, they decided it won't be used in upcoming elections.

At a meeting Wednesday, council voted 9-5 against staff's recommendation to offer online voting as an option in the upcoming Ward 8 byelection Sept. 22, and the municipal election on Oct. 26, 2026. Nominations for the byelection close Aug. 8. 

A staff report said online voting could save the city some money, "by reducing the need for as many staff and polling locations on election day."

In order to be able to vote online, people must register to vote, set up an account with their email address, verify the account and set up two-factor authentication, complete a registration process that includes providing two pieces of ID, and more, City clerk Matthew Trennum said.

That's more checks and balances than for in-person voting, which, for example, not require a voter's card or an ID.

"Are there risks to online voting? Yes. The risks to in-person voting are greater than the risks for online voting," said Coun. Cameron Kroetsch of Ward 2. 

'"I think our choice is pretty clear."

But the majority of councillors didn't agree.

'Are we serious?'

Ward 6 Coun. Tom Jackson said he was "strongly" against exploring online voting, citing safety following last year's cybersecurity incident. 

"Are we serious? We want to risk online voting at a time we've just been through spending [millions of] dollars of taxpayer money due to a cyber attack?" he said.

Ward 9 Coun. Brad Clark said he's concerned about public trust and how that could impact voter turnout if online voting is approved.

The city previously tested online voting during 2024's Ward 4 school board trustee byelection. While voter turnout was very low, with less than 500 ballots cast, the report said it wasn't due to online voting. Nearly half of those votes were done online. 

Other councillors, who opposed online voting, said the current system works and that they should instead discuss how to make in-person polls more accessible.

But Ward 3 Coun. Nrinder Nann said online voting makes the election process more accessible.  

"It is unacceptable from the perspective of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility and the reality that we have an obligation as a corporation ... to ensure that our process for democracy at the City of Hamilton accommodates those with disabilities and if the website is something that enables that, then we need to stop fear-mongering," she said.

How they voted:

For: Kroetsch (Ward 2), Nann (Ward 3), Tammy Hwang (Ward 4), Mark Tadeson (Ward 11), and Alex Wilson (Ward 13).

Against: Maureen Wilson (Ward 1), Matt Francis (Ward 5), Jackson (Ward 6), Esther Pauls (Ward 7), Clark (Ward 9), Jeff Beattie (Ward 10) and Mike Spadafora (Ward 14).