During its most recent annual meeting, the British Columbia Chamber of Commerce endorsed a resolution that promotes the adoption of I-voting by the 2018 municipal elections.
According to Cindi Pohl, president of the Chamber, improving citizen participation is a matter of general interest. “Governments impact what we do,” she said. “The more business people we can get voting is good.”
The resolution cited low voter turnout and poor constituent engagement. “I-voting is a method that reduces many potential barriers and therefore can positively impact engagement,” the resolution reads.
The B.C. Elections Act stipulates that all eligible voters must be provided of time to vote by their employers. I-voting may bring them the opportunity to cast their votes.
In addition to calling for an electronic ballot in 2018, the Chamber also recommended the establishment of an independent technical committee to evaluate i-voting systems to ensure the integrity of the elections.
In this regard, an independent panel for i-voting studied its feasibility and made recommendations to the provincial government.