2014 Mayoral Election

[LikeHamilton]

Has anyone seen any stats that show whether the municipalities that had online voting, have a better turn out for this election?

[thistleclub]

Five questions with Hamilton's returning mayor Fred Eisenberger
(Hamilton Spectator, Matthew Van Dongen, Oct 30 2014)

Fred Eisenberger wants to hit the ground running when he's sworn in as Hamilton's head of council in December.

The once-and-future mayor said Wednesday he's already meeting with councillors and assembling a team to help stay connected with upper levels of government and residents.

He wants quick action on the budget, a money-saving city service review and a citizens study of the city's rapid transit priorities, despite his personal support for Hamilton's contentious $811-million LRT proposal.

No, he won't promise a tax freeze or a quick LRT decision — but he does want a "made in Hamilton" recommendation within nine months.

The Spectator asked the mayor-in-waiting about his post-election priorities. His answers:

What are your priorities in the first few months?

"The budget comes first and foremost. I'd like to get that settled as quickly as we can, the capital budget for sure. A multi-year budgeting strategy, as well, is something I'd like to get the discussion going on right away.

"A citizen jury for transit will be a top priority issue … We want to get to it as fast as we can. We already have a model, the area rating model to follow … It worked well before; it will work well in the future."

Read it in full here.

[thistleclub]

Originally Posted by LikeHamilton

Has anyone seen any stats that show whether the municipalities that had online voting, have a better turn out for this election?

Will e-voting boost turnout in Ontario’s municipal elections?
(The Globe and Mail, Nicole Goodman, Oct 21 2014)

Excerpt:

Looking at data from Elections Canada, which asks non-voters about their rationales for not participating, shows that the largest group of reasons cited for not voting in 2000 and 2004 includes items such as disinterest, apathy, and cynicism. In 2008 and 2011, however, we see a shift where the most popularly cited reasons are those that relate to accessibility (e.g. being “too busy”, “travelling”, “work/ school schedule”, and “injury” etc). For electors who are away, busy or injured, the option of voting remotely online from the comfort of their home could encourage voting.

Evidence from the City of Markham supports this, showing that in 2003, when online voting was first made available, 25 per cent of Internet voters had been eligible to vote previously but reported not doing so. In 2006, 21 per cent of those who voted by Internet reported not voting previously, and 9 per cent of those in 2010.

These small increases are not going to solve the issue of low turnout. Nor is any added accessibility offered by remote online voting going to encourage the apathetic to participate. But, for the growing segment of electors who cite reasons related to accessibility as the rationale for their non-participation, could this voting method make the difference between voting and not voting? For some, it might.


Rise of e-voting is inevitable, as is risk of hacking
(The Globe and Mail, Adrian Morrow, Oct 26 2014)

Excerpt:

The use of Internet voting is exploding. Nearly 100 Ontario municipalities are using it in Monday’s election – including one that will even ditch paper ballots entirely. Proponents contend it is not only more convenient, but more equitable, giving people who cannot get to physical polling stations the same opportunity to vote as everyone else.

But the expansion of e-voting has also caused consternation for some security researchers and municipal officials. They worry that entrusting this pillar of democracy to computers is too great a risk, given the potential for software problems – or hackers determined to put beer-swilling robots on the school board....

Edmonton tested an e-voting system in 2012 with a mock election. But after some voters successfully registered to vote multiple times, city council got cold feet.

“If you actually open the door for hacking or security concerns or potential fraud, then you defeat the whole purpose of democracy,” then-councillor Kim Krushell told CBC. Other councillors countered that, during a real election, the security would be tighter. In the end, the city scrapped the system.

Ahead of Halifax’s 2012 election, security researcher Kevin McArthur scanned its Internet voting system for vulnerabilities. He said he uncovered security gaps that would allow a hacker to change votes without it showing on the system logs, by intercepting data between users’ computers and the server.

He took his concerns to the Cyber Incident Response Centre at Public Safety Canada. They were worried enough to warn both the Halifax government and the software provider, Scytl.

A Halifax spokeswoman confirmed the city looked into the potential problems, but she would not say what it did to fix them. In a statement, Scytl said the company “addressed the problems in written correspondence to CCIRC, by outlining the security capabilities of our existing technology.” It added it has safety measures in place to deal with the types of vulnerabilities Mr. McArthur says he found. Public Safety Canada would not say if it was satisfied with the response.

Despite these concerns, those who run e-voting are adamant about its security.

[thistleclub]

[mattgrande]

Holy crap! What happened in 2003?

[thistleclub]

In 2003, Rob MacIsaac was acclaimed to his third term and two of six ward races (1 & 4) were also acclaimed.

Acclamations were widespread in 2000 as well so the 2003 result may be somewhat cumulative.

There was also a general election held five weeks before the municipal election, which probably added voter fatigue to the mix.

[thistleclub]

What will it take to get people to vote?
(Hamilton Spectator, Andrew Dreschel, Nov 3 2014)

After last week's dismal voter turnout of 34.02 per cent, Councillor Sam Merulla wants to grow democratic participation by enticing voters with rewards.

Merulla doesn't know what form the incentives might take.

"If I knew it, I would say it."

He knows for certain it shouldn't be cash.

"It can't be money because the perception of that is terrible."

But he intends to put forward a motion to study the issue at the first meeting of the new council next month.

Merulla argues the new council should make boosting voter turnout for the 2018 municipal election a priority.

"It's about participation; it's about engagement; it's about ensuring that everyone is involved in the process."

Despite a number of crucial issues facing Hamilton, the Oct. 27 election saw the lowest turnout since amalgamation.

In the first amalgamated election of 2000, turnout was 43 per cent of eligible voters. In 2003, the turnout was 37.4 per cent; in 2006, 37.3 per cent; and in 2010, 40.45 per cent.

But as Merulla points out, Hamilton wasn't the only southern Ontario municipality where herds of voters stayed away.

In Burlington, the turnout was about 34 per cent. In Mississauga and Brampton, it was 36 per cent. Oshawa came in at 26 per cent; Kitchener about 30 per cent; and St Catharines roughly 31 per cent.

Toronto broke the pattern with a whopping 60 per cent turnout, the biggest since it was amalgamated.

One thing Merulla won't countenance is compulsory voting as in Australia. Electors who fail to cast a ballot in federal and state elections Down Under are fined about $20. Unsurprisingly, turnout is always more than 90 per cent.

Merulla argues the punishment approach is undemocratic.

"I think people have every right not to vote as much as they're free to vote. You start imposing punitive measures and suddenly you're no longer a free society."


Read it in full here.

[SteelTown]

Simple, allow online voting.

[thistleclub]

2018 Hamilton council race is on
(Hamilton Mountain News, Mark Newman, Nov 6 2014)

The 2018 municipal election campaign appears to have already started on the east Mountain.

“You can pretty much guarantee I’ll be there,” said Dan Rodrigues, who was beaten by long-time Ward 6 incumbent Tom Jackson by more than 6,000 votes.

“My plans are to run again in 2018,” said Jackson.

Rodrigues caused a bit of a stir amongst Jackson supporters on election night when he told Cable 14 that the veteran councillor would not be running again.

“I don’t know where he got that from,” said Jackson.

Rodrigues retracted his comments after speaking to Jackson the next day, saying his comments were based on what he thought at the time was accurate information.

The 58-year-old Jackson has represented Ward 6 since 1988.

[thistleclub]

Hamilton students earn credit for volunteering on trustee campaigns
(Hamilton Mountain News, Richard Leitner, Nov 6 2014)

The head of the Hamilton public school board’s policy committee is vowing to initiate a review of a practice of allowing students to earn credit at high school for working on trustee election campaigns.

Board vice-chair Todd White said he was unaware students can include the electioneering in the 40 hours of volunteering they must do to get their diploma – something the Catholic board explicitly forbids – until contacted by a reporter.

He said it’s “a good question” if trustees are in a potential conflict of interest because they have a direct stake in the election’s outcome and may be perceived to have an unfair advantage in recruiting student volunteers through regular access to schools.

Hamilton Community News only learned of the practice when an unsuccessful Ward 7 candidate sent an email touting the number of students who were earning credit for helping on her campaign.

White said the board’s guidelines were set by staff, not trustees, and are based on those drafted by the Ministry of Education, which are silent on electioneering and allow for local discretion.

He said he’s flagged the issue for his committee to review and determine if the board needs to set a policy or make changes.

“There is potential for conflict, but most of that, from what I can gather, would occur based on inappropriate solicitation during school hours on school property,” White said.

“If we can separate the two and you can clearly state what a trustee’s role is, and they’re in school for trustee purposes and not campaign purposes, then perhaps it would be appropriate,” he said.

“But if the lines are too blurred, then that’s the potential for conflict.”


Read it in full here.

[thistleclub]

Eisenberger proposes voting reform package
(Hamilton Spectator, Andrew Dreschel, Nov 7 2014)

If Fred Eisenberger has his way, Hamilton's new city council will be considering a sweeping range of reforms that could have a dramatic impact on future local elections.

Rather than bringing forward a bunch of initiatives piecemeal, the mayor-elect wants to put together a full package of ideas for stimulating voter engagement and turnout.

The bundle includes online voting, ranked balloting, educational programming and potential incentives to voters.

"I do want a higher voter turnout," Eisenberger said, referring to the disappointing 34 per cent turnout last week that returned him to office after a four-year break.

Eisenberger, who campaigned in favour of online voting and education programs, says the idea is to direct staff to study the feasibility of various ideas in one comprehensive swoop.

Councillor Sam Merulla, who recently proposed having staff look at ways of potentially rewarding voters for casting ballots, supports Eisenberger's broad-based approach.

Merulla originally intended to put his idea on the table shortly after the new council is sworn in Dec. 2. He's now willing to wait so he and Eisenberger can work on wording that is acceptable to both of them.

"I think the initiative is sound and it's one we need to take sooner rather than later, but we also need to be thorough in drafting it," Merulla said.


Read it in full here.

[thistleclub]

Checking in with Mayor Bob Bratina
(The Hamiltonian, Nov 10 2014)

Prior to the new term of council commencing, we thought we would check in with Mayor Bob Bratina and ask him to share some thoughts with our readers. Enjoy the Mayor's comments.

My sincere thanks to the Hamiltonian for presenting a dignified and respectful forum in which city matters could be discussed in as neutral and non-partisan a manner as is possible. Had all such local forums approached the issues in a similar fashion we may well have had a much higher voter turnout in the recent municipal election. The “why bother” attitude came in part because of the four year long LRT debate, spurred by a very small advocacy group. The broader public and prominent business leaders had long ago dismissed the B-line proposal as an unnecessary waste of money. I know this because I asked people in scores of direct conversations in every part of the city and in every walk of life. This was not a “wedge” issue for the vast majority who demonstrated their indifference on October 27th.

Read it in full here.

[thistleclub]

Hamilton: Democracy or oligarchy?
(Hamilton Spectator, Andrew Dreschel, Nov 12 2014)

Democracy is government by the people, especially a majority. Oligarchy is government by the few.

So, does a voter turnout of 34 per cent make Hamilton a democracy or an oligarchy?

"Basically, what you're getting into is you're going from democracy to oligarchy," says Frank Graves, president of the polling firm Ekos Research.

"The idea of democracy is that the people make the choice. In an oligarchy, it's a choice by few. And, in this case, that is the case: One in three Hamiltonians selected on behalf of everybody and that's not how democracy is supposed to work."

Even if Graves is being playfully provocative, there's no question he takes voter turnout seriously, making him the ideal expert to answer a left over question from the municipal election.

Does voter turnout really affect the outcome? Or are voters statistically representative of the non-voting public, meaning turnout has little impact on who wins or loses?

Councillor Sam Merulla has been beating that drum since turnout became a hot issue. He recognizes the need for greater public participation, but argues it's a "red herring" to say governments only express the will of a minority of voters.

Merulla maintains that Election Day is, in fact, a huge random sampling of the electorate's wishes. He says it doesn't matter if the turnout is 34 per cent or 95 per cent, the outcome will likely be identical.

"Election day is the most random sample known to man," he says. "The turnout is still statistically representative of what the results would be anyway if there were more votes cast."

A large body of academic research agrees that voters are relatively typical of non-voters. But it's a view that's falling on hard times.

According to Graves, it might have been true when turnout was much higher, but today it would only be "happenstance" if the outcome stayed the same regardless of how many voters showed up.

"The idea if you take 34 per cent of who showed up and say this is representative sample of Hamiltonians — no chance."


Read it in full here.

[Dr Awesomesauce]

BoBra's the worst ever. What a colossal waste of time he was.

[durandy]

he's just so oddly thin skinned for a politician.

[Jon Dalton]

Yeah, it's LRT's fault there was low voter turnout.

Imagine how our democracy will suffer if we actually build LRT? Low 20%'s turnout for decades to come. Don't do it!

[drpgq]

Remember when Bob briefly participated here? I know he insulted one of my posts which I'm pretty proud of.

[matt602]

Originally Posted by drpgq

Remember when Bob briefly participated here? I know he insulted one of my posts which I'm pretty proud of.

Haha, yeah. I chatted with him a few times about various abandoned buildings and things on SSP, even my urban exploring hobby. We talked about the roof collapse at Lyric Theatre right before it was demolished (it was a huge surprise to him and I think he actually brought it to the city's attention soon after). He wasn't such a bad guy when he was a councilor. He became a giant jackass as a mayor however and I'm glad to have him gone from that role.

[Dr Awesomesauce]

Originally Posted by matt602

Haha, yeah. I chatted with him a few times about various abandoned buildings and things on SSP, even my urban exploring hobby. We talked about the roof collapse at Lyric Theatre right before it was demolished (it was a huge surprise to him and I think he actually brought it to the city's attention soon after). He wasn't such a bad guy when he was a councilor. He became a giant jackass as a mayor however and I'm glad to have him gone from that role.

That's what bothers me so much about him > Talk about a wolf in sheep's clothing.

[drpgq]

Originally Posted by matt602

Haha, yeah. I chatted with him a few times about various abandoned buildings and things on SSP, even my urban exploring hobby. We talked about the roof collapse at Lyric Theatre right before it was demolished (it was a huge surprise to him and I think he actually brought it to the city's attention soon after). He wasn't such a bad guy when he was a councilor. He became a giant jackass as a mayor however and I'm glad to have him gone from that role.

Yeah I thought he was a pretty reasonable downtown councilor. He had a few crackpot ideas, but that's not that big a deal if you're just a councilor.