Brockton is hosting a public meeting tonight at the Walkerton legion.
It involves the Fall municipal election and how residents should be casting their vote – literally.
Brockton is toying with the idea of replacing their traditional ballot voting system with an alternative method that involves voting by phone or the internet.
Staff say it will save time and money but Council wants to first gage the public’s response.
Mayor Charlie Bagnato strongly encourages residents to attend tonight’s meeting and bring with them their questions or concerns.
He says the issue is just too important to move on without first seeking out public input.
Bagnato suspects there will be passionate arguments from both sides.
On one hand you have the romance of the traditional ballot system and the confidentiality that comes with it.
On the other hand the alternative voting system promises convenience for voters and efficiencies for staff.
The alternative voting method is the recommendation of staff, who says the current ballot system is very time consuming with Brockton’s 20 polling stations.
Under the proposed alternative voting method residents will be mailed out a special pin number and they will than be able to use their home phone, cell phone, or the internet to vote.
The alternative voting method promises to save about 2 thousand dollars coming in at 28 thousand dollars.
The traditional voting method will cost about 30 thousand dollars.
Tonight’s meeting will be held at 7 PM at the Walkerton legion.