The Town of Bridgewater has officially approved e-voting for this year’s municipal election.
However, Deputy Mayor Bill McInnis thinks that’s a mistake.
He says despite voting in support of the technology during the last election he now feels it isn’t secure enough.
“I’m not saying everyone cheats. I’m just saying the ability to cheat is there, and that’s the problem,” he says.
McInnis says traditional paper ballots require you to verify your identity, a step he feels is missing from the electronic version.
“Even if I know the individual that’s working in the polling booth,” he says, “I still have to show at least two pieces of I.D. to prove who I am.”
McInnis was the only one to vote against the technology during this weeks council session.
Bridgewater has decided to provide e-voting for both the advanced polls and on election day.
Paper ballots will also be available on election day only which is October 15th.
Meanwhile, Dean Smith, President of Intelivote Systems, who’ll be handling e-voting for Bridgewater’s municipal election says it’s unlikely someone will still your vote.
He says it isn’t impossible but it isn’t easy either.
“You have to have a massive amount of collusion and theft to influence the election any differently than you would in a paper election where somebody impersonates you as well,” says Smith.
He says if you suspect your PIN has been stolen simply report it.
If someone has already cast your vote they’ll begin an investigation and you’ll receive a new PIN.
