26,444 online votes beat election day turnout in Burlington for first time
A two-day extension helped digital ballots surpass in-person voting on election day, marking a shift in how residents cast their votes.
By Paul Davidson ·
Burlington voters broke a long-standing pattern this year. For the first time since local online voting began in 2010, the number of digital ballots cast exceeded the number of people who voted in person on election day.
A total of 26,444 people submitted ballots online between October 14 and October 25. That figure surpassed the 25,422 residents who voted in person on election day. The city extended the online voting period by two days this year. As of 8 p.m. on October 23, the original deadline, communications staff reported 23,410 online votes.
In-person voting remained the most common method when all days were combined. Advance polls and election day voting produced a combined total of 30,419 ballots. The growth in online participation is part of a steady climb over the last two decades. Online votes rose from 2,500 in 2010 to 7,976 in 2014, 13,123 in 2018, and 14,980 in 2022.
Nicole Goodman, an associate professor of political science at Brock University, said the increase reflects a trend seen across Ontario. She noted that voters become more comfortable with a method the longer it is available. "I’d expect these numbers to continue to go up," she said. Goodman also pointed to research showing a "stickiness effect." This suggests that once a voter uses the online system, they are likely to use it again.
Goodman said data indicates that voters aged 50 and older are driving the growth, not younger demographics. She clarified that online voting is an option for those with busy schedules or accessibility needs, rather than a solution to low youth engagement. The professor conducts a survey of online voters during each municipal election. The City of Burlington participated in the survey, but results were not available by the publication deadline.
City staff described the voting system as secure and confidential. A spokesperson stated that the platform, managed by Voatz Canada Ltd., uses two-factor authentication and secure servers located in Canada. "While no system can offer an absolute guarantee against someone acting with deliberate intent to break the law, the safeguards are in place to make it very difficult," the spokesperson said. Voatz confirmed that data for Canadian elections is stored in Montreal data centres and does not leave the country.
Goodman, who voted online in the municipal election, said Burlington’s system includes security features not found in other municipalities. "Comparatively speaking, I think they do a lot," she said. She cautioned that adding too many security layers could reduce access. "You have to find the right balance between access and security," she said. To vote online, residents used a 13-digit voter registration number, their email or phone number, and their date of birth to register. They then received a 16-digit PIN to access the voting site.
The next step for the city is to analyze the survey data collected from online voters. This information will provide demographic details about who used the platform and whether it assisted voters with disabilities.
