CBC News Posted: Aug 9, 2012

B.C. Attorney General Shirley Bond has asked Elections BC to convene an independent panel of experts to consider the

potential of internet voting in British Columbia.

The panel review, which begins in September, would kickstart a conversation about modernizing B.C.’s electoral processes, and

will include experts in cryptography, Internet security, electoral administration and technology in general.

Bond says if the independent panel can ensure the integrity of ballots cast online, she’s optimistic it could make voting

even more accessible in the province.

The province’s deputy chief electoral officer Nola Western said online voting systems have already been used in some Canadian

cities, including Halifax and Markham, Ont.

Western admitted internet voting did not increase voter turnout in those cities, but she said there could be other potential

benefits.

“Turnout isn’t the only potential benefit of internet voting,” she said. “It certainly would help accessibility, especially

for voters with disabilities.”

Western said it will be up to the legislature to decide whether to implement online voting, but it’s unlikely that could be

done before the next provincial election in May 2013.

Reproduced from http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/08/09/bc-online-voting-panel.html