Sask. govt. rejects recommendation to use vote counting machines in elections
CBC
The Saskatchewan government has voted against having counting machines in the 2024 general election despite a recommendation from the province's chief electoral officer and their use in the recent byelection.
This week, the Board of Internal Economy, a committee of MLAs from the government and Opposition, heard from Saskatchewan's Chief Electoral Officer Michael Boda. Earlier this year, he presented the committee with recommendations to modernize how the province conducts its elections.
The committee decided to adopt some of Boda's recommendations but not all of them. The Saskatchewan Party members rejected the recommendation to introduce vote counting machines.
The machines were used in last week's byelection because under legislation Boda can operate a byelection without the government committee's approval. For the general election, the committee decides the process and procedures.
Boda said the machines resulted in extremely quick results and when double-checked by a hand count showed no errors.
"There was a very positive reaction from voters and from our workers."
Boda also stressed that vote counting machines should not be confused with voting machines, which are not being proposed.
Voters still cast a paper ballot.
"Technology increases the integrity of the process. We are being thoughtful. We are testing. We are being methodical. We want to move forward into a modern approach that allows broader access to voters across the province."
Boda said legislators determine how to run the election, he is tasked with seeing that through.
In "30 years of experience in election administration, I can tell you I have not found any study that suggests hand counting is more accurate than vote-counting equipment."
Boda said the byelection proved the vote counting machine total matched the number of ballots cast.
"There was some error on the hand counting side, but once they were counted again (by hand) they matched the machine."
"It's demonstrated that this improves the integrity of the system."
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