In this section
Over the last few years, we have been looking at a number of technological solutions that make it easier to organize voting.
Background and challenges
From one election to the next, we face certain challenges.
- Increased traffic at advance polls
Originally, advance polling was an exceptional measure to accommodate a limited number of electors. Over time, advance polling has gained in popularity: in 2022, more than a third of votes (37%) were cast in advance. However, during these voting days, the Election Act provides for fewer polling places and fewer officers than on election day. So we need to accommodate more electors in one place on these days. - Lack of flexibility in managing crowds at polling places
On voting days, electors must proceed to their assigned table. Electors are assigned to a specific polling table because their name appears only on the printed list used by the election officers at that table, which is an excerpt from the list of electors. For this reason, waiting times can be uneven in a polling place: we cannot direct electors to polling tables that are free. - Difficulty recruiting election officers
Like many employers, we are faced with a labour shortage. For the 2022 provincial elections, recruiting election officers was a major challenge in many electoral divisions. Although the Election Act has been amended to allow young people aged 16 and over to be hired, and although the seat of officer in charge of the list of electors has been abolished, filling 76,000 positions remains a challenge every election.
Some of these challenges could be mitigated, in whole or in part, by the introduction of technology in the organization of elections.
Technological solutions
Electronic ballot boxes
The electronic ballot box consists of an optical reader, which reads the mark on the ballot papers and a cardboard ballot box. The ballot box counts the votes cast and produces a statement of results when the polling location closes. Its main role is to count the votes. Once the electronic ballot box has read the ballot paper, the latter falls into the cardboard ballot box, enabling a manual recount of the votes, if required. The ballot is always paper and the elector’s choice remains secret at all times. Electronic ballot boxes are not connected to a computer network or the Internet.
Benefits
- Automate the counting of the votes
The electronic ballot boxes allows for automating the counting of the votes. Currently, when polling locations close, election officers count the votes one by one, by hand. - Reduce the number of election officers
Currently, two election officers perform the counting of the votes at each voting table. Since counting would be automated, only one person will be required to work at each voting table. This person would not have to count the votes.
Computerized list of electors
We are already using a computerized list of electors for voting in educational institutions as well as for voting at the office of the returning officer. The use of such a list on advance polling days and on election day would be advantageous. Presently, election officers use printed extracts from the list of electors.
Benefits
- Direct electors to the first available table
Electors could vote at any available voting table, rather than at the one assigned to them. This would improve the flow of the vote. - Find electors more easily on the electoral list
Election officers will be able to locate electors more quickly on the computerized list of electors. - Monitor the participation rate in real time
Officers could immediately indicate which electors have voted using the computerized list of electors. As a result, the progress of the participation rate can be monitored live. Currently, the officers indicate the electors’ vote on the printed excerpt of the list of electors. This information is later entered into our computer systems.
Recommendations
In November 2024, we published a recommendations report (PDF – in French). The objective of these recommendations is to make voting more accessible and the organization of the vote more efficient.
We recommend to enable electors to present themselves at the first available voting table. They would no longer have to wait for a specific voting table to vote. The use of computerized electoral lists and electronic ballot boxes would facilitate the adoption of this system. However, the support of all political parties represented in the Assemblée nationale is required to carry out trials or pilot projects related to this recommendation.
Elsewhere in Canada
According to our research, several provinces use technology in provincial elections.
- Eight provinces use computerized list of electors at advance polling places or on election day. This technology allows electors to vote at the first polling station that becomes available.
- Six provinces use electronic ballot boxes to count votes.
We have researched and analyzed the technologies used by these provinces. We also went to observe the use of these technologies in elections. We have seen technological solutions that work well and could speed up and simplify the process for electors. These successful experiments elsewhere in Canada lead us to believe that such uses of technology could also benefit Québec electors.