Champlain Township voters will cast their ballots by internet and telephone in the 2026 municipal election.
On Wednesday, October 22, township council adopted a by law authorizing the use of the services of Voatz Canada Inc. to provide the internet and telephone-based technology for voting.
The cost of using Voatz Canada Inc. is $10,242, or about $1.37 per voter, based on the 2022 voter’s list. If council had decided to use internet voting only, the cost would have been $9,868 or $1.32 per voter. The cost difference between the two formats is $374.
Clerk Alison Collard said that in March 2025, council had adopted a resolution to proceed with voting by internet only. Both telephone and internet voting had been used in previous municipal elections in Champlain. Collard said voting by telephone was often the format which presented challenges for voters, but with a difference of less than $400 in the cost between using internet only voting, or voting with internet and telephone, council still had the option to permit telephone voting. Collard said municipal staff will continue to provide a help centre to assist voters using both the internet and telephone formats.
“Council has the option to use both because the price difference is minimal,” Collard remarked.
Mayor Normand Riopel was concerned about residents trying to vote who do not have computers or easy internet access. He said that because the total cost difference is so minimal, he would like to see the option to vote by telephone remain available.
“I think we should give them the option and include the phone too,” said Councillor Paul Emile Duval.
Council adopted both the recommendation and bylaw to use Voatz Canada Inc. as the technology provider for the 2026 municipal election and for residents to have the option of voting by internet or telephone.
