A contentious municipal election campaign will last at least one more day.
Oro-Medonte Township opted to extend voting until Tuesday at 8 p.m. to deal with a computer glitch that officials say has wreaked havoc with electronic voting at municipalities across the province.
“This is not an Oro-Medonte issue,” township clerk Karen Way told those gathered at the township’s Line 7 offices 15 minutes before polls were officially supposed to close at 8 p.m.
“This is a province-wide issue. We will stay open until midnight, at least.”
While residents showing up at the township office Monday could vote via a paper ballot, Internet and telephone voting will be extended until Tuesday evening to allow those unable to make it to the township office a chance to vote.
Added township spokeswoman Jenny Legget: “Until the online voting is complete, we won’t have any results.”
Another staffer joked with those waiting: “We know you’ve got nothing to do tomorrow so you can always come back for the results.”
Residents waited patiently in line Monday evening to get a paper ballot with a light, friendly atmosphere taking hold and staff thanking everybody for their patience.
“We tried to use the computer at home, but it wasn’t working,” said township resident Urs Buechin. “We kept trying a few more times, but there was no connection. We don’t live far from here to we decided to just stop by.”
But Dr. Sandra Johnson said this isn’t the first time she’s heard about an issue regarding the current election campaign.
Johnson said she has two acquaintances who encountered irregularities at the voting booth where one of mayoral candidates wasn’t on the ballot.
“There have been a number of things,” she said, adding that like Buechin she lives nearby so opted to drop by the office to cast her ballot and ensure her voice is heard.
“I had phoned four or five times. I just decided to come here before voting closed.”
