The Municipality of Leamington is going back to traditional voting in the next election.
The majority of council voted to have in-person voting instead of internet, phone or mail-in voting which they have used in the past.
"We talked around the table about our concerns with interference, with AI, particularly in these kinds tumultuous times and council, the majority of us, decided that this go around we felt more comfortable going the traditional way," said Mayor Hilda MacDonald. "I believe it instills a little more confidence too in the public going that way."
Currently there is just over $90,000 allocated in the 2026 budget for the election. An in-person election is expected to cost more and need more man-power.
MacDonald does not expect the move to effect voter turnout.
"We've always had a fairly good turnout between 45 to 50 per cent, and even when we did it by mail, and we did it in person, we had close to the same numbers," said MacDonald.
The next municipal election is October 26, 2026.
