Item - 2015.EX7.3
Tracking Status
- This item was considered by Executive Committee on June 30, 2015. The Executive Committee has referred this item to an official or other body without making a decision. Consult the text of the decision for further information on the referral.
EX7.3 - Feasibility of Extending Use of Current Vote Counting Equipment and Technology
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Referred
- Wards:
- All
Committee Decision
The Executive Committee referred the item back to the City Clerk with the request that she report back to the Committee on September 21, 2015 with an analysis of the election technology marketplace, including all available options for vote counting equipment, and including lease options.
Origin
Summary
This report is in response to the request that the City Clerk investigate the cost to extend the life cycle of the existing tabulators for an additional one, two or three terms of City Council, as well as the direction for the City Clerk to have regard for ranked-ballot elections when considering the acquisition of new voting tabulators.
The City owns 1,850 tabulators that are at the end of their anticipated life cycle. City Clerk's Office staff negotiated with Election Systems and Software Canada, ULC (ES and S), the single source provider for the City's tabulators, on the potential of extending the use of the existing tabulators as well as incorporating ranked choice voting.
The cost for ES and S to retrofit the existing tabulators to be used for the next two municipal elections in 2018 and 2022 and to include ranked choice voting for the 2018 election is $2.5 million net of HST ($2,544,000 net of HST recoveries). Following the 2022 election, ES and S and the City Clerk will re-evaluate the then-current tabulators to determine if it is feasible to maintain them for the 2026 election.
In addition to the costs for ES and S to upgrade the existing tabulators, the City will incur estimated costs of $1.15 million net of HST ($1,170,240 net of HST recoveries) performing proof-of-concept testing, server and software upgrades, system integration and an external audit of the upgraded voting system. Any external services will be procured through a competitive process.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2015/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-81618.pdf
Speakers
John Hollins
Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam
Motions
That the item be referred back to the City Clerk with the request that she report back to the Committee on September 21, 2015 with an analysis of the election technology marketplace, including all available options for vote counting equipment, and including lease options.