Hand-counting ballots in election increases time and cost, not security
By Lethbridge Herald on September 24, 2025.
Editor,
In response to your survey question “Is hand-counting ballots necessary……” the answer is no!
As a result of the paranoia of the UCP, “voting machines” are no longer allowed. I understand the scepticism related to voting machines, although would think that through proper technology, security issues may be addressed.
However, this decision by the UCP has significantly increased the time and cost for the municipal election, especially in the case of Lethbridge. The City of Lethbridge uses tabulating machines, not voting machines. Paper ballots are processed through theses machines and, should any question arise or physical recount be necessary, the paper ballot is available to do just that. Ballots are not destroyed until all issues have been addressed so the system is easily verifiable.
I am disappointed in Lethbridge city council and, for that matter, other municipal councils in Alberta for not strenuously challenging the UCP.
For those still in doubt, have the machines provide preliminary timely results and then, by all means, volunteer your time to do the actual physical count.
Leo VandenHeuve
Lethbridge
9-8
And you trust technology in ever other facet of your daily life? There is a guy from Nigeria looking for you, inherited money.
It appears, buckwheat, that you missed the part stating you are required to use technology to confirm your eligibility before you may cast a vote in this election.
I don’t know but I trust a machine over someone with a agenda. Name one time a voting machine has been hacked. I’ll help you out, never. Also voting machines have proved more accurate than hand counting multiple times.
Danielle Smith doesn’t support democracy at all, and neither does the UCP. When Danielle Smith was the Wildrose party leader, and up to 3 years ago, she supported more autonomy and more funding for municipalities in Alberta. Now she is doing the opposite.
Electronic vote counters are 100% accurate, and they cannot be hacked, as they are not connected to any computer. Manually counting votes will not be as accurate, will take more time, and the costs will be passed onto the municipalities in Alberta, via increased municipal property taxes.
When did Danielle Smith campaign on Bill 18, Bill 20, and Bill 21? She never did. This isn’t good at all.
It’s okay to gerrymander to win an election, but we have to respond to protect democracy from conspiracy theories held by mini-maga, Take Back Alberta: Acting on the unreal to distract from their lack of ability to govern on real issues.