A breakdown of Sarnia’s 2022 municipal election costs shows online voting was far less expensive than paper ballots, as the city moves ahead with a hybrid system for 2026.
Sarnia is moving ahead with a hybrid voting model for the 2026 municipal election, combining internet and paper ballot options as preparations ramp up ahead of voting day on Oct. 26.
Details from the city’s most recent election highlight a significant cost difference between the two methods. Internet voting accounted for the majority of ballots cast in 2022 and came at a fraction of the cost compared to traditional paper voting.
Approximately 77 per cent of the nearly 22,000 votes in 2022 were cast online. When fixed election costs such as staffing, voter information mailouts, software, and public notices are excluded, the cost per internet ballot averaged about $6.10, compared to more than $48 per paper ballot.
The total cost of the 2022 election was $489,000. Of that, roughly $103,000 was attributed to internet voting, while paper ballot voting accounted for $242,000, including tabulators, printed ballots, staffing, supplies, and facility rentals.
Despite the cost difference, the city is maintaining both options to ensure accessibility. In the last election, nine in-person voting locations operated across Sarnia, with additional access provided to retirement homes and institutional settings. Voters were permitted to cast ballots at any location.
An internet voting period opened in advance of election day, supported by an in-person help centre that operated for 11 days to assist residents.
Turnout in 2022 reached 40.4 per cent, lower than the 48.9 per cent recorded in 2018 when internet and telephone voting were the only options, but higher than earlier paper-based elections in 2014 and 2010.
Survey feedback following the election indicated broad satisfaction with the voting process, with the vast majority of respondents reporting neutral or positive experiences.
Looking ahead, the city has budgeted approximately $600,000 for the 2026 election, supported through annual reserve contributions. Procurement work is already underway, with Sarnia expected to partner with other Lambton municipalities to secure a vendor for internet voting systems, similar to the approach used in 2022.
City officials are also exploring ways to enhance transparency in reporting results, including the possibility of publishing more detailed breakdowns of internet voting data while maintaining ballot secrecy.
To support access on election day, council has approved free public transit.
With planning now well underway, the 2026 election is expected to build on the hybrid model, balancing cost efficiency with accessibility as voter preferences continue to shift toward online participation.
