Day 1
General Synod Looks to Embrace Electronic Voting
Members of the General Synod of the Church of Ireland today (Friday May 9) have passed a motion to explore the use of electronic voting at their meetings. Motion No 2 seeks to allow for the option of electronic voting at in–person meetings of the General Synod, including for a vote by orders i.e. where the votes of clergypersons and lay persons are counted separately. At present, voting is by a show of hands.
The motion was proposed by the Honorary Secretaries of General Synod and was introduced by Hazel Corrigan. She noted that since the pandemic people had got used to meeting on online platforms and taking part in votes online. It was in the spirit of this progress that the motion was brought, she said adding that while the voting card process had served Synod well, it could be slow and presented challenges to tellers in getting an accurate count.
Ms Corrigan said that electronic voting would alleviate this. Trials had already taken place at Standing Committee which had agreed to bring the motion to Synod. She assured members that Standing Committee was aware that the software that was ultimately selected would have to have certain safeguards in place and be clear and easy to use. Training in the electronic voting would be provided
“Passing this motion will not lead to a total disregard the current system. The only change we are introducing is that the option of an electronic voting system be present in the event of a voice vote being too close to call,” she said. “This motion is not about abandoning tradition. It is about preparing for the future.”
The motion was passed unanimously.