Special Council Meeting - April 14, 2026

The City of Cambridge held a special Council meeting on April 14, 2026, primarily to discuss and approve voting methods for the upcoming 2026 municipal and school board election. The Council reviewed various voting options including paper ballots with manual count, optical scan tabulators, internet voting, telephone voting, and mail-in voting. The preferred approach is a hybrid model combining internet voting with in-person optical scan tabulators, which balances accessibility, security, and audit integrity. The Council also considered amendments to the election sign bylaw to align with a recent Ontario court decision, adjusting timelines for sign placement and removal to ensure compliance with freedom of speech rights while maintaining operational considerations. A motion to rescind a previous decision related to heritage property designation was debated but ultimately defeated. The Council passed bylaws authorizing alternative voting methods and amending the election sign bylaw, both with unanimous votes. No specific contract awards or procurement decisions were detailed, but the discussion included procurement of election technology and services to support the voting process.