"Is there a risk in being one of the first to trial online voting?
"Yes, and I acknowledge that. But it's a risk worth considering if the result is better engagement in democracy."
The idea had split the council on Thursday as Mayor King said the move was a big risk for Hamilton and asked why central government was not latching on to it.
"We all know what happened with the American elections with a foreign party hacking emails and manipulating the election," Mayor King said.
The trial for online voting was raised after the Local Government Minister, Nanaia Mahuta, in April introduced the Local Electoral Matters Bill. The Bill, with supporting regulations, would enable a local authority to trial a new voting method, such as online voting.
At an April briefing, electoral officer Dale Ofsoske advised the council that the estimated additional cost for online voting trial for the whole city at the 2019 local authority elections would be approximately $150,000 plus GST.
Councillor Paula Southgate said the younger voice has been calling for this move.
"In our 10-year plan we have had more people speak under the age of 25 and they want to be heard and they want to be involved," Cr Southgate said.
"To me public participation is the most important thing and that is why we are here, to represent the wider public."
She said that Hamilton has a bubble of youth who are IT literate people and online voting could increase public participation.
"We all know here if we are honest that the level of participation in the election is unacceptably low."
Councillor Ryan Hamilton, the youngest councillor, said it is now a matter of growing interest, no longer about the youth vote, but accessibility.
"This is a step in the right question — it is only a matter of time," Cr Hamilton said.
"I, like many of you, live busy lives and it is not until 10pm when you are sitting down with a glass of wine do you remember all the things you still have to do and all the school newsletters you have to sign and you have to print and post them, to have the accessibility now on your laptop is now a very positive thing."
Councillor Dave Macpherson said online voting could bring new and younger faces to the council table, but said central government should be funding the trial.
Deputy Mayor Martin Gallagher said there is no tangible evidence at this point that online voting will significantly increase voter turnout.
"I still struggle to find why it is so difficult for any voter, with the exception of a blind or deaf voter who we will want to work with, why it is so impossible to know that a letter arrives in a letter box, you take it out of the letter box you tick the box and you put it back into a post box," Deputy Mayor Gallagher said.
Councillor Garry Mallett said Hamilton should not be the guinea pig for the country.
"Some of these trials won't work and there will be problems so why should we spend a whole lot of money and run the risk that the trial fails and we have some confusion over who won and who lost," Cr Mallett said.
The motion to not proceed with online voting was supported by Mayor King, Deputy Mayor Gallagher and councillors Mallett, Taylor, Casson and Tooman.
Those in support of online voting were councillors O'Leary, Hamilton, Southgate, Macpherson, Hamilton, Henry and Pascoe.
Councillor Mark Bunting was absent from the vote.
