Northern Ontario online voters start clicking ballots today

The first electronic ballots ever in a municipal election in northern Ontario will be cast today.

Both Greater Sudbury and Timmins are trying out online voting during the advance polls leading up to voting day.

Voters will enter a pin number and then click their choice on the ballots on screen.

There will also be a button to click if a voter wants to decline their ballot.

Its an option Sudbury city clerk Caroline Hallsworth says she doesn't think will lead to more protest votes

"It doesn't really change your voting pattern. You would vote in paper the same way you would vote online in terms of how you make your decision and whether you're going to decline a race or spoil your ballot."

The number of Sudbury voters who declined their ballot skyrocketed in the recent provincial election.

Hallsworth said her department is excited to begin the experiment in digital democracy.

"We're a group of women and we all said it's like that period when you're waiting for the baby to be born."

Online voting is only available in Sudbury during the advanced polling period, which ends Oct. 24 at 8 p.m.

There are 97 cities and towns in Ontario using online voting systems this election.