The media warned us in advance -- ballots in Alberta municipalities would be counted by hand this year, and delays were "expected." But expecting failure does not excuse it. When long waits are built into the design of an election it's not a logistical mishap, it's voter suppression by neglect.
Let's be clear. Counting ballots by hand is not a crime against democracy, but it is not a badge of integrity, either. Manual counting may feel traditional or "safe," yet it is neither more accurate nor more trustworthy than modern paper-based systems that use electronic tabulation. Around the world, reliable and fully auditable voting systems exist that combine a physical paper record with electronic counting for speed and verification. They preserve security and transparency without forcing voters to stand for hours. Refusing to adopt such proven technology is not caution, it is complacency.