Time has come to introduce electronic voting in Mayo?

The time has come to introduce electronic voting in Mayo.

That's the growing view of many observers and candidates following a number of marathon counts and one recount in the local elections.

In fact, counting is still taking place today in respect Ballina and Swinford areas, a recount in the latter, four days after the electorate cast their votes.

The count in Castlebar went on for 19 hours, leaving counting staff, candidates, party supporters and journalists exhausted at the end of it all.

It would require a change in national legislation to bring electronic voting ahead of the next local elections in five years time.

But in the age of digital technology, it has to be seriously considered.

Many countries have used electronic voting for at least some elections, including Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Norway, the Philippines, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Nigeria, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Brazil is the only country in which all elections are now conducted through electronic voting.