"A working party has been discussing this," he said.
"The conditions set by the Government include expectations on the providers to ensure security. There's a significant amount of Government experience around their move to online services. The Census is another area. They test their security rigorously."
Councillor Peter Bentley said there was also concern over the security of postal voting.
"I attended a meeting before the last election and a senior member of the audience said we would get 18 votes because he was filling in 18 forms."
Online voting would be conducted in tandem with the regular postal voting process.
Mr Gaston said online voting would complement the council's increasing use of technology as a means of engagement with the community.
He said online voting should prove popular with younger people, rural communities and non-resident ratepayers living in other parts of New Zealand and overseas.
Mayor Steve Chadwick said she would support anything that lifted participation in voting.
"I've never seen 43 per cent turnout as a mandate," she said.
"Anything that lifts participation is important. I support this initiative and we'll, hopefully, get greater turn-out, that's what we want."
Rotorua Youth Council chairwoman Lucy Blackmore, 17, said she thought it would improve the rate of young people voting.
"We do just about everything online, such as banking, checking the weather, connecting with friends. I'd vote regardless but I've friends who would be put off if they had to go to the post shop."
The council's share of the total $100,000 cost of the trial will be about $45,000. Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Lakes District Health Board would share the balance of the cost as both organisations hold their elections every three years in conjunction with Rotorua Lakes Council.
The Cabinet decision regarding which councils will be permitted to be part of the trial will be made late next month.
Councillors were concerned they could be the only council that opted in and costs could rise but council chief executive Geoff Williams nodded his head at suggestions it come back to council to decide if that were the case.
More than 10 local councils have indicated an interest in taking part.
Online voting trial
* Voters can vote either by post or online
* Online voters get sent a login
* Once an online vote has been cast that voter cannot vote again
* Postal votes by someone who has already voted online are discounted
* Cost to council is $45,000
* Could lead to reduced postal vote counts
* The Te Arawa Partnership Board elections will use online voting
