Councillor Jason Granville said while he supported being in the trial, he thought being first in line would mean getting some financial assistance from central government.
Councillor Helen Craig did not get support for a recommendation that the council should decide whether or not to be in the trial at its first meeting in the New Year. But Councillor Sue Westwood said until the Minister of Local Government made his decision "we cannot vote on it".
But Councillor Rob Vinsen said the council should tell the minister now that it did not want to be involved. Mr Vinsen said nearly every other council stayed away from the trial and the "sooner we move away from it the better in my view".
He said he believed the issue was "nothing more than an ego trip".
"Experts say only 20 per cent will vote online and in our district that means only 6000 voters.
"We're putting our hand up for something we're a sucker for," Mr Vinsen added.
It will be back on the council's agenda early in the new year.