When voters head to the polls for the 2018 municipal election their ballots could look decidedly different.
Earlier this summer, the province passed the Municipal Elections Modernization Act, which gives Ontario’s 444 municipalities the option of using ranked ballots, starting with the next election in two years.
“The Municipal Elections Modernization Act clarifies the rules and will allow municipalities to consider the option of using ranked ballots,” states a press release from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs.
Ranked ballots will allow voters to rank candidates in order of preference.
There are different degrees to which ranked ballots could be used (for example: for all of council or for only the mayor or head of council).
Ranked ballots are not being considered for school board elections, even if the local municipality decides to use ranked ballots to elect councillors.
The act includes other measures government officials say will “increase transparency and accountability,” including:
– changes to campaign finance rules and banning corporate and union contributions to candidates;
– a framework to regulate third-party advertising;
– shortening the length of campaigns by opening nominations on May 1 instead of Jan. 1;
– requiring the municipal clerk to prepare a plan regarding the identification, removal and prevention of barriers that could affect electors and candidates with disabilities; and
– making it easier to add or change certain information on the voters’ list.
No Canadian jurisdiction currently uses ranked ballots.
A public review of the Municipal Elections Act took place between May and July 2015. The Municipal Elections Modernization Act, 2016 is based on input from across Ontario, including more than 3,400 submissions from the public, municipal councils and staff.
How ranked ballots work
Voters will rank candidates in order of their personal preference.
In a single-member ranked ballot election (mayor or deputy mayor), the number of votes required to win is 50 per cent of the total votes plus one (a simple majority).
First choice votes are counted for all of the candidates. If a candidate receives at least 50 per cent plus one votes, he or she is elected. If none of the candidates receives enough first choice votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated.
When a candidate is eliminated, their ballots are not disregarded. Instead each of the ballots is redistributed to one of the remaining candidates according to the next highest choice marked on the ballot.
If a candidate now has enough combined votes, he or she is elected.
If none of the candidates receives enough votes to be elected, the candidate that now has the fewest votes is eliminated and those ballots are redistributed. This process continues until one candidate has enough votes to win.
In a multi-member ranked ballot election, the number of votes needed to win will depend on the total number of candidates being elected. The threshold is calculated by dividing the number of votes cast by the total number of candidates being elected plus one, then adding one to make it a majority.
Going forward
The framework and details for ranked ballot elections will be set out in regulations that will address items such as:
– consulting with the public before a municipality decides to implement ranked ballots;
– how votes in a ranked ballot election would be counted; and
– which offices on a municipal council may be elected using ranked ballots.
For more information visit www.mah.gov.on.ca.
