Duane Hicks
While the 2018 municipal election might seem a long way away, town councils will have to start thinking about them sooner than later, including whether they want to change the electoral system used.
In a report to Fort Frances council from town clerk Lisa Slomke, she noted the implementation of Bill 181 (the Municipal Elections Modernization Act) now means Ontario municipalities can opt to utilize a ranked ballot system instead of the so-called “first past the post” one.
In a ranked ballot election, the voter ranks the candidates in order of preference (i.e., first choice, second choice, third choice, etc.)
In the first round of counting, all first-choice votes are counted, Slomke explained.
“If one of the candidates receives more than 50 percent of the votes, then we have a winner,” she said.
“If no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the votes, the candidate with the lowest number of votes is eliminated and the ballots are recounted using the second choice of those voters.”
This process continues in subsequent rounds until a majority winner is declared.
“It is important to note that at present, this system has not been used in any federal, provincial, or municipal election in Canada,” Slomke noted.
“However, it has been used in political party leader selection.”
There are cities in the U.S. that currently use ranked balloting.
As well, while ranked balloting is able to be used for the election of mayor and council, it presently is not permitted for school board elections, Slomke added.
The other option is to remain status quo.
“Very simply, the candidate with the most votes wins [in first past the post],” said Slomke.
“There is no requirement to obtain a certain percent of the vote.”
Should council decide to continue the use of this electoral system, Slomke said there will be no additional requirements in preparation for the 2018 municipal election.
She also does not anticipate any additional costs if council stays with FPTP.
But if council chooses to implement ranked ballots, she expects costs will increase related to ballot counting.
Additionally, there may be a requirement to have two ballots (a separate one for the school board), thus increasing costs again.
Council is required to make a decision on ranked ballots by May 1.
As well, the law requires that at least one open house be held prior to the implementation of the necessary bylaw to implement ranked ballots.
The open house would give the public the opportunity to ask questions and obtain clarification.
“Council should consider the public interest, increased costs, availability of technology, and the impact on election administration as they consider the option and ultimately make their decision,” said Slomke.
Voting methods
A second factor for town council to consider in the 2018 municipal election is whether to stick with vote-by-mail, adopt telephone/Internet voting, or revert to traditional polling stations and paper ballots.
Fort Frances has utilized an alternative voting method—vote-by-mail (VBM)—since 2000, Slomke noted.
This has provided the town with higher participation than when it used traditional voting in municipal elections prior to 2000.
Slomke said the most important advantage gained has been the ability of eligible electors to vote from their home.
Additionally, alternative voting has provided those with a disability, those with transportation issues, those who work out of town, as well as seasonal residents with the opportunity to vote.
Another voting method that could be used in 2018 include telephone/Internet voting.
This will provide eligible electors with the ability to vote anywhere at anytime, Slomke said.
This option provides eligible electors with the choice of voting from home or while travelling, and with hours that suit many schedules, including shift work, she added.
Also, telephone/Internet voting gives eligible electors with a disability the option to vote utilizing their existing aids (i.e., big button phone, screen recognition readers, etc.)
Slomke noted more and more municipalities have been adopting this option in recent years; in 2014, 59 cities/towns offered telephone/Internet voting to eligible electors.
Of course, council also could opt to return to the traditional polling stations and paper ballots.
The Town of Fort Frances was provided a budget of $30,000 and used vote-by-mail in 2014, and Slomke believes that the same budget would be sufficient to deliver the elections in 2018 using telephone/Internet voting.
If council opts to return to traditional polling stations and paper ballots, she feels that number “would need to increase substantially and would be a significant step backwards.”
“The eligible electors in the Town of Fort Frances have used vote-by-mail for multiple elections, and moving to telephone/Internet voting is simply the next step in a progressive, boundless community,” Slomke reasoned.
As with the electoral systems, council will discuss voting options further in the New Year.
