2018 Municipal Election:

Transcription

1 2018 Municipal Election: Determining Election Model ~ A Presentation to Sioux Lookout Municipal Council ~ February 8, 2017 Special Council Meeting Presented by: Brian P. MacKinnon, Manager of Corporate Services/ Municipal Clerk & Returning Officer

2 Why are we discussing the 2018 municipal election so early? I m guessing it will have to be by text Key Election Dates for 2018 Municipal Election: May 1, 2017: Deadline to pass a by-law for ranked ballot voting type of election May 1, 2017: Deadline to pass bylaws for alternative voting and vote counting methods December 31, 2017: Deadline for Clerk s procedures regarding alternative voting and vote counting

3 2018 Municipal Election: A Choice in Election Model First Past the Post Type or Ranked Choice Ballot Type

4 2018 Municipal Election: A Choice in Election Model Legislative Authority for Ranked Choice Ballots Municipal Elections Act, 1996, as amended, provides for the option of ranked ballot elections, as follows: Ranked ballot elections 41.1 (1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may, by regulation, authorize elections for offices on a municipal council to be conducted in accordance with the following rules: 1. Electors vote by ranking candidates for an office in order of the elector s preference. 2. Votes are distributed to candidates based on the rankings marked on the ballots. 3. The counting of votes is carried out in one or more rounds, with at least one candidate being elected or eliminated in each round. 2016, c. 15, s. 30. Ontario Regulation 310/16, sets-out rules governing ballots, voting procedures, the counting of votes, recounts and reporting results: Authority conferred, single-tier or lower-tier municipality 2. (1) Subject to subsection (2), ranked ballot elections for offices on the council of a single-tier or lower-tier municipality are hereby authorized to be conducted in accordance with the rules set out in subsection 41.1 (1) of the Act.

5 2018 Municipal Election: A Choice in Election Model Comparing FPTP and RB/Run-off Options Pros: Cons: Ranked Ballot Election Run-off system Ensures that winner of a given seat wins at least 50% of the votes cast for that seat Greater say for voters Reduce negative campaigning and strategic voting Confusion for electors first time being used in Canada in any jurisdiction (lots of education) More costly, time-consuming to administer; absolutely requires some type of vote-counting technology Potentially longer wait for results (depending on election method and vote-counting procedures) School Board elections CANNOT use Ranked Ballot election system (requires that two type of election be administered) Canadian vendors of vote-casting and counting technology have no experience with this type of election Traditional Election First past the post system Pros: Easy/simple for voter Most familiar to Canadian voters Quickest results Cons: Win a seat with less than 50% of votes cast Promotes strategic voting

6 2018 Municipal Election: A Choice in Election Model Two Types of Ranked Ballot Elections: Single Member & Multi-Member Single-Member Ranked Ballot Election (i.e., Mayor) threshold to be elected is 50 percent plus one of the total number of votes received for the contest:

7 2018 Municipal Election: A Choice in Election Model Two Types of Ranked Ballot Elections: Single Member & Multi-Member Multi-Member Ranked Ballot Election (i.e., Council) threshold to be elected is calculated based on the number of votes needed to be elected (which is based on number of seats being filled)

8 2018 Municipal Election: A Choice in Election Model Two Types of Ranked Ballot Elections: Single Member & Multi-Member Single-Member Ranked Ballot Election Single-Member: Multi-Member Ranked Ballot Election Multi-Member:

9 2018 Municipal Election: A Choice in Election Model Two Types of Ranked Ballot Elections: Single Member & Multi-Member Another resource to walk through a Ranked Ballot Election Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs website:

10 2018 Municipal Election: A Choice in Election Model Statutory Considerations Council Must Review Section 5 of O. Reg. 310/16 states: 5. (1) Before passing a by-law with respect to ranked ballot elections, the council of a single-tier municipality shall consider the following matters: 1. The costs to the municipality of conducting the elections 2. The availability of technology, such as voting equipment and votecounting equipment and software, for conducting the elections. 3. The impact the proposed by-law would have on election administration.

11 2018 Municipal Election: A Choice in Election Model Seriously considering ranked ballot election? Must consult public! A municipality seriously considering the use of ranked ballots must hold an open house and provide the following information: How the election would be conducted, incl. a description of vote-counting; 1. Notice (Feb 15 th ) 2. Open House (March) Estimated costs; Voting/vote-counting equipment; Alternative voting methods Also, at least 15 days after the open house: The municipality must hold a public meeting that allows the public to provide feedback 3. Public Meeting (April) 4. Pass By-law (May 1 st )

12 Municipal Clerk/Returning Officer Recommendations * Continue to monitor; report in 2019 for 2022 * Focus on alternative voting method, instead of voting model

13 2018 Municipal Election: A Choice in Election Model Municipal Clerk/Returning Officer Recommendations Maintain First Past the Post System for 2018 THAT Council directs that the First-Past-the-Post election model be maintained for the 2018 municipal election; and further THAT Council directs the Municipal Clerk/Returning Officer to monitor the use of Ranked Ballot Voting model and related election matters and make recommendations to Council in 2019 on the viability of its use in the 2022 municipal election Investigate and Report on Alternative Voting Methods THAT Council directs the Municipal Clerk/Returning Officer to investigate the use of Internet and Telephone Voting as an alternative voting method for the 2018 municipal election and make recommendations to Council on same prior to May 1, 2017.

14 Questions, Comments and Concerns Thank you for your attention. Please contact me if you wish to discuss further: Brian P. MacKinnon Manager of Corporate Services/ Municipal Clerk & Returning Officer (T) , ext (E)