Council pans ranked ballots

Pelham will keep the current first-pastthe-post system of voting for the 2018 municipal election. Under recent amendments to the Municipal Elections Act, the town has the option of using a ranked ballot. However, council Tuesday accepted a committee-of-the-whole recommendation to stay with firstpast-the-post. Pelham will monitor the experience of other municipalities that try the ranked ballot next year. The town now has the option to use online voting in 2018. Clerk Nancy Bozzato said her staff are studying that possibility. Changes in the Municipal Elections Act also alter rules for nominations, donations and deadlines.