Pondering a referendum

Cambridge to gather public feedback on possible referendum on ranked ballots in future elections

CAMBRIDGE — The city is asking people whether or not they want to see a referendum question on ranked ballots for the 2022 municipal election.

Last fall, Cambridge council voted against using the new voting system for next year’s elections, but said it was open to the idea for future elections.

City clerk Michael Di Lullo said the city wants to gather public feedback on whether or not voters want to see a referendum question on ballots next fall.

Ranked ballots give voters the ability to rate candidates according to their preference rather than selecting only one candidate under the current first-past-the post system.

“An advantage to some can be seen as a disadvantage to others,” Di Lullo said.

Some argue it gives voters more power to choose and deters strategic voting. Others point out that it can take longer to count votes and can make recounts complicated.

The province gave municipalities the option to switch to ranked ballots starting in 2018, but only the city of London took up the offer before the province’s deadline passed.

Di Lullo said it will be a good learning opportunity for cities everywhere.

“We will all be watching London intently to see how it goes.”

Kitchener and Waterloo also voted against the option of ranked ballots for next year’s elections. Many politicians said the process was too complicated and unnecessary.

If Cambridge council does approve a referendum question for next year’s election ballots, the city will need at least a 50 per cent voter turnout and a 50 per cent vote in favour of ranked ballots for it to become a reality.

That might be tricky if the voter turnout

doesn’t improve. In 2014, only 30 per cent of eligible Cambridge residents came out to vote.

How it works: Voters can rank candidates instead of picking only one. If a first-choice candidate has 50 per cent of the vote plus one, he or she wins. If this doesn’t happen, then the lowestranked candidates are cut from the ballot and second-choice votes are divvied up. This process continues until a majority is reached.

For more information about ranked ballots, visit the city’s website at https://www.cambridge.ca/en/learn-about/ ranked-ballot-voting.aspx.

To submit online feedback about whether or not you would like to see a referendum question on ballots in next year’s election, visit www.engagecambridge.ca.

Di Lullo said the survey will be available for another week or so and a report is expected at council in the fall.

There is a public information session on Sept. 13 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Bowman Room at Cambridge City Hall.