Ranked ballot still has hurdles
On Thursday, Toronto moved one step closer to having a ranked ballot vote in municipal elections, an initiative that is getting support from across the political spectrum. But what does it all mean? The National Post’s Kelsey Rolfe answers that question and others.
Q What the heck happened at Queen’s Park Thursday?
A The Toronto Ranked Ballot Elections Act, or Bill 166, made it through its second reading in the legislature. A private member’s bill tabled by Liberal MPP Mitzie Hunter (Scarborough-Guildwood), Bill 166 would allow Toronto to implement a ranked-ballot system for electing members of council, something city council has been interested in doing for a while. In June 2013, council voted 25-16 to ask the province for the power to allow ranked ballots. But before Toronto voters can start ranking their choices, there are a few more hurdles to jump.
Q What do proponents think is so great about ranked-ballot voting? A It’s got political support from across the spectrum, for one, which is rare. Toronto councillors of all stripes have endorsed it. Ranked-ballot voting, also known as instantrunoff voting, would ensure mayors and councillors are elected with a true majority, and eliminate vote splitting and talk of strategic voting. In a ranked-ballot vote, voters rank their top three candidates. If a candidate secures more than half of the votes cast, then that candidate will win; otherwise, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and those votes are recounted and assigned to the remaining candidates in order of preference. This process would continue until someone obtains more than half the vote. “Under the current system, people vote for someone who they think has the best chance of beating someone they really don’t want,” instead of their first-choice candidate, said Dave Meslin, organizer of the volunteer advocacy group Ranked Ballot Initiative Toronto. Q Is anyone else using it? A Instant-runoff voting is used in 18 cities in the United States, including San Francisco, Aspen, Colo., and Sarasota, Fla. In Canada, it’s similar to how all political parties choose their leaders. Mr. Meslin said this is why leader elections at party conventions are friendlier than mayoral races: “You want your opponents’ supporters to rank you second.” Q So what happens next? A Now that it’s passed second reading on a voice vote, Bill 166 is on its way to the standing committee for social policy for further review. Following that, the bill will go to third reading and, if it passes, Royal Assent.
Q So does this mean Rob Ford should be friendlier to his mayoral rivals in case this fall’s election uses a ranked ballot?
A That needn’t be a concern for Mr. Ford. If it passes at Queen’s Park and is adopted by city council, the ranked-ballot system would go into effect on January 1, 2015, meaning that a ranked-ballot vote wouldn’t be possible until 2018.