Mayor John Tory’s Executive Committee is starting on the topic of ranked ballots. City Clerk has reported it’s no longer possible to look at using ranked ballots for the 2022 election, due to pandemic challenges. Advocates aren’t happy. Watch here:
Councillor James Pasternak, initially elected to council with 19% of the popular vote in 2010, seems skeptical of ranked ballots, noting that in the City of London’s recent ranked ballot election had “little impact on the results.”
Democracy! 
Here’s City Clerk Ulli Watkiss’ list of reasons why COVID-19 makes using ranked ballots in 2022 a tough go.
Watkiss says Supreme Court decision on the City’s challenge to the Ford council cut isn’t expected until late 2021, so she’s planning for elections that could have either 25 or 47 wards.
Councillor James Pasternak claims ranked ballots reduce voter turnout. Some jurisdictions have seen drops, others increases — turnout can vary for all sorts of reasons. (via fairvote.org/research_rcvvo…)
It’s always hard to square these arguments from politicians that ranked ballots are too complicated with the fact that every major political party uses ranked ballots for leadership races.
Tory says he’s disappointed that the Clerk’s report concludes ranked ballots aren’t doable for 2022, because he’s a fan of them. He says ranked ballots will increase engagement and diversity, and make campaigning more civil. But he’ll support Clerk recommendation to hold ’til ’26
Executive Committee recorded vote on the Clerk’s recommendation to hold off on potentially using ranked ballots until 2026 CARRIES, with Councillor Paul Ainslie the only committee member in opposition. Council will have final word on this next week.
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