Ontario cities allowed to use ranked election ballots in 2018

Legislation that gives Ontario municipalities theoption of using ranked ballots in the next municipal elections in2018 while also banning corporate and union donations passed thelegislature today.

The preferential ballots let voters rank candidates instead ofvoting for a single person.

Ontario's Liberal government says the winning candidate will havea higher percentage of the vote and therefore a broader mandate.

Proponents of the voting system believe it can make campaignsmore civil, forcing candidates to be more engaged in substantive debate, instead of just trying to get whatever percentage of thevote that will see them win.

The legislation also bans corporate and union donations tocouncil candidates and would-be school board trustees in all 445Ontario municipalities.

Municipal campaign nomination periods are also now shortenedunder the legislation by opening candidate nominations in Mayinstead of January, with an end of July deadline.