Ottawa 123 pushes for change in how city votes in 2018

A group of Ottawa residents is pushing for a new way of voting in the next municipal election.

Ottawa 123 wants the city to move to a ranked voting system instead of the traditional first-past-the-post one used in federal, provincial and municipal elections. It's an option promised, then made available by the Liberals in this summers provincial election.

Ranked voting would allow voters to choose their first, second and third choices for councillor or mayor.

If no candidate has more than 50 per cent of thefirst-place votes, a computer will check the second and if necessary, third-place votes until one candidate reaches that 50per cent mark.

Colum Grove-White, who isinvolved with Ottawa 123, said ranked voting is a benefit to voters.

"More fair and more diverse elections for the city of Ottawa,"he said.

In Innesward, nine candidates are running to replace outgoing councillorRainer Bloess,

"This riding is a good prospect for ranked choice because there are so many people,"CoraleeSheehan said at an Innes ward debate.

"First-past-the-post, we know people get elected with 17 to20 per cent of the vote, which isn't really a majority, so most of the people didn't vote for that person."

Grove-White said four current councillors support ranked voting but incumbent mayor Jim Watson hasnt come on board.

An online petition in favour of ranked choice voting hadthe support of 1,600 as of Saturday morning.

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