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Export date: Thu Jul 18 8:36:41 2024 / +0000 GMT

Proportional voting is “best” for municipality


(Re: Time for Reform – November 12, 2013)

I would like to thank Alison Collins-Mrakas for suggesting a more proportional voting system as the best option for electing municipal councils.
Such systems are commonly used in cities around the world. They are designed to accurately represent voters and better reflect diversity.
Toronto could accomplish this with Single Transferable Vote (STV). With STV, more representatives would be elected, in bigger wards. Voters would have a better chance of electing a representative, and council would better reflect Toronto voters.
Once the councillors are elected, they will elect a mayor from within, as one among equals. If at any point the mayor becomes unable to fulfill the duties of mayor or is disruptive to the process, the councillors can, with a majority, elect a new mayor from within the elected councillors.
The ousted mayor would remain on council because he or she was elected by the people.
If we want to elect a mayor like a president, then Instant Run Off Voting (IRV) or a ranked ballot would be a better system than First-Past-The-Post. A ranked ballot requires a 50% + 1 vote in order for a candidate to be elected.
An Instant Run Off Voting system is useful when there can only be one winner. It is not suitable for electing representatives for political bodies such as for the House of Commons or town Councillors.
With IRV, like First Past the Post, large numbers of votes go unrepresented and the overall results fail to reflect voter diversity.
Proportional representation accommodates Canadians' diversity, and diversity is our strength.
Toronto should not jump into IRV for mayor or council without citizen consultation, including an objective, evidence-based look at all the options.”

Dan Desson
President - Fair Vote Canada York Region Chapter
Post date: 2013-11-20 19:01:18
Post date GMT: 2013-11-21 00:01:18

Post modified date: 2013-11-20 19:01:18
Post modified date GMT: 2013-11-21 00:01:18

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