Results of London’s ranked ballots survey released

The results from London’s public engagement efforts surrounding a possible switch to ranked ballots for next year’s municipal election are in.

The survey showed that 56 per cent of respondents preferred choosing one candidate while 44 per cent supported choosing three.

It also showed 88 per cent of respondents would be confident in understanding how the system works.

Forty-seven per cent of respondents said they were in favour of getting rid of first past the post, compared to 46 per cent who want it to remain as is.

Upwards of 700 people took part in the online and paper survey.

Dave Meslin, electoral reform advocate with 123 Ontario, tells AM980 the results show fears about ranked ballots are unfounded.

“All of the opponents have been saying, ‘maybe this is too complicated, it will confuse people,’ which is of course pretty insulting to Londoners to suggest that they don’t know how to count to three,” he said.

Meslin believes the city should run ranked ballots as a pilot project for 2018, and then consider holding a referendum.

“Give people the chance to try it out, see how they like using the ballots, see how it impacts how candidates campaign, how the numbers get tabulated, and then I think it should go back to the people,” he said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Give people the chance to try it out, see how they like using the ballots, see how it impacts how candidates campaign, how the numbers get tabulated, and then I think it should go back to the people," he said.

The city will hold a public participation meeting on the results of the community engagement survey on Saturday at 11 a.m. in council chambers.