THUNDER BAY -- The city could have a ranked ballot election by 2018.
But councillors and administration need to wait for more information before making a decision.
On Monday the province introduced legislation that would give municipalities the option to introduce ranked ballots into elections. Having the public rank candidates could lead to more diversity on council and increase voter turnout.
"I think it will attract new voters but it will also attract new candidates to run," Northwood Coun. Shelby Ch'ng said.
At-large Coun. Iain Angus said while he likes the idea, he'd rather the province mandate the change so that municipal elections are consistent across the province.
"I think it's a weak response by the province that's going to create chaos," he said.
For Coun. Joe Virdiramo, he'd rather the city focus on issues like how many council seats there are and whether the current system, the only of its kind in Ontario for a single-tiered municipality with both ward and at-large councillors, is working rather than how votes are counted.
"I think all of those issues need to be resolved first," he said.
City clerk John Hannam said the biggest issue for administration is educating the public on how the new system would work.
"Helping people understand what it means, how votes are counted," he said.
"That's the challenge."
Hannam said his office will compile a report for councillors once the legislation is passed. If council does want to change its electoral system, the city could be ready for the 2018 election as long as the decision is made before that year.
"It's not a decision we want to make going into an election year," Hannam said.
