Timmins City Council is mulling over potential voting options for municipal elections.
City Clerk Steph Palmateer presented a report to council on the ranked ballot system. This is where you would rank, in order of most to least favourite, who you would want representing your ward. In order to be elected, a candidate would have to get at least 50 per cent of the vote. Anything less would require a redistribution of the votes from the last place option.
Councillor Mike Doody believes this would deter people from voting. Doody says that they have a hard enough time getting 50 per cent of the voters out to vote.
Councillor Pat Bamford believes that council would have a hard time educating voters on how the voting system would work. He adds that in a multi member ward, this system is confusing to say the least.
Palmateer has suggested that council keep the voting system the way it is for the 2018 election, but monitor any ranked ballot elections in other communities.
Council has until May 1st to decide what they want to do.