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Ballot Design for the 2000 Municipal Election
The Administration Committee recommends the adoption of the following report (June 28, 1999) from the City Clerk:
Purpose:
The purpose of this report is to respond to a request from City Council to research ways in which candidates may be more easily identified on the ballot, such as including numbers or pictures beside the candidates’ names.
Financial Implications:
The cost of ballot production will be part of the budget submission to be presented during the Year 2000 Operating Budget review.
Recommendation:
It is recommended that the City Clerk use her authority under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 to number the candidates on the ballot.
Council Background Reference and History:
On June 9, 10 and 11, 1999, City Council amended Clause No. 25 of Report No. 6 of The Corporate Services Committee by adding thereto the following recommendation:
"It is further recommended that the City Clerk be requested to submit a report to the Administration Committee on the types of ballots that could be utilized to more clearly identify the candidates by the equipment, including numbers or pictures beside the candidates’ name, to name two."
Comments and/or Justification:
The ballot is a provincially regulated form. Any proposed changes to the format of the City of Toronto’s ballot would need to comply with what is permissible under the regulation.
The design of the ballot is at the discretion of the City Clerk, subject to the rules contained in subsection 41(2) of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996.
The following is a list of methods used in other jurisdictions to identify candidates on a ballot:
(1) numbering of candidates;
(2) colour in the area around the name of a candidate;
(3) pictures of candidates beside their names;
(4) party flags; and
(5) tribal signs.
Options 4 and 5 are not applicable for the City of Toronto elections.
Numbering of Candidates:
The numbering of candidates on municipal ballots was done by the former City of Toronto for the 1991 and 1994 municipal elections. This can be of assistance to some of the City’s electorate, particularly those whose first language is not English. The numbering of candidates is permissible under the provincial regulations.
Colours:
The use of colours to identify candidates is rarely used in other jurisdictions. People naturally have preferences to certain colours, making the process of using colours unfair to candidates. The cost to produce these multi-coloured ballots would most likely double the current price of ballots. In the 1997 municipal election, there was an average of thirty candidates on each ballot. The use of thirty colours on a ballot face may prove to be confusing to the voter. The other issue would be the association of colours to political parties and candidate signs. The use of colours would be permissible under the provincial regulation.
Pictures:
Pictures have been used as a way to identify candidates in some jurisdictions. In the 1997 municipal election, there was an average of thirty candidates on each ballot. Approximately two inches of space would be required for each candidate’s picture. Our ballot would probably be double sided or more than one piece of paper if pictures were allowed. The provincial regulation currently does not permit the use of pictures on a ballot.
Samples of ballots with pictures, colours and numbers are available in the Clerk’s Office.
Conclusion:
It is recommended that the City Clerk use her authority under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 to include numbers to identify candidates on the ballot.
Contact Name:
John Hollins, Director of Elections, City Clerk’s Division
Telephone No. 392-8019 E-mail: jhollins@city.north-york.on.ca
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