1. Open House Ranked Ballot Elections
Manon L. Levesque
City Clerk
March 16, 2017

2. Open House Agenda Opening Remarks by Manon L. Levesque, City Clerk
Description of how votes would be distributed to candidates by Carol Church, Municipal Advisor, Ministry of Municipal Affairs
Estimate of the costs and alternative voting method by Manon L. Levesque, City Clerk
Question Period

3. Public Engagement and Education
The Ranked Ballot system is a fundamental departure from the voting experience of the average voter who is used to selecting a specific number of candidates for each office.
A change to the Ranked Ballot approach may be confusing to experienced and new voters alike. A significant amount of time, effort and election funding would have to be put towards public education and resources to inform voters about this new system.

4. Public Engagement and Education
Public Engagement and Education would be a key focus in order to avoid public confusion.
Estimated Cost of Public Education
Public Ads: 5 x Budget Estimate = Additional $28,080
Staffing: 3 x Budget Estimate = Additional $44,000
Communication: 3 x Postage for Printed Material = Additional $30,000

5. Staffing and Resources
If Council directs Administration to pursue the option of a Ranked Ballot election, extra staff will need to be available during voting hours to provide instructions and answer questions to the voters.
Estimated Voting Hours Staff
3 Extra Persons per General Voting Location ( $250) = $3,000
1 Extra Person per Restricted Voting Location (14) = $

6. Voting Counting Equipment
A vote tabulator is an electronic voting device that optically scans the ballots to read the marked paper and tally the results.
The tabulator allows for the ballot to be immediately tabulated at the polling station notifying the voters of voting errors such as an overvoted race, invalid marks, blank ballots and unread ballots.

7. Voting Counting Equipment
Once the voting has closed, the tabulated results are sent to a pre-programmed telephone number. The results are received within minutes.
The City currently owns over thirty tabulators, however, this equipment does not have the capability of counting ranked ballots.

8. Voting Counting Equipment
The equipment and software are available and new tabulators would need to be leased for the 2018 Municipal Election.
Estimated Cost of Leasing Voting Counting Equipment
35 units = $90,180

9. Ballots
The City would use a composite ballot for the position of Mayor and Councillors.
Depending on the number of candidates for these offices, paper ballots may need to be larger, may need to have the front and back used or multiple ballots may be required.

10. Ballots
The ballots using ranked voting will be significantly different than the ballots that voters are familiar with.

11. Ballots
Because we may have up to thirty candidates for the Race of Councillor, it is possible that we may have multiple Ballots.
Estimated Cost of Ballots
Printing: Budget Estimate = 50% = Additional $4,745

12. Additional Cost Not Included
It is difficult to predict some of the extra costs that will be incurred
Additional Work Hours by City Clerk and Deputy Clerk (although not paid, could result in a significant of amount of converted hours)
Additional Work Hours by Clerk’s Division Staff (overtime at 1 ½ % pursuant to Collective Agreement)
Room Rental for Public Education Sessions
Furniture for extra staff
Stationery and Supplies

13. Estimated Cost of a Ranked Ballot Election
Public Education
Public Ads: 5 x Budget Estimate = Additional $28,080
Staffing: 3 x Budget Estimate = Additional $44,000
Communication: 3 x Postage for Printed Material = Additional $30,000
Voting Hours Staff
3 Extra Persons per General Voting Location ( $250) = $3,000
1 Extra Person per Restricted Voting Location (14) = $3,500

14. Estimated Cost of a Ranked Ballot Election
Leasing Voting Counting Equipment
35 units = $90,180
Cost of Ballots
Printing: Budget Estimate + 50% = Additional $4,745
Election Budget 2018 =$160,000 Additional Cost for Ranked Ballot Election= $203,505
Total Cost of Election = $363,665

15. Question Period