WHEREAS the Province has announced that over the next three years it will be working toward the implementation of a range of legislative amendments relating to local government elections based on the recommendations of the Local Government Elections Task Force, which presents an opportunity to also consider, review and consult in relation to additional election issues; AND WHEREAS a resolution relating to runoff elections was endorsed by UBCM in 1996 resolution B53 but was not implemented by the Province even though it would provide a fair and cost-effective runoff election process in the event of a tie vote following judicial recount: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM request the provincial government to enact amendments to elections legislation that would: - permit runoff elections to be staged on a reduced scale, as compared to the original election i.e. limited number of polls; and - provide that runoff elections be between only those candidates who received the same number of votes following judicial recount.
Ministry of Community, Sport Cultural Development A local government can choose not to hold a runoff election by including a provision in its election bylaw stating that in the case of a tie vote, a draw of names by lot will decide who is elected. Where a local government chooses to hold a runoff election in the case of a tie vote, it may be fairer to allow the electorate to choose among all of the unsuccessful candidates rather than the two that are tied particularly where there are other candidates who received votes that were very close to the number received by the two candidates who were tied. Also, electors may decide to vote for different candidates than they did in the first election. The cost to hold a runoff election for two candidates does not appear to be appreciably different than the cost to hold an election for more than two candidates. Allowing a runoff election to be staged on a reduced scale from the general local election compromises the accessibility of the electorate to the voting process. However, a local government could include provisions in its election bylaw to eliminate the conduct of special and advance voting opportunities, or mail ballot voting, when a runoff election is conducted.