Where’s the Talk Regarding ‘Term Limits’ and ‘Rank Ballots’?
Where’s the Talk Regarding ‘Term Limits’ and ‘Rank Ballots’?
By Nick Kossovan
Canada News Media
ronto mayoral candidates and candidates running for Toronto council seats have remained mum on term limits and rank ballots.
Practically speaking, a term limit already exists—it’s called voting. However, despite local governments overseeing our daily lives, voter participation has historically been low.
Not-so-fun facts (Toronto voter turnout post-amalgamation):
• 1997 — 45.6%
• 2000 — 36.1%
• 2003 — 38.33%
• 2006 — 39.3%
• 2010 — 50.55%
• 2014 — 54.67%
• 2018 — 40.9%
It is time to stop looking for institutional solutions to voter deficiencies and apathy. People can remove the mayor or a councillor if they wish. Therefore, I interpret that the 59% of eligible voters who didn’t vote in 2018 were satisfied with their councillor’s performance and John Tory’s leadership. Another way of putting it: 59% of eligible voters weren’t angry enough with John Tory or their councillor to vote them out.
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