The Municipality of Leamington will continue to use the first-past-the-post system for the 2018 election.
Changes to the Municipal Elections Act were reviewed and councillors decided to stay with the status-quo. Many councillors believed the ranked ballot system was too confusing, particularly for voters who have been using the first-past-the-post system all their lives.
The municipal election schedule is also changing provincially for the 2018 election cycle. According to changes in the act, nominations will not be accepted until May 1 of an election year. Previously, interested parties could submit their nominations on the first business day of election year. Nomination Day is now the fourth Friday in July (July 28, 2018).
In addition, candidates seeking office on council must now submit 25 endorsement signatures from eligible electors with their nomination paper.
