When it comes to long-touted calls for democratic reforms in Ontario elections, Kingston is entering unusual territory of walking the talk.

“In a country where every election is held with first-past-the-post we are really in a historic moment here.”

That’s the reaction from an excited Dave Meslin, creative director of Unlock Democracy Canada, a lobby group working to bring more participatory democracy to the election process.

Meslin was at council Feb. 6 as Kingston’s civic leaders finalized a referendum on ranked balloting for the October municipal election.

The question asks voters whether they favour ranked ballots to elect their mayor and councillors.

Kingston is one of only a few Ontario cities to openly consider adopting the system of ranked balloting to elect future councils. The method has been touted by democracy reform activists as a more accurate, less acrimonious way to elect candidates.

“The benefits of ranked ballots are enormous, which is why every party in Canada is already using it to elect their own leaders and their candidates in every single riding,” Meslin explained.

He says having a system where voters can select more than one candidate, ranked in order of their preference, allows people to vote with their heart and not worry about strategic voting.

Ranked ballots almost always ensure the winner has at least 50 percent of the popular vote.

“The winner actually has a majority mandate. And perhaps, most important, it creates a more civil debate. You want your supporters to consider putting you second if you can’t get their first choice so negative campaigns and personal attacks backfire under a runoff system.”

But if it’s such a great way to elect councils, why aren’t most municipalities giving it much thought?

Since the province gave all 444 municipalities the power to adopt ranked ballots only three have actually pursued it. London, Ontario has already opted to use the new system in this fall’s civic elections while Kingston and Cambridge will make it a referendum issue.

The other 441 appear content to stick with the status quo.

Meslin says that isn’t surprising.

“The general rule with a voting system is politicians don’t want to change the system that got them elected.”

He added: “Whatever got them in works fine for them so I think Kingston should feel really proud that they’re one of only three cities that’s exploring this.”

Under the traditional election system, a mayor or councillor can get 20 or 25 percent of the vote and still win. “So 70 percent of your own constituents can vote against you and you can still win,” he said.

In Kingston’s 2014 municipal election, ranked balloting wouldn’t have changed the outcome for eight of the 13 winners who were elected with at least 50-percent of the vote; Kevin George, Lisa Osanic, Liz Schell, Mary Rita Holland, Jeff McLaren, Jim Neill, Peter Stroud and Rob Hutchison.

The other five winners, including Mayor Bryan Paterson, had more votes than other candidates but lacked the 50-percent-plus-one threshold that would be required under ranked ballots.

Meanwhile, the threshold to get a referendum approved is high.

In order for the results to be binding at least 50 percent of eligible voters must vote on the question and more than 50 percent of the votes on the question must be in favour of using ranked ballot voting.

Voter turnout in Kingston’s municipal elections is usually at around 40 percent, which could easily nullify the results.

However, Meslin isn’t worried if a ‘yes’ vote still falls short of meeting the provincially-set voter turnout threshold.

“I don’t think anyone should be concerned whether it’s binding or not. If a majority of voters support this I think in terms of optics alone and decency council will implement it for 2022.”

The city plans to launch a public education campaign between now and the October election to inform voters on what it is they’re being asked to decide.

Unlock Democracy Canada will also keep a presence in Kingston to ensure voters are well informed. The group has already organized a public information meeting February 27 at the Agnes Etherington Art Centre. Speakers from Minneapolis and Washington, D.C. will be on hand to talk about how ranked ballots are working in the United States, Meslin explained.

He says electing councils with ranked ballots will give voters more power.

“It makes the election results more responsive to what voters are asking for.”