On Oct. 18, Lethbridge residents will be asked to vote on whether they would like to see the City of Lethbridge adopt a ward system for municipal elections.
During the municipal election, Lethbridge residents will be asked to vote on whether they would like to see the City of Lethbridge adopt a ward system for municipal elections. Council voted in July to include the question on the October municipal election ballot.
In addition to a number of other questions, residents will be asked, “do you support using a ward system to elect City Councillors (other than the Mayor) starting with the 2025 municipal election?” This is not the first time this topic has been debated by city council. According to the Lethbridge historical society, Lethbridge first debated implementing a ward system in 1905.
Currently, Lethbridge uses an at-large electoral system. This means Lethbridge voters choose up to eight candidates on the ballot. The eight with the overall highest vote totals are elected to council.
Under a ward system, Lethbridge would be divided into wards, or electoral districts, and residents would vote for the candidate or candidates from their ward.
Lethbridge resident Kris Torsky believes a ward system would be beneficial for the community and would offer more representation and diversity.
Specifically, Torsky points to the city growth as one of her main reasons for supporting a ward system.
“Especially with the west side in the last several years, we’ve grown the most out of any area of Lethbridge and yet we are still struggling to get many of the same amenities that the north and the south side have. I think it just makes sense,” says Torsky.
According to Lisa Lambert, sessional political scientist instructor at the University of Lethbridge, ward systems are used in almost all large and mid-size cities in Canada.
She notes different electoral systems can change how people vote. In an at-large system, especially when there is a large number of candidates, voters may rely on other information such as ballot order when deciding who to vote for.
“People with the last name of Baker do better than people with the last name Wilson,” says Lambert.
The municipal election is Oct. 18, 2021 and advanced voting has started. There are 32 candidates running for councillor in Lethbridge and six mayoral candidates
