Independent Election Task Force Report
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
CITY OF VANCOUVER INDEPENDENT ELECTION TASK FORCE FINAL REPORT January 2017 Our motivations for serving on the Independent Election Task Force were diverse: some members were committed to increasing youth participation, others focused on voting reform. Some, who have immigrated to Vancouver, were most passionate about expanding the franchise to permanent residents. One member was motivated to join in honour of her father, a native-born Canadian citizen who, because of his Chinese descent, was denied the right to vote in a City of Vancouver election through the Vancouver Incorporation Act. We were united, however, by our enthusiastic commitment to improving civic engagement and democracy. That commitment provided a unifying force through many spirited discussions and independent thinking. I congratulate my fellow members on their FOREWORD commitment to working cooperatively, with transparency, open mindedness, accountability and respect. FROM THE CHAIR Perhaps it was this commitment to a shared goal that made it so important for us to arrive at the shared definitions of public confidence and civic “MORE CHOICE AND FLEXIBILITY engagement included in this report. These definitions IN HOW MUNICIPALITIES SUCH emerged from a recognition that voter turnout AS VANCOUVER MANAGE THEIR is just one of several important measures. Our enhanced characterization of public confidence and ELECTIONS IS CRITICAL FOR civic engagement formed the benchmark against INCREASING PUBLIC CONFIDENCE which we evaluated each recommendation. AND VOTER ENGAGEMENT.” So too did a common approach emerge as we considered the five areas in our mandate. For each area, there is a need to build a case to demonstrate to voters and to the provincial government how essential they could be for Vancouver’s democratic health. These electoral procedures are mostly under the purview of the provincial government and have been the topic of previous Council directives to the provincial government. The provincial government has, to date, not recognized that more choice and flexibility in how municipalities such as Vancouver manage their elections is critical for increasing public confidence and voter engagement. For the Independent Election Task Force, our work centred on building a compelling case for Council’s directives that are essential for protecting and strengthening our democracy. Shoni Field Chair, Independent Election Task Force CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...........................................................................................................................................7 BACKGROUND ...........................................................................................................................................................12 TASK FORCE SCOPE OF WORK AND APPROACH .....................................................................................13 GOALS/OUTCOMES ............................................................................................................................................14 MEMBERSHIP .......................................................................................................................................................14 TIMELINE AND MEETING SCHEDULE ........................................................................................................15 TASK FORCE VALUES .........................................................................................................................................15 CONSULTATION .....................................................................................................................................................16 FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ...........................................................................................................16 PUTTING COUNCIL DIRECTIVES INTO ACTION .....................................................................................17 A. ADOPT A PROPORTIONAL VOTING SYSTEM ..................................................................................18 B. REFORM CAMPAIGN FINANCING ......................................................................................................20 C. INCREASE VOTER TURNOUT ...............................................................................................................22 D. MAKE ANONYMOUS BALLOTING DATA AVAILABLE IN OPEN DATA FORMAT AFTER AN ELECTION ............................................................................26 E. CONDUCT AN ONLINE VOTING PILOT ............................................................................................. 27 SUMMARY AND NEXT STEPS ...........................................................................................................................29 LESSONS LEARNED ...............................................................................................................................................30 APPENDIX A: Detailed Reports on Key Strategic Actions ..................................................................31 APPENDIX B: Independent Election Task Force Past Candidate Survey Report .................125 6 Independent Election Task Force Final Report EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Vancouver City Council established an Independent Election Task Force to recommend changes based on Council directives concerning the delivery of municipal elections in the city of Vancouver. These directives all have the potential, if implemented, to contribute to improved public confidence in the electoral processes at the municipal level and increase voter engagement — with a key goal being to increase voter turnout to at least 60 per cent by 2025. Twelve Independent Election Task Force City staff have begun planning for the 2018 members were selected to participate based election and this work will intensify beginning in on their strong knowledge of the principles of September 2017. In November 2017, staff expect democracy, effective operation of democratic to begin implementing the election plan developed institutions, and best practices regarding electoral for the 2018 election; therefore, it is important that systems and reform. Members also brought any changes intended to come into effect for the experience developing strategies, creating 2018 municipal election be in place by November work plans, achieving success within a political 2017. It is anticipated that some changes will environment, and knowledge of the organization take two elections cycles to fully implement. and operation of key provincial ministries. To advance the strategic actions and manage An independent facilitator structured Task Force inter-governmental relations with the Province work around eight in-person meetings between related to these recommendations, we suggest June and October 2016. To ensure the most the City designate a dedicated Elections efficient use of limited Task Force time, the Advocacy staff position. facilitator had members form sub-committees, each one focused on one of Council’s directives, grouped as Key Strategic Actions, or KSAs, and members dedicated time both during and outside the meetings to review, prioritize, budget and create a plan for how to implement changes to election legislation and processes. KEY GOAL This report presents the Independent Task Force INCREASE VOTER TURNOUT research findings based on literature reviews, presentations from, and interviews with, subject TO AT LEAST matter experts, a past candidate survey, and member deliberations. Based on these results, the Task Force has developed a priority list of actions and key considerations, corresponding implementation plans, and a high-level cost 60% BY 2025 estimate for each of Council’s directives. Independent Election Task Force Final Report 7 In developing our recommendations, Task Force members assessed each proposed action against an expanded set of considerations aimed at more fully capturing Council’s directive to consider the proposals’ impact on public confidence and civic engagement: SIX MEASURES OF PUBLIC CONFIDENCE AND VOTER ENGAGEMENT 8 Independent Election Task Force Final Report POLITICAL EQUALITY THE REPRESENTATION ACCOUNTABILITY OF ELECTED WHERE PARTICIPATION IS OF DIVERSE VIEWPOINTS REPRESENTATIVES TO VOTERS NOT LIMITED BY ETHNICITY, ON AN ONGOING BASIS GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION, BETWEEN ELECTIONS POLITICAL AFFILIATION, GENDER, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, ETC. VOTER SATISFACTION VOTER POLITICAL VOTER TURNOUT1 WITH CANDIDATES KNOWLEDGE 1 While voter turnout is often used as a metric to assess voter engagement (typically expressed as a fraction of registered voters), members realized some measures under consideration might increase the overall number of voters participating, yet paradoxically might decrease the voter turnout metric (e.g. if we expanded voter eligibility rules). In developing metrics to define success, the City should be mindful of this potential paradox. Independent Election Task Force Final Report 9 This broader set of measures of public confidence and voter engagement allowed us to prioritize our recommendations, which are presented below in order of priority: PRIORITIZED LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS A. ADOPT A PROPORTIONAL VOTING SYSTEM 1. Move to adopt a proportional representation (PR) system by using a deliberative participatory process to produce a recommendation for a model of PR voting optimally suited for use in municipal elections. The Task Force particularly recommends that the City establish a Citizens’ Assembly for this purpose. 2. Request that the provincial government allow the City to adopt the