Equality by lot

norfolktoday.ca reports:

Brady calls for an end to random draws in tied municipal elections

Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Bobbi Ann Brady is calling on the Ontario government to change how tied municipal elections are resolved, arguing that choosing a winner by random draw undermines confidence in the democratic process.

Brady tabled a motion and raised the issue in the Ontario Legislature following Norfolk County’s Ward 4 election, where Jeni Lambert and incumbent Chris Van Paassen each received exactly 858 votes.

A recount is scheduled for Thursday, November 5. If the candidates remain tied, the current process calls for the successful candidate to be chosen by lot.

Brady says that approach needs to be modernized.

“This is 2026, at a time when technology has transformed how we conduct elections, I find it difficult to accept that the outcome of a democratic election could ultimately come down to a lottery,” she said.

Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Bobbi Ann Brady is calling on the Ontario government to change how tied municipal elections are resolved, arguing that choosing a winner by random draw undermines confidence in the democratic process.

Brady tabled a motion and raised the issue in the Ontario Legislature following Norfolk County’s Ward 4 election, where Jeni Lambert and incumbent Chris Van Paassen each received exactly 858 votes.

A recount is scheduled for Thursday, November 5. If the candidates remain tied, the current process calls for the successful candidate to be chosen by lot.

Brady says that approach needs to be modernized.

“This is 2026, at a time when technology has transformed how we conduct elections, I find it difficult to accept that the outcome of a democratic election could ultimately come down to a lottery,” she said.

Brady’s motion calls on the province to modernize the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, and remove the provision allowing a tied result after a recount to be settled by lot.

She argues that legislators should be strengthening public confidence in elections, particularly when voter apathy is already a concern.

“Democracy should be determined by the voters, not by a coin toss or a name drawn from a hat,” Brady said.

In an unexpected and unprecendented turn of events, the elected official’s lack of ideas to offer was not a hinderance for them seeking media attention.

“Surely, in 2026, we can come up with a better way to resolve a tie than leaving the outcome to chance,” she said.

Filed under: Elections, Press |