Timeline of Edmonton city elections and electoral reform, including the recent regressive changes

Edmonton city elections

From 1892 to 1968, at-large districting.

Block voting and STV were used.

Staggered terms kept District Magnitude small.

1912 

Each voter could cast up to ten votes.

About 17,000 votes were cast by the 2870 voters who participated in this election

staggered terms brought in so DM mostly in 6 to 8 scale.

1922

Due to each voter being able to cast up to 6 votes, 

53,000 votes were cast in this election by the 11,000 voters who voted. 

1923  STV

six seats open.

11,851 valid votes. Each voter had one vote.

Quota of votes was 1693. This number guaranteed election but it was possible to be elected with fewer.(Edmonton Bulletin, December 11, 1923)

STV used in 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927

1928 back to Block voting

78,000 votes were cast in the aldermanic contest by the approximately 15,000 voters who voted.

1928 reverted to at-large block voting.

May 1966 Edmonton debated switching to wards

Edmonton Journal carried both sides of the issue --

Calgary Alderman Adrian Berry says under Calgary system of two-seat wards, voter knows who to go to for help

(Edmonton Journal, May 19,1966: "Better Representation - System provides more direct Contact and Campaign costs are lower" )

Calgary politician Clarence Mack (defeated mayoral candidate) says Calgary not getting best people

(Edmonton Journal, May 19,1966: "Not A Good - Sectionalism develops which leads to wrangling over Civic questions")

1970 wards brought in in Edmonton

four 3-seat "North-south" wards adopted by votes held in city hall (Edmonton Journal Dec. 22, 1970)

(Edmonton not adopting Calgary's two-seat ward system)

the "North-south" wards used for first time in 1971 city election.

Southside members dominate as attract votes of most voters in wards that bridge the river.

(in 1971 Calgary would use its two-seat wards and STV for last time, before adopting single-seat wards and FPTP)

1973 12-ward system rejected (Edmonton Journal Aug. 28, 1973)

In 1976?, vote held on whether or not to retain the three-seat wards.

58,832 voted to keep it; 51,355 voted to abolish it (replacing it with at-large/Block Voting apparently); 31,155 left their ballot blank.

1977? article in Edmonton Journal says most voters are not against wards per se.

but the three-seat wards appeal to few sitting politicians.

some pulled for larger city council and different wards - six wards, 8, 12, 16 or even 32.

some pulled for 8 two-seat wards,

views of Butti, Ewasiuk, etc. expressed

(Olive Elliot, "... on how to improve city ward system", Edmonton Journal, [date unknown] (in CEA file "City Clerk Elections")

March 1976 city council voted against the three-seat ward system, then voted down three alternatives and then voted for the three-seat ward system once more. (Edmonton Journal, March 27, 1976

1980 two-seat wards

2010         FPTP first used 12 single-member wards

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