2023 Ontario Liberal Party Leadership Election
Frequently Asked Questions
The 2023 Ontario Liberal Leadership Election is our first election using a one-member-one-vote system with preferential ballots. We know you may have questions about these new rules. We're here to help.
Who can become a member of the Ontario Liberal Party?
Any resident of Ontario who is at least 14 years old, supports the ideals of the Ontario Liberal Party, and is not a member of any other provincial political party in Ontario. Membership is available at no cost. The Qualifying Date to be a member and be eligible to vote in the 2023 Ontario Liberal Leadership race was September 11, 2023. Registration to be eligible for the election is now closed, but we encourage you to register with the Ontario Liberal Party!
What's new in the 2023 Ontario Liberal Leadership election?
New to the Ontario Liberal Party 2023 election is the one-member-one-vote system. In this system, each member votes within their riding association and Ontario Young Liberal or Women’s group. The vote each member casts is translated into a percentage of a point. This point value is determined based on the number of members in the organization and the total ballots cast. This new system ensures a fair representation of all members’ preferences across the province.
How is a leader selected in the Ontario Liberal Party?
The leader of the Ontario Liberal Party is selected through a one-member-one-vote ranked-ballot system. This system ensures that every member’s vote contributes to the final outcome. The process involves several counts, where points are allocated to candidates based on the first preference votes they receive. This continues until a candidate receives more than 50% of the total points, at which point they are elected as the Leader.
How are points allotted in the Leadership Election?
In the Ontario Liberal Party Leadership Election, points are allotted to different groups within the party. Each constituency association is allotted 100 points, each Ontario Young Liberal student club is allotted 50 points, and each Women’s Liberal Club is allotted 5 points.
How are these points used in the first count of votes?
During the first count, the first preference votes for each Leadership Candidate are counted within each group (constituency associations, student clubs, and women’s clubs). The points allotted to each group are then awarded to the Leadership Candidates in proportion to the number of first preference votes they receive within that group.
When will the new leader be announced?
The new Leader for the Ontario Liberal Party will be announced on December 2nd, 2023 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (South Building).
Tickets are available here.
When and where will voting take place?
Voting for the Ontario Liberal Party Leadership Election will take place on Saturday, November 25, 2023, and Sunday, November 26, 2023. The voting will be conducted in-person for almost all constituency associations, student clubs, and women’s clubs. Members from Algoma–Manitoulin, Kenora–Rainy River, Kiiwetinoong, Mushkegowuk–James Bay, Parry Sound–Muskoka, Timiskaming–Cochrane, and Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke will vote by mail.
Members from Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, Perth—Wellington, Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, Thunder Bay—Atikokan, or Thunder Bay—Superior North who’s home address is further than 55 KMs straight-line distance from the association’s LEV location will vote by mail.
Our How to Vote page has been updated with voting locations. Find out where your riding association is hosting their Ontario Liberal Party Leadership Election.
How can I learn more about the candidates?
During the election, the Ontario Liberal Party will host five debates around the province. Here, you can learn more about Nate Erskine-Smith.
The Ontario Liberal Party Leadership Debates will be held:
- WATCH PAST DEBATE – Thunder Bay
- WATCH PAST DEBATE – TMU Democracy Forum
- WATCH PAST DEBATE – Stratford
- WATCH PAST DEBATE – Toronto
- WATCH PAST DEBATE – Ottawa
- WATCH PAST DEBATE – Brampton
These debates will be live streamed, and links to debates will be added when they are made available.
An additional debate hosted by TVO’s Steve Paikin can be seen here.
What happens to these points in subsequent counts?
In subsequent counts, the points allotted to each group remain the same. However, the candidate with the fewest points in the Provincial Total (the sum of all points from all groups) is eliminated. The votes for the eliminated candidate are then redistributed among the remaining candidates based on the next preferences indicated by the members. This process continues until a candidate receives more than 50% of the points of the Provincial Total, at which point they are elected as the Leader.
Who can become a member of the Ontario Liberal Party?
Any resident of Ontario who is at least 14 years old, supports the ideals of the Ontario Liberal Party, and is not a member of any other provincial political party in Ontario. Membership is available at no cost. The Qualifying Date to be a member and be eligible to vote in the 2023 Ontario Liberal Leadership race was September 11, 2023. Registration to be eligible for the election is now closed, but we encourage you to register with the Ontario Liberal Party!
When and where will voting take place?
Voting for the Ontario Liberal Party Leadership Election will take place on Saturday, November 25, 2023, and Sunday, November 26, 2023. The voting will be conducted in-person for almost all constituency associations, student clubs, and women’s clubs. Members from Algoma–Manitoulin, Kenora–Rainy River, Kiiwetinoong, Mushkegowuk–James Bay, Parry Sound–Muskoka, Timiskaming–Cochrane, and Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke will vote by mail.
Members from Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, Perth—Wellington, Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, Thunder Bay—Atikokan, or Thunder Bay—Superior North who’s home address is further than 55 KMs straight-line distance from the association’s LEV location will vote by mail.
Our How to Vote page has been updated with voting locations. Find out where your riding association is hosting their Ontario Liberal Party Leadership Election.
What's new in the 2023 Ontario Liberal Leadership election?
New to the Ontario Liberal Party 2023 election is the one-member-one-vote system. In this system, each member votes within their riding association and Ontario Young Liberal or Women’s group. The vote each member casts is translated into a percentage of a point. This point value is determined based on the number of members in the organization and the total ballots cast. This new system ensures a fair representation of all members’ preferences across the province.
How is a leader selected in the Ontario Liberal Party?
The leader of the Ontario Liberal Party is selected through a one-member-one-vote ranked-ballot system. This system ensures that every member’s vote contributes to the final outcome. The process involves several counts, where points are allocated to candidates based on the first preference votes they receive. This continues until a candidate receives more than 50% of the total points, at which point they are elected as the Leader.
How can I learn more about the candidates?
During the election, the Ontario Liberal Party will host five debates around the province. Here, you can learn more about Nate Erskine-Smith.
The Ontario Liberal Party Leadership Debates will be held:
- WATCH PAST DEBATE – Thunder Bay
- WATCH PAST DEBATE – TMU Democracy Forum
- WATCH PAST DEBATE – Stratford
- WATCH PAST DEBATE – Toronto
- Wednesday, November 8 – Ottawa – 7:00 PM
- Sunday, November 19 – Brampton – 1:00 PM
These debates will be live streamed, and links to debates will be added when they are made available.
How are points allotted in the Leadership Election?
In the Ontario Liberal Party Leadership Election, points are allotted to different groups within the party. Each constituency association is allotted 100 points, each Ontario Young Liberal student club is allotted 50 points, and each Women’s Liberal Club is allotted 5 points.
How are these points used in the first count of votes?
During the first count, the first preference votes for each Leadership Candidate are counted within each group (constituency associations, student clubs, and women’s clubs). The points allotted to each group are then awarded to the Leadership Candidates in proportion to the number of first preference votes they receive within that group.
What happens to these points in subsequent counts?
In subsequent counts, the points allotted to each group remain the same. However, the candidate with the fewest points in the Provincial Total (the sum of all points from all groups) is eliminated. The votes for the eliminated candidate are then redistributed among the remaining candidates based on the next preferences indicated by the members. This process continues until a candidate receives more than 50% of the points of the Provincial Total, at which point they are elected as the Leader.
When will the new leader be announced?
The new Leader for the Ontario Liberal Party will be announced on December 2nd, 2023 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (South Building).
Tickets are available here.
