In 1896, the election of county councillors was separated from the election of local councillors. Counties were organized into divisions for electoral purposes, each of which would elect two councillors, and the number of councillors was determined by the population. There was no requirement for the county divisions to be
contiguous in area, and such a fragmented division (consisting of three municipalities) was noted in
Halton County. It was observed that "the arrangement by which one of the municipalities in No. 4 county council division must be left out in the cold is anything but a satisfactory one". In 1904, provision was made for a majority of the councils in a county to be able to oust direct elections, in favour of a county council consisting of the mayors and reeves of the constituent municipalities. Direct elections were finally abolished in 1907. ==Elections==