TORONTO - The Ontario government has released the referendum question on electoral reform that will be posed to voters on Oct. 10.

The question is: "Which electoral system should Ontario use to elect members to the provincial legislature?''

The options will be the existing so-called "first past the post'' electoral system, or a mixed member proportional system.

Marie Bountrogianni, the minister responsible for democratic renewal, says the government wanted a question that was clear, concise and impartial.

She says it had to be easy to understand and not biased toward either outcome.

The proposed mixed member proportional system would give citizens two votes: one for the political party of their choice and another for a local candidate.

Advocates says electoral reform would bring a balance of power in the legislature that better reflects the popular vote.