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Voting system

is the foundation

Democracy

Representative

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“The right of decision belongs to the majority, but the right of representation belongs to all.”

Ernest Naville, 1865

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We need different voting systems…

…for different

types of decisions

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Picking a single winner

Party leader
President
Mayor
Referendum question

Required: winner-take-all voting system

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Creating representation

Parliaments
Legislatures
Councils
Boards of directors

Required: proportional representation voting system

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�Distorted � Results

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Year Winner Votes Seats Results

1988 Tories 43% 57% Phony majority

1993 Liberals 41% 60% Phony majority

1997 Liberals 38% 51% Phoniest majority ever

2000 Liberals 41% 57% Phony majority

2011 Cons. 39% 54% Phony majority

2015 Liberals 39% 54% Phony majority

Only 4 legitimate majority governments since WW I

Phony “majority” government�is the norm for Canada

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2015 election Liberals promised:

2015 the last First-Past-the-Post election
“make every vote count”
form an all-party parliamentary committee to review electoral reform options (including ranked ballots, proportional representation, mandatory voting, and online voting)
introduce legislation within 18 months

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Exaggerated majorities

BC election – 2001

Voters say: 57% BC Liberals

System delivers: 97% BC Liberals

NB election – 1987

Voters say: 60% NB Liberals

System delivers: 100% NB Liberals

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Second place “majority”

NDP (39%) beat Liberals (42%)

British Columbia election in 1996

�PQ (43%) beat Liberals (44%)

Quebec election in 1998

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Representative?

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The problem with electing representatives using a �winner-take-all system� (FPTP/SMP, AV)

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Winner-take-all election results

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Key to fair representation is having multiple representatives from larger ridings

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Made-in-Canada PR

More choice for voters

More meaningful choice of parties
More choice on the ballot

Voting for specific candidates (no closed lists)
A regional approach to protect regional representation
Some form of local representation
Easy to understand ballots and electoral principles

30% of the vote = 30% of the seats

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Summary: using a winner-take-all �system to elect government

Votes not equal
Many votes elect no one
Distorted results
Low voter turnout
Strategic and negative voting
Regional differences exaggerated
Lack of diversity in government

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“Patterns of Democracy” – Prof. Arend Lijphart

Main Findings

Voter turnout higher by 7.5%
Government policies closer to median
Increased voter satisfaction (+17%)
7% more women
Small increase in # of parties
Less income inequality
6 points higher on Yale Environmental Index
“Kinder, gentler democracies”

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Common Attacks (Myths)

End strong, stable government
Become like Israel or Italy
Small, single-issue parties will control govt.
Parties will elect unpopular candidates
PR will break constituency link
We won’t be able to kick out a bad govt.

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What can we do?

Become informed
Contact your MLA/MP
Attend Town Halls and speak
Talk to family and friends
Join in the effort!!