Electoral Systems

Electoral Systems An Analysis of Electoral Systems in Canada and Around the World

Topics for Discussion • History of the Vote in Canada • Elections in Canada: Do we need Reform? • Elections in other Countries • Majority/Minority Governments • Electoral Systems • Electoral Reform Stephen Harper during an Election Campaign

Key terms you should know Constituency: a body of voters represented by an elected legislator or official Franchise: The right to vote Majority Government: a government formed by a political party that wins more than half the seats in a parliament or legislature. Minority Government: a government that is elected with fewer than half the seats in a parliament or legislature. First Past the Post (FPTP): An electoral system in which the candidate with the most votes wins, even if he or she receives less than 50% of the total votes; sometimes called “simple majority” Proportional Representation (PR): An electoral system in which the number of seats each political party wins is in proportion to its share of the total vote. Hybrid System: A fusion of the FPTP and PR systems. It was designed to address the problems inherent in both the FPTP and PR systems. Preferential Ballot: An electoral system whereby voters rank their choices rather than vote for a single candidate. To win an election, a candidate must win 50% + 1 of the vote

The History of the Vote in Canada • When the first election in Canada was held, only 11 percent of the population was eligible to vote. • Today, approximately 68% of Canada’s population can vote. Who could Vote?

The Right to Vote for Women in Canadian Provincial Elections • Due to the efforts of Nellie McClung, Manitoba was the first province to Grant women the right to vote. Other provinces would soon follow: • 1916: Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. • 1917: British Columbia and Ontario • 1918: Nova Scotia • 1919: New Brunswick • 1922: Prince Edward Island • 1925: Newfoundland • 1940: Quebec Nellie McClung

Timeline of the History of the Vote for Federal Elections in Canada • In 1874 voting booths were created to maintain voting secrecy • In 1918, women gained the right to vote at the Federal level • In 1919, women obtained the right to run as candidates in federal elections. • In 1920, a Chief Electoral Officer of Canada was hired to oversee the administration of federal elections across Canada (to stop corruption) • In 1921, Agnes Macphail became the first woman elected to the House of Commons in Canada Agnes MacPhail: Canada’s first Female Member of Parliament!

Timeline of the History of the Vote for Federal Elections in Canada • In 1950, Inuit people obtained the right to vote and the right to run as candidates in federal elections • In 1955, the last vestiges of religious discrimination were removed from federal electoral law • In 1960, First Nations people living on reserves were granted the right to vote and the right to run as candidates in federal elections without having to give up their status under the Indian Act • In 1970, the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18

Timeline of the History of the Vote for Federal Elections in Canada • In 1982, the right to vote and the right to be a candidate in an election were enshrined in the Constitution with the adoption of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms • In 1992, the Elections Act was amended to ensure access to the vote for people with disabilities (e.g. interpreting services, wheelchair access, technology to assist hard of hearing and the visually impaired) Sample accommodations for Visually Impaired Voters

Timeline of the History of the Vote for Federal Elections in Canada • In 1993, Federally appointed judges, persons with mental disabilities and persons serving prison terms of less than two years obtained the right to vote; the special ballot (mail-in ballot) was made available to all electors • In 2002, following a ruling by the Supreme Court of Canada, voting rights were extended to all inmates Should prisoners be allowed to vote?

Do we need Electoral Reform in Canada? • Are the voting decisions of Canadians being represented in House of Commons? • Do we need Change? • If 10% of Canadians vote for the Green Party, should they be entitled to 10% of the seats in the House of Commons?

The 2006 Federal Election Results Do you notice anything strange about these results?

Do we need Electoral Reform in Canada? Some Issues: # 1 Unfairness with respect to Representation: • Voters who choose to support one of the smaller parties are not having their voices represented in the government. The Green Party receives Green Party Leader Elizabeth May

Three University of Ottawa Students make their point

Do we need Electoral Reform in Canada? Some Issues: # 2 Voter turnout • In Canada, it has been declining since the 1988 Federal Election. • Many Canadians feel that their vote cannot bring change so “why bother?” • In 2004, the turnout was the lowest since 1898! Steady declines in Voter turnout: Why?

Do we need Electoral Reform in Canada? Some Issues: # 3 Strange Election Results In 1998, the Parti Quebecois (PQ) won the Quebec Provincial Election with a majority government. However, PQ leader felt somewhat ambivalent about the election results since the majority of Quebeckers didn’t vote for him; they voted for Liberal Leader Jean Charest! How is this possible? Why didn’t Charest win? Lucien Bouchard Jean Charest

The 1998 Quebec Provincial Election

The 1998 Quebec Provincial Election How did Quebec produce such a strange political outcome?

Do we need Electoral Reform in Canada? Some Issues: # 4 Lack of an Effective Opposition In the 1987 Provincial Election in New Brunswick, the Liberal Party under the leadership of Premier Frank McKenna won all 58 seats in the NB Legislature! As a result, the government had no opposition! Frank McKenna

Do we need Reform? Some Electoral Systems to Consider • First Past the Post (FPTP) • Proportional Representation (PR) • Hybrid System (FPTP/PR) • Preferential Ballot System

First Past the Post (FPTP) First Past the Post (FPTP): • The electoral system currently used in Canadian elections • The candidate with the most number of votes in their riding wins a seat in parliament • The Political Party that wins the most number of seats wins the election and forms the government. The Candidate who crosses the Finish line wins the election!

Positive Aspects of FPTP • Tends to produce Majority governments. As a result, it creates political stability. • The system is simple. The candidate with the most votes (first passes the post) wins! • Prevents extremist groups from gaining a voice inside the legislatures (e.g. a Neo-Nazi Party with .3% of popular vote will not get any seats in the House of Commons!) Georgetown MP Michael Chong: He passed the post first!

Negative Aspects of FPTP • Candidates can win elections without a clear mandate. If you have 10 Candidates, you could hypothetically win an election with 11% of the vote (you passed the post first!). • Majority governments are created without a clear mandate. In recent Canadian elections, governments have received solid majority governments with less than 35% of the popular vote. Is this democracy? • Smaller parties do not have a voice. Smaller parties who cannot pass the post first are completely shut out of the political system since they cannot gain representation in the parliament. • Voters may want to vote for a smaller party, but will decline because they might feel that it is a “wasted vote” He likes it! She doesn’t!

Proportional Representation • This system is widely used in Europe in countries such as Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Holland • A Proportional Representation (PR) System allocates seats in the parliament based on a political party’s share of the popular vote. If your party receives 10% of the votes, you receive 10% of the seats. • Smaller political parties such as the Green Party and the NDP have been lobbying for a PR system for years! • Voters vote for the political parties; not the local representatives. In an election, the MPs are selected by the political parties from party lists. • Smaller parties such as the Green Party would not need to have 308 local representatives across Canada in an election. If you voted for the Green Party in Georgetown, you voted for the party and that’s it. There is not a local representative. Sounds Great!

Positive Aspects of PR • The voting decisions of the electorate is represented in the parliament (e.g. 4.5% vote for the Green Party so they get 4.5% of the seats in the House of Commons.) • There is a wider selection of political parties (political spectrum) represented in our political institutions. An overall increase in political diversity. We are the World

Negative Aspects of PR • With so many parties represented in our political institutions, it is very difficult for parliament to function. Encourages political infighting • Tends to create minority governments. Elections need to be held on a yearly basis since minority governments can easily fall. This creates political instability. • Allows for extremist groups to gain access to our respected political institutions (e.g. if a neo-Nazi party gets .5% of vote they get .5% of the seats in parliament). A brawl breaks out in Taiwan’s Legislature: Instability! Extremism

Negative Aspects of PR • A lack of local representation. Members of the House of Commons would be selected by the Political Parties themselves. You only vote for the party; not the local representative. Areas like Georgetown would not have local representation. Parties would not necessarily understand our issues if there is no local representative to speak for us. • Lack of accountability. MPs are selected by the party. Local citizens do not have a say in who gets to represent them. You wouldn’t get him. You’d get this Guy (I don’t know him either)

The Hybrid System • This system is used in New Zealand, Germany and Italy. • The Hybrid System: A fusion of the FPTP and PR systems. This system is commonly referred to as a Mixed Member Proportional (MPP) system. • Both British Columbia and Prince Edward Island proposed to adopt this electoral system in 2004. It was rejected in 2005 • Ontario held a referendum on the MPP system during the Oct 2007 Provincial election. It was also rejected. According to Ontario NDP leader, Howard Hampton, “MPP didn’t have a chance of passing”. • Why Not? For more info click here: The German Legislature Ontario NDP leader Howard Hampton isn’t happy!

Positive and Negative Aspects • Incorporates the Positive and Negative aspects of the FPTP and PR systems. • However, it also incorporates the negative components of both systems too: un-democratic elements of FPTP and instability of the PR system • Electoral System can be confusing since you are voting for both the party and the local representative. • Electoral System can be time consuming and expensive. • Still allows for extremist voices to gain access to political institutions Yes? No? Ontario Said “NO”

Preferential Ballot • With this electoral system, voters rank in order of preference for who they wish to represent them. • For example, you rank 1-5 your order of preference. If a candidate has 50% of the first choice votes, they win the election. If not, they count the second choice ballots too and keep counting until the candidate wins 50% of the total vote. • This system is used in Australia You rank your Candidates when You vote. What do you think? They both like the system

Positive and Negative Aspects • Members of Parliament would need to receive 50% of the popular vote to win an election. • The voter’s decisions would be reflected in election outcomes. • However, the system is time-consuming, expensive and a little confusing. • Voters need to be educated about their second, third and fourth choices for the system to function as originally intended. A Preferential Ballot

Future Directions • Do you like our current system, or do you think that it needs to be changed? If so, which electoral system should be used? Discuss

Electoral Systems