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Canadian Elections

Canadian Elections. What is the fairest vote-counting methodology for Canada?. Take home messages…. To understand how governments are formed. To understand the different methodologies of vote counting. To assess which is the fairest means of vote counting for Canada. Areas to Explore….

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Canadian Elections

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  1. Canadian Elections What is the fairest vote-counting methodology for Canada?

  2. Take home messages… • To understand how governments are formed. • To understand the different methodologies of vote counting. • To assess which is the fairest means of vote counting for Canada.

  3. Areas to Explore… • Representation by Population and First Past the Post (Rep by Pop/FPTP) • Single Transferable Vote (STV) • Proportional Representation (PR) • Who cares?

  4. Who cares? Take 1.

  5. Counting Votes: Rep by Pop/FPTP

  6. Counting Votes: Rep by Pop

  7. Counting Votes: FPTP http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/first_past_the_post.htm http://www.ecsa.sa.gov.au/apps/news/?sectionID=40&pageID=68 http://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/article.php?id=54

  8. Counting Votes: STV http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/polit/damy/BeginnningReading/PRsystems.htm http://www.stv.ca/ http://www.fairvote.ca/en/fair-voting-systems

  9. Counting Votes: PR http://www.sfu.ca/~aheard/elections/reform.html http://www.fairvote.ca/en/fair-voting-systems http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/proportional_representation.htm http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/polit/damy/BeginnningReading/PRsystems.htm

  10. Counting Votes: FPTP • Background: • British model- has always been the Canadian way • Based on a “winner take all” approach • Voting: • Voters clearly mark ballot with one choice • Voters have one choice, one vote • One round of voting, counting • Representation: • The candidate with the highest number of votes wins • Candidates without the highest number of votes lose • Majority (50% +1) not needed • Single member representation (1 MP- 1 Riding) • Reason for Title: • Horse race mentality

  11. Counting Votes: FPTP

  12. Counting Votes: FPTP

  13. Counting Votes: FPTP

  14. Counting Votes: FPTP Advocates Argue: Opponents Argue:

  15. Counting Votes: STV(PR) • Background: • A form of proportional representation (% vote = % seat) • PR used by most of Western Europe • “Main rival” to FPTP • Proposed as an alternative in BC (2005/2009 referenda) • Voting: • Ranking of candidates • Vote transfers after candidate reaches the threshold • Multiple rounds of counting • Representation: • Threshold required (Threshold = (valid votes/1+seats) +1 vote) • Multiple member districts (eg 1 district, 5 seats) • Reason for Title: • Actual transferring of vote… also called choice voting

  16. Counting Votes: STV (PR)

  17. Counting Votes: STV (PR) • Advocates Argue: • Reduces wasted votes (no chance charlies and killer kerries) • More accurate/dynamic representation of votes • Votes contributing to the election of a candidate • Address underrepresented constituencies • Opponents Argue: • Complicated • Coalition governments more common** • Gerry-mandering still possible • Less PR than other PR • Change!

  18. Counting Votes: MMR (PR) • Background: • A form of proportional representation • Also called two-vote system, German system • Best of both worlds- ½ (FPTP) and ½ (PR) • Seen as a compromise in modern electoral reform programs • Voting: • Double ballot- 1 vote for single-member district (person), 1 vote for party (party list) • Individuals and Parties are elected • One round of counting- individuals first then adjusted with party count • Representation: • Legislature is made of directly elected individuals and those from a party list to compensate to % of vote • Thresholds sometimes established (e.g. 5%) • Reason for Title: • Reflects the varied ways individuals are selected into the Leg.

  19. Counting Votes: MMR (PR)

  20. Counting Votes: MMR (PR) • Advocates Argue: • Reduces wasted votes (no chance charlies and killer kerries) • More accurate/dynamic representation of votes • Votes contributing to the election of a candidate • Address underrepresented constituencies • Representation of both geographic districts and parties • Opponents Argue: • Coalition governments more common** • Quite PR than other PR • Change!

  21. Counting Votes: STV & MMR (PR) • “ PR voting systems provide more accurate representation of parties, better representation for political and racial minorities, fewer wasted votes, higher levels of voter turnout, better representation of women, greater likelihood of majorityrule, and little opportunity for gerrymandering” (Mtholyoke)

  22. Who care? Take 2.

  23. Canadian Elections What is the fairest vote-counting methodology for Canada?

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