Dateline: 05/10/09
2009 BC Referendum on Electoral Reform
In the BC provincial election on May 12, 2009, voters are not only choosing their MLAs, they are also getting a second shot at choosing a new electoral system for BC provincial elections.
Voters will be asked whether BC should continue to use the current first past the post (FPTP) electoral system or move to the BC-STV single transferable vote system recommended by the BC Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform.
When they go to vote, BC voters will be given a second ballot for the referendum asking the question:
"Which electoral system should British Columbia use to elect members to the provincial Legislative Assembly?
- The existing electoral system (First-Past-the Post)
- The single transferable vote electoral system (BC-STV) proposed by the BC Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform"
First Past the Post Electoral System
The current electoral system used in BC provincial elections is the first past the post (FPTP) or single member plurality system. FPTP is also used in Canadian federal elections and in elections in the other provinces in Canada. In a first past the post electoral system, voters vote for one candidate in each electoral district, and the candidate who gets the most votes in an electoral district becomes the MLA for that electoral district.
BC-STV Electoral System
With The BC-STV electoral system, the total number of MLAs for the province would stay the same, at 85. The number of electoral districts in the province would be reduced from 85 to 20 geographically larger electoral districts. Instead of electing one MLA for each electoral district, voters in each electoral district would elect from two to seven MLAs, depending on the size and population of the electoral district.
Instead of marking a ballot for a single candidate, the voter would number preferences for as many candidates as he or she wished. An electoral quota would be calculated to determine the number of votes needed to win in each electoral district.
All voters' first preferences would be counted. A candidate must receive a set minimum number of votes, or electoral quota, for the electoral district to win a seat in the legislative assembly. The electoral quota is determined based on the number of MLAs the electoral district is electing and the number of people who vote.
If a candidate has more than the number of votes needed to be elected, a formula is used to transfer the surplus votes for that candidate to the next preferences indicated on the ballots of the voters who voted for that candidate.
If no candidate has met the electoral quota at any round of counting, then the candidate with the fewest number of votes is eliminated. The eliminated candidate's votes are then redistributed to the next preferences marked on each ballot. The process continues until all the seats in the electoral district have been filled.
If vacant seats remain but there are no more eligible voters preferences left to be counted, then the final seats are won by the candidates with the most votes at that stage.
Impact of BC-STV Electoral System
While there is much debate about the pros and cons of the proposed BC-STV electoral system, some things are clear:
- it would produce largely proportional results
- it would make it easier for smaller parties and independent candidates to get elected
- it is more likely that coalition and minority governments would result
For more information on the pros and cons of the BC-STV electoral system see:
Voting in the 2009 BC Referendum on Electoral Reform
Voting in the 2009 BC referendum on electoral reform takes place at the same time and place as the 2009 BC provincial election on May 12, 2009. To vote in the referendum, you must be eligible to vote in a BC provincial election and you must be registered to vote.
You do not have to vote in the provincial election to vote in the referendum on electoral reform. Eligible voters can choose to vote in either the referendum or the election, or in both.
How the 2009 BC Referendum on Electoral Reform Will Be Decided
For the 2009 BC referendum on electoral reform to pass and be considered binding on the BC provincial government, the approval level must be
- at least 60 percent of the total votes in the province and
- more than 50 percent of the votes in at least 51 of the 85 electoral districts (60 percent of the electoral districts) in BC.
If the 2009 BC referendum on electoral reform passes, the current BC provincial government has promised to introduce legislation to put the new electoral system in place in time for the BC provincial election scheduled for May 2013.
