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

Electoral SystemsElectoral Systems

An Analysis of Electoral An Analysis of Electoral Systems in Canada and Systems in Canada and

Around the WorldAround the World

Topics for DiscussionTopics for Discussion

History of the Vote History of the Vote in Canadain Canada

Elections in Canada: Elections in Canada: Do we need Reform?Do we need Reform?

Elections in other Elections in other CountriesCountries

Majority/Minority Majority/Minority GovernmentsGovernments

Electoral SystemsElectoral Systems Electoral ReformElectoral Reform

Stephen Harper during an Election Campaign

Key terms you should knowKey terms you should knowConstituencyConstituency: a body of voters represented by an elected legislator or official: a body of voters represented by an elected legislator or official

FranchiseFranchise: The right to vote: The right to vote

Majority Government:Majority Government: a government formed by a political party that wins a government formed by a political party that wins more than half the seats in a parliament or legislature.more than half the seats in a parliament or legislature.

Minority GovernmentMinority Government: a government that is elected with fewer than half the : a government that is elected with fewer than half the seats in a parliament or legislature.seats in a parliament or legislature.

First Past the Post (FPTP):First Past the Post (FPTP): An electoral system in which the candidate with An electoral system in which the candidate with the most votes wins, even if he or she receives less than 50% of the total the most votes wins, even if he or she receives less than 50% of the total votes; sometimes called “simple majority”votes; sometimes called “simple majority”

Proportional Representation (PR):Proportional Representation (PR): An electoral system in which the number An electoral system in which the number of seats each political party wins is in proportion to its share of the total of seats each political party wins is in proportion to its share of the total vote.vote.

Hybrid SystemHybrid System: A fusion of the FPTP and PR systems. It was designed to : A fusion of the FPTP and PR systems. It was designed to address the problems inherent in both the FPTP and PR systems.address the problems inherent in both the FPTP and PR systems.

Preferential BallotPreferential Ballot: An electoral system whereby voters rank their choices : An electoral system whereby voters rank their choices rather than vote for a single candidate. To win an election, a candidate rather than vote for a single candidate. To win an election, a candidate must win 50% + 1 of the votemust win 50% + 1 of the vote

The History of the Vote in CanadaThe History of the Vote in Canada

When the first When the first election in Canada election in Canada was held, only 11 was held, only 11 percent of the percent of the population was population was eligible to vote. eligible to vote.

Today, Today, approximately approximately 68% of Canada’s 68% of Canada’s population can population can vote.vote.

Who could Vote?

The Right to Vote for Women in The Right to Vote for Women in Canadian Provincial ElectionsCanadian Provincial Elections

Due to the efforts of Nellie Due to the efforts of Nellie McClung, Manitoba was the McClung, Manitoba was the first province to Grant women first province to Grant women the right to vote. Other the right to vote. Other provinces would soon follow:provinces would soon follow:

1916: Manitoba, 1916: Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.Saskatchewan and Alberta.

1917: British Columbia and 1917: British Columbia and OntarioOntario

1918: Nova Scotia1918: Nova Scotia 1919: New Brunswick1919: New Brunswick 1922: Prince Edward Island1922: Prince Edward Island 1925: Newfoundland1925: Newfoundland 1940: Quebec1940: Quebec

Nellie McClung

Timeline of the History of the Vote Timeline of the History of the Vote for Federal Elections in Canadafor Federal Elections in Canada

In 1874 voting booths were In 1874 voting booths were created to maintain voting created to maintain voting secrecysecrecy

In 1918, women gained the In 1918, women gained the

right to vote at the Federal right to vote at the Federal levellevel

In 1919, women obtained the In 1919, women obtained the

right to run as candidates in right to run as candidates in federal elections. federal elections.

In 1920, a Chief Electoral In 1920, a Chief Electoral

Officer of Canada was hired to Officer of Canada was hired to oversee the administration of oversee the administration of federal elections across federal elections across Canada (to stop corruption) Canada (to stop corruption)

In 1921, Agnes Macphail In 1921, Agnes Macphail

became the first woman became the first woman elected to the House of elected to the House of Commons in CanadaCommons in Canada

Agnes MacPhail: Canada’s firstFemale Member of Parliament!


In 1950, Inuit people In 1950, Inuit people obtained the right to vote obtained the right to vote and the right to run as and the right to run as candidates in federal candidates in federal elections elections

In 1955, the last vestiges In 1955, the last vestiges

of religious discrimination of religious discrimination were removed from federal were removed from federal electoral law electoral law

In 1960, First Nations In 1960, First Nations

people living on reserves people living on reserves were granted the right to were granted the right to vote and the right to run vote and the right to run as candidates in federal as candidates in federal elections without having to elections without having to give up their status under give up their status under the the Indian Act Indian Act

In 1970, the voting age In 1970, the voting age

was lowered from 21 to 18 was lowered from 21 to 18


In 1982, the right to In 1982, the right to vote and the right to vote and the right to be a candidate in an be a candidate in an election were election were enshrined in the enshrined in the Constitution with Constitution with the adoption of the the adoption of the Canadian Charter of Canadian Charter of Rights and Rights and FreedomFreedoms s

In 1992, the In 1992, the Elections ActElections Act was was amended to ensure amended to ensure access to the vote access to the vote for people with for people with disabilities (e.g. disabilities (e.g. interpreting interpreting services, wheelchair services, wheelchair access, technology access, technology to assist hard of to assist hard of hearing and the hearing and the visually impaired)visually impaired)

Sample accommodations for Visually Impaired Voters


In 1993, Federally In 1993, Federally appointed judges, appointed judges, persons with persons with mental disabilities mental disabilities and persons and persons serving prison serving prison terms of less than terms of less than two years obtained two years obtained the right to vote; the right to vote; the special ballot the special ballot (mail-in ballot) was (mail-in ballot) was made available to made available to all electors all electors

In 2002, following a In 2002, following a

ruling by the ruling by the Supreme Court of Supreme Court of Canada, voting Canada, voting rights were rights were extended to all extended to all inmates inmates

Should prisoners be allowed to vote?

Do we need Electoral Reform in Do we need Electoral Reform in Canada?Canada?

Are the voting Are the voting decisions of Canadians decisions of Canadians being represented in being represented in House of Commons?House of Commons?

Do we need Change?Do we need Change? If 10% of Canadians If 10% of Canadians

vote for the Green vote for the Green Party, should they be Party, should they be entitled to 10% of the entitled to 10% of the seats in the House of seats in the House of Commons?Commons?

The 2006 Federal Election ResultsThe 2006 Federal Election Results

Political PartyPolitical Party Pop. Vote (%)Pop. Vote (%) # of Seats# of Seats

ConservativesConservatives 36.2736.27 124124

LiberalsLiberals 30.2330.23 103103

Bloc Bloc QuebecoisQuebecois

10.4810.48 5151

NDPNDP 17.4817.48 2929

Green PartyGreen Party 4.484.48 00

IndependentsIndependents .55.55 11

Do you notice anything strange about these results?

Do we need Electoral Reform in Do we need Electoral Reform in Canada? Some Issues:Canada? Some Issues:

# 1# 1 Unfairness with Unfairness with

respect to respect to Representation:Representation:

Voters who choose to Voters who choose to support one of the support one of the smaller parties are smaller parties are not having their not having their voices represented in voices represented in the government. The the government. The Green Party receives Green Party receives

Green Party Leader Elizabeth May

Three University of Ottawa Students make their point


# 2 # 2 Voter turnoutVoter turnout In Canada, it has In Canada, it has

been declining been declining since the 1988 since the 1988 Federal Election.Federal Election.

Many Canadians Many Canadians feel that their vote feel that their vote cannot bring cannot bring change so “why change so “why bother?”bother?”

In 2004, the In 2004, the turnout was the turnout was the lowest since 1898!lowest since 1898!

Steady declines in Voter turnout: Why?


# 3 # 3 Strange Election Strange Election

ResultsResults In 1998, the Parti Quebecois In 1998, the Parti Quebecois

(PQ) won the Quebec (PQ) won the Quebec Provincial Election with a Provincial Election with a majority government. majority government. However, PQ leader felt However, PQ leader felt somewhat ambivalent about somewhat ambivalent about the election results since the the election results since the majority of Quebeckers majority of Quebeckers didn’t vote for him; they didn’t vote for him; they voted for Liberal Leader Jean voted for Liberal Leader Jean Charest! How is this Charest! How is this possible? Why didn’t possible? Why didn’t Charest win?Charest win?

Lucien Bouchard

Jean Charest

The 1998 Quebec Provincial The 1998 Quebec Provincial ElectionElection

Political PartyPolitical Party % of Pop % of Pop VoteVote

# of Seats# of Seats

Parti Parti QuebecoisQuebecois

42.8742.87 7676

LiberalsLiberals 43.5543.55 4848

ADQADQ 11.8111.81 11

The 1998 Quebec Provincial The 1998 Quebec Provincial ElectionElection

How did Quebec produce such a strange political outcome?


# 4# 4

Lack of an Effective Lack of an Effective OppositionOpposition

In the 1987 Provincial In the 1987 Provincial Election in New Brunswick, Election in New Brunswick, the Liberal Party under the the Liberal Party under the leadership of Premier leadership of Premier Frank McKenna won all 58 Frank McKenna won all 58 seats in the NB seats in the NB Legislature! As a result, Legislature! As a result, the government had no the government had no opposition!opposition!

Frank McKenna

Do we need Reform? Some Do we need Reform? Some Electoral Systems to ConsiderElectoral Systems to Consider

First Past the Post First Past the Post (FPTP)(FPTP)

Proportional Proportional Representation (PR)Representation (PR)

Hybrid System Hybrid System (FPTP/PR)(FPTP/PR)

Preferential Ballot Preferential Ballot SystemSystem

First Past the Post (FPTP)First Past the Post (FPTP)

First Past the Post (FPTP):First Past the Post (FPTP): The electoral system The electoral system

currently used in currently used in Canadian electionsCanadian elections

The candidate with the The candidate with the most number of votes in most number of votes in their riding wins a seat their riding wins a seat in parliamentin parliament

The Political Party that The Political Party that wins the most number wins the most number of seats wins the of seats wins the election and forms the election and forms the government.government.

The Candidate who crosses the Finish line wins the election!

Positive Aspects of FPTPPositive Aspects of FPTP Tends to produce Majority Tends to produce Majority

governments. As a result, it governments. As a result, it creates political stability.creates political stability.

The system is simple. The The system is simple. The candidate with the most candidate with the most votes (first passes the post) votes (first passes the post) wins!wins!

Prevents extremist groups Prevents extremist groups from gaining a voice inside from gaining a voice inside the legislatures (e.g. a Neo-the legislatures (e.g. a Neo-Nazi Party with .3% of Nazi Party with .3% of popular vote will not get any popular vote will not get any seats in the House of seats in the House of Commons!)Commons!) Georgetown MP Michael Chong:

He passed the post first!

Negative Aspects of FPTPNegative Aspects of FPTP Candidates can win elections without Candidates can win elections without

a clear mandate. If you have 10 a clear mandate. If you have 10 Candidates, you could hypothetically Candidates, you could hypothetically win an election with 11% of the vote win an election with 11% of the vote (you passed the post first!).(you passed the post first!).

Majority governments are created Majority governments are created without a clear mandate. In recent without a clear mandate. In recent Canadian elections, governments Canadian elections, governments have received solid majority have received solid majority governments with less than 35% of governments with less than 35% of the popular vote. Is this democracy?the popular vote. Is this democracy?

Smaller parties do not have a voice. Smaller parties do not have a voice. Smaller parties who cannot pass the Smaller parties who cannot pass the post first are completely shut out of post first are completely shut out of the political system since they cannot the political system since they cannot gain representation in the parliament.gain representation in the parliament.

Voters may want to vote for a smaller Voters may want to vote for a smaller party, but will decline because they party, but will decline because they might feel that it is a “wasted vote”might feel that it is a “wasted vote”

He likes it!

She doesn’t!

This system is widely used in Europe This system is widely used in Europe in countries such as Denmark, in countries such as Denmark, Sweden, Finland and HollandSweden, Finland and Holland

A Proportional Representation (PR) A Proportional Representation (PR) System allocates seats in the System allocates seats in the parliament based on a political parliament based on a political party’s share of the popular vote. If party’s share of the popular vote. If your party receives 10% of the your party receives 10% of the votes, you receive 10% of the seats.votes, you receive 10% of the seats.

Smaller political parties such as the Smaller political parties such as the Green Party and the NDP have been Green Party and the NDP have been lobbying for a PR system for years!lobbying for a PR system for years!

Voters vote for the political parties; Voters vote for the political parties; not the local representatives. In an not the local representatives. In an election, the MPs are selected by the election, the MPs are selected by the political parties from party lists.political parties from party lists.

Smaller parties such as the Green Smaller parties such as the Green Party would not need to have 308 Party would not need to have 308 local representatives across Canada local representatives across Canada in an election. If you voted for the in an election. If you voted for the Green Party in Georgetown, you Green Party in Georgetown, you voted for the party and that’s it. voted for the party and that’s it. There is not a local representative.There is not a local representative. Sounds Great!

Proportional RepresentationProportional Representation

Positive Aspects of PRPositive Aspects of PR The voting decisions of the The voting decisions of the

electorate is represented in electorate is represented in the parliament (e.g. 4.5% the parliament (e.g. 4.5% vote for the Green Party so vote for the Green Party so they get 4.5% of the seats they get 4.5% of the seats in the House of Commons.)in the House of Commons.)

There is a wider selection There is a wider selection of political parties (political of political parties (political spectrum) represented in spectrum) represented in our political institutions. our political institutions. An overall increase in An overall increase in political diversity.political diversity.

We are the World

Negative Aspects of PRNegative Aspects of PR With so many parties With so many parties

represented in our political represented in our political institutions, it is very difficult institutions, it is very difficult for parliament to function. for parliament to function. Encourages political Encourages political infightinginfighting

Tends to create minority Tends to create minority governments. Elections need governments. Elections need to be held on a yearly basis to be held on a yearly basis since minority governments since minority governments can easily fall. This creates can easily fall. This creates political instability.political instability.

Allows for extremist groups Allows for extremist groups to gain access to our to gain access to our respected political respected political institutions (e.g. if a neo-Nazi institutions (e.g. if a neo-Nazi party gets .5% of vote they party gets .5% of vote they get .5% of the seats in get .5% of the seats in parliament). parliament).

A brawl breaks out in Taiwan’sLegislature: Instability!

Extremism

Negative Aspects of PRNegative Aspects of PR A lack of local representation. A lack of local representation.

Members of the House of Members of the House of Commons would be selected Commons would be selected by the Political Parties by the Political Parties themselves. You only vote themselves. You only vote for the party; not the local for the party; not the local representative. Areas like representative. Areas like Georgetown would not have Georgetown would not have local representation. Parties local representation. Parties would not necessarily would not necessarily understand our issues if understand our issues if there is no local there is no local representative to speak for representative to speak for us.us.

Lack of accountability. MPs Lack of accountability. MPs are selected by the party. are selected by the party. Local citizens do not have a Local citizens do not have a say in who gets to represent say in who gets to represent them.them.

You wouldn’t get him.

You’d get this Guy(I don’t know him

either)

The Hybrid SystemThe Hybrid System This system is used in New This system is used in New

Zealand, Germany and Italy.Zealand, Germany and Italy. The Hybrid System: A fusion of The Hybrid System: A fusion of

the FPTP and PR systems. This the FPTP and PR systems. This system is commonly referred system is commonly referred to as a Mixed Member to as a Mixed Member Proportional (MPP) system.Proportional (MPP) system.

Both British Columbia and Both British Columbia and Prince Edward Island proposed Prince Edward Island proposed to adopt this electoral system to adopt this electoral system in 2004. It was rejected in in 2004. It was rejected in 20052005

Ontario held a referendum on Ontario held a referendum on the MPP system during the Oct the MPP system during the Oct 2007 Provincial election. It 2007 Provincial election. It was also rejected. According was also rejected. According to Ontario NDP leader, Howard to Ontario NDP leader, Howard Hampton, “MPP didn’t have a Hampton, “MPP didn’t have a chance of passing”.chance of passing”.

Why Not? For more info Why Not? For more info click here:click here:

The German Legislature

Ontario NDP leader Howard Hampton isn’t happy!

Positive and Negative AspectsPositive and Negative Aspects Incorporates the Positive Incorporates the Positive

and Negative aspects of and Negative aspects of the FPTP and PR systems.the FPTP and PR systems.

However, it also However, it also incorporates the negative incorporates the negative components of both components of both systems too: un-systems too: un-democratic elements of democratic elements of FPTP and instability of the FPTP and instability of the PR systemPR system

Electoral System can be Electoral System can be confusing since you are confusing since you are voting for both the party voting for both the party and the local and the local representative.representative.

Electoral System can be Electoral System can be time consuming and time consuming and expensive.expensive.

Still allows for extremist Still allows for extremist voices to gain access to voices to gain access to political institutionspolitical institutions

Yes? No?

Ontario Said “NO”

Preferential BallotPreferential Ballot With this electoral system, voters With this electoral system, voters

rank in order of preference for who rank in order of preference for who they wish to represent them.they wish to represent them.

For example, you rank 1-5 your order For example, you rank 1-5 your order of preference. If a candidate has of preference. If a candidate has 50% of the first choice votes, they 50% of the first choice votes, they win the election. If not, they count win the election. If not, they count the second choice ballots too and the second choice ballots too and keep counting until the candidate keep counting until the candidate wins 50% of the total vote.wins 50% of the total vote.

This system is used in AustraliaThis system is used in Australia

They both like the system

You rank your Candidates whenYou vote. What do you think?

Positive and Negative AspectsPositive and Negative Aspects Members of Parliament would Members of Parliament would

need to receive 50% of the need to receive 50% of the popular vote to win an popular vote to win an election.election.

The voter’s decisions would be The voter’s decisions would be reflected in election outcomes.reflected in election outcomes.

However, the system is time-However, the system is time-consuming, expensive and a consuming, expensive and a little confusing.little confusing.

Voters need to be educated Voters need to be educated about their second, third and about their second, third and fourth choices for the system fourth choices for the system to function as originally to function as originally intended.intended. A Preferential Ballot

Future DirectionsFuture Directions

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

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

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