For Truly Representational Democracy
Why not? and What if?
How do Canadians want to be governed? DRAFT
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By: A Legislature that is inclusive and functions collaboratively and is accountable during its term of office
or A government that has absolute power during its term of office and is held accountable at the end of its term of office.
Under Canada’s present system an elected majority government can and often does have absolute power even though it was elected with less than 50% of the votes.
Under Proportional Representation PR systems, almost all votes are represented and a minority government is elected that must collaborate and can be held accountable during its term of office. Majority Governments can only be elected with more than 50% votes
Why not proportional representation with inclusion/empowerment of voters and balance of power that can build community. MLAs from different parties and perspectives need to work together as a team for the best overall solutions to problems. The Legislature is responsible for the legislation of the law, and Government is responsible for executing the law. As you may know, it would be easier to execute a law developed by all parties than a law developed only by the governing party representing less than half the voters.
Preferential Ridings Proportional PRP system
WHAT IF?
- What if a party won all the riding seats with only 23% of party votes?
- What if a party wins more seats than it has candidates in the electoral area (region)?
Before examining possible answers to these questions, let’s look at the results of applying the Preferential Ridings Proportional PRP system to past election results using the present First Past the Post FPTP system with only ‘X’ voting:
In the 2008 Federal Election, dealing with all cities having 4 or more ridings, 138 ridings, PRP changed the percent of voters who could point to an elected MP whom their vote helped to elect went from 51% under the present FPTP system to 93% under the PRP system.
2008 Alberta election, from 54% under FPTP to 94% under PRP
2014 Ontario election, from 50% under FPTP to 93% under PRP
2014 Quebec election, from 49% under FPTP to 88% under PRP
2016 Yukon election, from 43% under FPTP to 92% under PRP
For more detailed information, see the spread sheets on these elections. http://electoralchange.ca/more-info/
For an example of how the system works
2016-Yukon-Results-Prd-Ridings-with-maps-
Possible solutions to two very reasonable questions re. possibilities that could happen with the Preferential Ridings Proportional PRP system:
PRP Questions – Shawn Kitchen
- What if a party won all the riding seats with only 23% of party votes?
TO START. WHAT KIND OF GOVERNANCE DO WE WANT?
Fair Inclusive Collaborative Representative Accountable
Normally, the value of seats in electoral areas is 100% with 50% riding + 50% proportional: with 10 seats seat value is 10%, with 8 seats is 12.5%, with 6 seats is 16.7% and with 4 seats is 25%.
Usually in PRP, almost all parties need one or more proportional seats to give representation to their so far unrepresented riding votes – 50% of party votes are represented with riding seats and the other almost 50% by proportional seats. After riding and fully-supported proportional seats are determined, the last partially supported seat is won by the party with the most remaining unrepresented party votes.
Under PRP, one party could win all the riding seats with only 23% party votes? However, its winning candidates would need considerable support by having a number of 2nd and 3rd choice votes from other party supporters who feel confident in the candidates’ respectfulness and ability to collaborate. But how can we give fair representation to the 77% of voters who voted for a party that did not win a riding seat?
How do you think it would be to give equal point value to each of the proportional seats? With 5 proportional seats, each proportional seat would represent 77/5 or 15.4% of unrepresented votes?
This would allow the proportional seats to be distributed fairly between parties with unrepresented votes. The elected riding MLAs would have had good 2nd and 3rd choice support of the voters who gave their party vote to another party.
- What if a party wins more seats than it has candidates in the electoral area?
One suggestion for consideration: The extra seat be won by the highest runner-up same party candidate in the electoral area who ran for becoming a riding candidate. As parties understandably want to forget the candidate race and focus on the winner, those results could be placed in a sealed envelope, submitted to the Returning Officer with the candidate’s submission, not to be opened unless needed in the election.
