Close X
Monday, November 11, 2024
ADVT 
National

Electoral Referendum Results Being Released In British Columbia Today

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 20 Dec, 2018 09:00 PM

    VICTORIA — The results of British Columbia's referendum on whether the province should switch to a system of proportional representation are being released today.


    In its last update on Dec. 7 as the voting was coming to a close, Elections BC said it had received 41 per cent of eligible ballots, which asked voters whether they would prefer to keep the existing first-past-the-post system or move to a form of proportional representation.


    This is the third time voters in British Columbia have been asked if they want to make a change to the voting system.


    In 2005, about 57 per cent of ballots were cast in favour of proportional representation, which did not meet the threshold of 60 per cent to make it binding on the government.


    Four years later, 61 per cent voted in favour of first past the post.


    The latest referendum is binding and the winner will be declared by a simple majority of votes cast.


    In addition to asking voters which system they support, the ballot also included a second question that allowed voters to rank their preference for three types of proportional representation.


    The three forms of proportional representation were mixed member proportional, rural-urban proportional and dual member proportional.


    The Elections BC website says mixed member proportional is used in a number of countries, including Germany and New Zealand, and would see the election of two types of representatives, a district member and a regional member to the legislature. District legislative members would be elected using the first-past-the-post system while regional members would be elected from a party list so that each party's share of seats matches its share of the provincewide popular vote.


    Dual member proportional would see all but the largest rural districts combined so each has two members. Parties running candidates for both seats would list their candidates as either first or second. The first candidate of the party with the most votes in the district would win the first seat and the second seat would be won by a party based on its share of the popular vote provincewide and in the district.


    Rural-urban proportional combines two different voting systems, the single transferable vote and mixed member proportional systems with voters in urban and semi-urban districts using the single transferable vote to elect multiple members for their larger electoral district. In rural districts, voters would use the mixed member system to elect district and regional representatives.


    Elections BC says provincial results in the rural-urban system are likely to be generally proportional, although it is not used by any other jurisdiction.


    Other provinces, including Prince Edward Island and Ontario, have also held referendums on their electoral systems but neither made any changes.


    In Prince Edward Island in 2016, the Liberal government decided not to honour a provincial plebiscite on electoral reform, in which only 36 per cent of eligible voters took part. Premier Wade MacLauchlan said it was debatable whether the result reflected the will of Islanders, and announced another vote will be held during the 2019 provincial election.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Elderly Male Pedestrian Dies After Being Struck By Vehicle In South Vancouver

    Elderly Male Pedestrian Dies After Being Struck By Vehicle In South Vancouver
    An elderly pedestrian struck by a car on November 2 in South Vancouver has died.

    Elderly Male Pedestrian Dies After Being Struck By Vehicle In South Vancouver

    Threat Of Extremism Posed By Proportional Representation Overstated: Academics

    VANCOUVER — Images of burning tires and marching soldiers flash across the screen in a video advertisement warning British Columbia voters that proportional representation provides the "perfect platform" for extremists.

    Threat Of Extremism Posed By Proportional Representation Overstated: Academics

    Latest Figures From Coroners Service Show 128 People Died In B.C. In September

    Latest Figures From Coroners Service Show 128 People Died In B.C. In September
    VANCOUVER — The latest figures from the BC Coroners Service show 128 people died of illicit-drug overdoses in September, an eight per cent increase from the previous month.

    Latest Figures From Coroners Service Show 128 People Died In B.C. In September

    Brian Gallant To Announce Plans To Step Down As New Brunswick Liberal Leader

      FREDERICTON — Former New Brunswick premier Brian Gallant will be stepping down as Liberal leader, and asking the party to organize a leadership convention.

    Brian Gallant To Announce Plans To Step Down As New Brunswick Liberal Leader

    Toronto Homicides Reach Record High Not Seen Since 1991

    Toronto's latest shooting marked a grim milestone for Canada's most populous city on Wednesday as it brought the number of homicides this year to a record high not seen for nearly three decades.

    Toronto Homicides Reach Record High Not Seen Since 1991

    B.C. MLAs Urge Justin Trudeau To Call Byelection Immediately In Burnaby-South

    B.C. MLAs Urge Justin Trudeau To Call Byelection Immediately In Burnaby-South
    The letter, signed by Anne Kang, Katrina Chen, Raj Chouhan and Janet Routledge, says the politicians are disappointed that Trudeau has yet to call a race in the riding vacated by former B.C. NDP MP Kennedy Stewart.

    B.C. MLAs Urge Justin Trudeau To Call Byelection Immediately In Burnaby-South