1. Click to add text Electoral Systems An Analysis of Electoral Systems in Canada and Around the World

2. Topics for Discussion History of the Vote in Canada History of the Vote in Canada Elections in Canada: Do we need Reform? Elections in Canada: Do we need Reform? Elections in other Countries Elections in other Countries Majority/Minority Governments Majority/Minority Governments Electoral Systems Electoral Systems Electoral Reform Electoral Reform Stephen Harper during an Election Campaign

3. Key terms you should know Franchise: The right to vote First Past the Post (FPTP): An electoral system in which the candidate with the most votes wins, even if he or she receives less than 50% of the total votes; sometimes called “simple majority” Proportional Representation (PR): An electoral system in which the number of seats each political party wins is in proportion to its share of the total vote. Hybrid System: A fusion of the FPTP and PR systems. It was designed to address the problems inherent in both the FPTP and PR systems. Preferential Ballot: You rank your choices. Need 50% + 1 to be declared the winner.

4. The History of the Vote in Canada When the first election in Canada was held, only 11 percent of the population was eligible to vote. When the first election in Canada was held, only 11 percent of the population was eligible to vote. Today, approximately 68% of Canada’s population can vote. Today, approximately 68% of Canada’s population can vote. Who could Vote?

5. The Right to Vote for Women in Canadian Provincial Elections Due to the efforts of Nellie McClung, Manitoba was the first province to Grant women the right to vote. Other provinces would soon follow: Due to the efforts of Nellie McClung, Manitoba was the first province to Grant women the right to vote. Other provinces would soon follow: 1916: Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. 1916: Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. 1917: British Columbia and Ontario 1917: British Columbia and Ontario 1918: Nova Scotia 1918: Nova Scotia 1919: New Brunswick 1919: New Brunswick 1922: Prince Edward Island 1922: Prince Edward Island 1925: Newfoundland 1925: Newfoundland 1940: Quebec 1940: Quebec Nellie McClung

6. Timeline of the History of the Vote for Federal Elections in Canada In 1874 voting booths were created to maintain voting secrecy In 1874 voting booths were created to maintain voting secrecy In 1918, women gained the right to vote at the Federal level In 1918, women gained the right to vote at the Federal level In 1919, women obtained the right to run as candidates in federal elections. In 1919, women obtained the right to run as candidates in federal elections. In 1920, a Chief Electoral Officer of Canada was hired to oversee the administration of federal elections across Canada (to stop corruption) In 1920, a Chief Electoral Officer of Canada was hired to oversee the administration of federal elections across Canada (to stop corruption) In 1921, Agnes Macphail became the first woman elected to the House of Commons in Canada In 1921, Agnes Macphail became the first woman elected to the House of Commons in Canada Agnes MacPhail: Canada’s first Female Member of Parliament!

7. Timeline of the History of the Vote for Federal Elections in Canada In 1950, Inuit people obtained the right to vote and the right to run as candidates in federal elections In 1950, Inuit people obtained the right to vote and the right to run as candidates in federal elections In 1955, the last vestiges of religious discrimination were removed from federal electoral law In 1955, the last vestiges of religious discrimination were removed from federal electoral law In 1960, First Nations people living on reserves were granted the right to vote and the right to run as candidates in federal elections without having to give up their status under the Indian Act In 1960, First Nations people living on reserves were granted the right to vote and the right to run as candidates in federal elections without having to give up their status under the Indian Act In 1970, the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18 In 1970, the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18

8. Timeline of the History of the Vote for Federal Elections in Canada In 1982, the right to vote and the right to be a candidate in an election were enshrined in the Constitution with the adoption of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms In 1982, the right to vote and the right to be a candidate in an election were enshrined in the Constitution with the adoption of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms In 1992, the Elections Act was amended to ensure access to the vote for people with disabilities (e.g. interpreting services, wheelchair access, technology to assist hard of hearing and the visually impaired) In 1992, the Elections Act was amended to ensure access to the vote for people with disabilities (e.g. interpreting services, wheelchair access, technology to assist hard of hearing and the visually impaired) Sample accommodations for Visually Impaired Voters

9. Timeline of the History of the Vote for Federal Elections in Canada In 1993, Federally appointed judges, persons with mental disabilities and persons serving prison terms of less than two years obtained the right to vote; the special ballot (mail-in ballot) was made available to all electors In 1993, Federally appointed judges, persons with mental disabilities and persons serving prison terms of less than two years obtained the right to vote; the special ballot (mail-in ballot) was made available to all electors In 2002, following a ruling by the Supreme Court of Canada, voting rights were extended to all inmates In 2002, following a ruling by the Supreme Court of Canada, voting rights were extended to all inmates Should prisoners be allowed to vote?

10. Do we need Electoral Reform in Canada? Are the voting decisions of Canadians being represented in House of Commons? Are the voting decisions of Canadians being represented in House of Commons? Do we need Change? Do we need Change? If 10% of Canadians vote for the Green Party, should they be entitled to 10% of the seats in the House of Commons? If 10% of Canadians vote for the Green Party, should they be entitled to 10% of the seats in the House of Commons?

11. The 2006 Federal Election Results Political Party Pop. Vote (%) # of Seats Conservatives36.27124 Liberals30.23103 Bloc Quebecois 10.4851 NDP17.4829 Green Party 4.480 Independents.551 Do you notice anything strange about these results?

12. Do we need Electoral Reform in Canada? Some Issues: # 1 Unfairness with respect to Representation: Unfairness with respect to Representation: Voters who choose to support one of the smaller parties are not having their voices represented in the government. The Green Party receives Voters who choose to support one of the smaller parties are not having their voices represented in the government. The Green Party receives Green Party Leader Elizabeth May

13. Three University of Ottawa Students make their point

14. Do we need Electoral Reform in Canada? Some Issues: # 2 Voter turnout In Canada, it has been declining since the 1988 Federal Election. In Canada, it has been declining since the 1988 Federal Election. Many Canadians feel that their vote cannot bring change so “why bother?” Many Canadians feel that their vote cannot bring change so “why bother?” In 2004, the turnout was the lowest since 1898! In 2004, the turnout was the lowest since 1898! Steady declines in Voter turnout: Why?

15. Do we need Electoral Reform in Canada? Some Issues: # 3 Strange Election Results In 1998, the Parti Quebecois (PQ) won the Quebec Provincial Election with a majority government. However, the majority of Quebeckers didn’t vote for him; they voted for Liberal Leader Jean Charest! How is this possible? In 1998, the Parti Quebecois (PQ) won the Quebec Provincial Election with a majority government. However, the majority of Quebeckers didn’t vote for him; they voted for Liberal Leader Jean Charest! How is this possible? Lucien Bouchard Jean Charest

16. The 1998 Quebec Provincial Election Political Party % of Pop Vote # of Seats Parti Quebecois 42.8776 Liberals43.5548 ADQ11.811

17. The 1998 Quebec Provincial Election How did Quebec produce such a strange political outcome?

18. Do we need Electoral Reform in Canada? Some Issues: # 4 Lack of an Effective Opposition In the 1987 Provincial Election in New Brunswick, the Liberal Party under the leadership of Premier Frank McKenna won all 58 seats in the NB Legislature! As a result, the government had no opposition! In the 1987 Provincial Election in New Brunswick, the Liberal Party under the leadership of Premier Frank McKenna won all 58 seats in the NB Legislature! As a result, the government had no opposition! Frank McKenna

19. Do we need Reform? Some Electoral Systems to Consider First Past the Post (FPTP) First Past the Post (FPTP) Proportional Representation (PR) Proportional Representation (PR) Hybrid System (FPTP/PR) Hybrid System (FPTP/PR) Preferential Ballot System Preferential Ballot System

20. First Past the Post (FPTP) First Past the Post (FPTP): The electoral system currently used in Canadian elections The electoral system currently used in Canadian elections The candidate with the most number of votes in their riding wins a seat in parliament The candidate with the most number of votes in their riding wins a seat in parliament The Political Party that wins the most number of seats wins the election and forms the government. The Political Party that wins the most number of seats wins the election and forms the government. The Candidate who crosses the Finish line wins the election!

21. Positive Aspects of FPTP Tends to produce Majority governments. As a result, it creates political stability. Tends to produce Majority governments. As a result, it creates political stability. The system is simple. The candidate with the most votes (first passes the post) wins! The system is simple. The candidate with the most votes (first passes the post) wins! Prevents extremist groups from gaining a voice inside the legislatures (e.g. a Neo- Nazi Party with.3% of popular vote will not get any seats in the House of Commons!) Prevents extremist groups from gaining a voice inside the legislatures (e.g. a Neo- Nazi Party with.3% of popular vote will not get any seats in the House of Commons!) Georgetown MP Michael Chong: He passed the post first!

22. Negative Aspects of FPTP Majority governments are created without a clear mandate. In recent Canadian elections, governments have received solid majority governments with less than 35% of the popular vote. Is this democracy? Majority governments are created without a clear mandate. In recent Canadian elections, governments have received solid majority governments with less than 35% of the popular vote. Is this democracy? Smaller parties do not have a voice. Smaller parties do not have a voice. Voters may want to vote for a smaller party, but will decline because they might feel that it is a “wasted vote” Voters may want to vote for a smaller party, but will decline because they might feel that it is a “wasted vote” He likes it! She doesn’t!

23. This system is widely used in Europe in countries such as Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Holland This system is widely used in Europe in countries such as Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Holland A Proportional Representation (PR) System allocates seats in the parliament based on a political party’s share of the popular vote. If your party receives 10% of the votes, you receive 10% of the seats. A Proportional Representation (PR) System allocates seats in the parliament based on a political party’s share of the popular vote. If your party receives 10% of the votes, you receive 10% of the seats. Sounds Great! Proportional Representation

24. Positive Aspects of PR The voting decisions of the electorate is represented in the parliament (e.g. 4.5% vote for the Green Party so they get 4.5% of the seats in the House of Commons.) The voting decisions of the electorate is represented in the parliament (e.g. 4.5% vote for the Green Party so they get 4.5% of the seats in the House of Commons.) There is a wider selection of political parties (political spectrum) represented in our political institutions. An overall increase in political diversity. There is a wider selection of political parties (political spectrum) represented in our political institutions. An overall increase in political diversity. We are the World

25. Negative Aspects of PR With so many parties represented in our political institutions, it is very difficult for parliament to function. Encourages political infighting With so many parties represented in our political institutions, it is very difficult for parliament to function. Encourages political infighting Tends to create minority governments. Elections need to be held on a yearly basis since minority governments can easily fall. This creates political instability. Tends to create minority governments. Elections need to be held on a yearly basis since minority governments can easily fall. This creates political instability. Allows for extremist groups to gain access to our respected political institutions (e.g. if a neo-Nazi party gets.5% of vote they get.5% of the seats in parliament). Allows for extremist groups to gain access to our respected political institutions (e.g. if a neo-Nazi party gets.5% of vote they get.5% of the seats in parliament). A brawl breaks out in Taiwan’s Legislature: Instability! Extremism

26. Negative Aspects of PR Lack of accountability. MPs are selected by the party. Local citizens do not have a say in who gets to represent them. Lack of accountability. MPs are selected by the party. Local citizens do not have a say in who gets to represent them. You wouldn’t get him. You’d get this Guy (I don’t know him either)

27. The Hybrid System This system is used in New Zealand, Germany and Italy. This system is used in New Zealand, Germany and Italy. The Hybrid System: A fusion of the FPTP and PR systems. This system is commonly referred to as a Mixed Member Proportional (MPP) system. The Hybrid System: A fusion of the FPTP and PR systems. This system is commonly referred to as a Mixed Member Proportional (MPP) system. Ontario rejected this idea in a Oct 2007 Provincial election. Ontario rejected this idea in a Oct 2007 Provincial election. The German Legislature Ontario NDP leader Howard Hampton isn’t happy!

28. Positive and Negative Aspects Incorporates the Positive and Negative aspects of the FPTP and PR systems. Incorporates the Positive and Negative aspects of the FPTP and PR systems. Electoral System can be confusing since you are voting for both the party and the local representative. Electoral System can be confusing since you are voting for both the party and the local representative. Electoral System can be time consuming and expensive. Electoral System can be time consuming and expensive. Still allows for extremist voices to gain access Still allows for extremist voices to gain access Yes? No? Ontario Said “NO”

29. Preferential Ballot With this electoral system, voters rank in order of preference for who they wish to represent them. With this electoral system, voters rank in order of preference for who they wish to represent them. For example, you rank 1-5 your order of preference. If a candidate has 50% of the first choice votes, they win the election. If not, they count the second choice ballots too and keep counting until the candidate wins 50% of the total vote. For example, you rank 1-5 your order of preference. If a candidate has 50% of the first choice votes, they win the election. If not, they count the second choice ballots too and keep counting until the candidate wins 50% of the total vote. This system is used in Australia This system is used in Australia They both like the system You rank your Candidates when You vote. What do you think?

30. Positive and Negative Aspects Members of Parliament would need to receive 50% of the popular vote to win an election. Members of Parliament would need to receive 50% of the popular vote to win an election. The voter’s decisions would be reflected in election outcomes. The voter’s decisions would be reflected in election outcomes. However, the system is time- consuming, expensive and a little confusing. However, the system is time- consuming, expensive and a little confusing. Voters need to be educated about their second, third and fourth choices for the system to function as originally intended. Voters need to be educated about their second, third and fourth choices for the system to function as originally intended. A Preferential Ballot

31. Future Directions Do you like our current system, or do you think that it needs to be changed? If so, which electoral system should be used? Discuss Do you like our current system, or do you think that it needs to be changed? If so, which electoral system should be used? Discuss