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Submission BEDNARSKI-0465 (Online)

Submission ByMr Michael Bednarski
AddressNorth York, Ontario, Canada
Organization
Date20040524
CategoryElectoral system change
Abstract
If British Columbians want some form of proportional voting system than maintains some form of local constituency, I would either recommend an open-list system or single transeferable vote with three to seven members per constituency. [2 pages]

Submission Content
As someone who was born in British Columbia and visited your great province a few years ago, I think it is great that BC, through the Citizens' Assembly, is taking the initiative in looking at different voting methods. Your conclusion will not only have an impact on the citizens within your own province; it will influence voting reform initiatives across Canada.

It would be great if British Columbia were one giant 79 member constituency with voters making their ballot choices based on the Single Transferable Vote [STV] system. Unfortunately, the ballot would be too large and bewildering. Voters would have no connection with any local member of the Legislative Assembly.

If British Columbians want some form of proportional voting system than maintains some form of local constituency, I would either recommend an open-list system or single transferable vote with three to seven members per constituency. The urban constituencies would probably have six or seven members while the rural ones would have three or four.

An open-list system is easy for the parties and voters to understand.

Within a multi-seat constituency, each party can submit its list of candidates according to its order of preference.

Multi-member constituencies would allow better men and women to run for office who may normally be averse in participating in a single-winner-take-all-system as is the case now. These constituencies under an open-list system would also ensure that no one ethnic or religious group (from either a minority or majority community) could control all the positions available.

Under the open-list system, when voters mark their ballots on election day, they can either place an 'X' on a party name or beside a particular party candidate.

The open-list system would be easy for those who need to count the ballots.

Make the voting system fair, yet, keep it simple.

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